I like to take some willow branches or bamboo and zip-tie them onto the pvc. It adds natural cover to attract the baitfish/crappie immediately and allows the algae to grow on the pvc.

Instead of a barren area to drop them, drop them on a ridge, along a channel, end of a point or some other area that crappie will naturally travel. They will use them as a rest stop.

Third times the charm

I'm hearing that taking sand paper to your pvc pipe helps algae grow quicker. Can anybody confirm/explain this?

It does However some would suggest that it does`nt make any difference.

I've always done natural piles, and like that they are easy to find after the drop. But I'm intrigued by the stealthiness of pvc, though I'm sure people still see the fish stacked on them even if they don't see the pvc structure with a finder.