Welcome fisnfool. Glad to have you.
I noticed you didn't mention a sonar unit. A flasher is not absolutely necessary, but does make for a far higher success rate!!!! I didn't have one last year and went with a friend of mine who did. Our holes were 5' apart... same lure.... same presentation. He outfished me 5 to 1.
Guess what... this year I have a Humminbird 386 CI for primary use and a Vexilar FL-8 as a backup.
Where abouts are you located?
I'm in Mentor. I am thinking of ordering a portable set up for my Humminbird PiranhaMax I use on my boat. I was told that I should make a shallow cut for the transducer and use RV antifreeze to sit the tranducer in. I plan on trying Geneva State Park harbor area, Aquilla, Punderson, Ladue, and Mosquito.