Jaximus, I hear you --- and thanks for those thoughts. Have been mulling over MT's advice on all of this. Your perspectives have helped a lot! I'm going to keep my approach simple I think on this trip. I'm going to experiment a little with some in-line sinkers-- maybe a 3/4oz and move up gradually to the 1 1/2ozs that I have, since I'm running a 12lb test on one 6'6" rod with some 1 buck nickel-plated 3 1/2in spoons that I won't mind losing if I do (won't try to lose them but also won't feel a great sense of loss if I do -- compared to say, one of my taildancers  :o).  Once I feel comfortable with what I'm doing, I'll probably give the raps a try, cautiously and see how the trolling goes. There's always fishing from shore points if it isn't going well  :). I'll probably leave the 7fter at home just because I don't want to have to deal with it. Have been looking around for rod-holder and your recommendations are great. Don't know if I'll be able to pull it together for this trip, but it's a learning experience. Step by step.....just a miscellaneous note --- is the gryp knot a 'nail knot'? Can't seem to get that one clarified from my searches.....