The pull outs along the dam face can be excellent, little to no mud or ticks. You will have to be careful with traffic but once you are down to water you are well away from road.
Crappies can be in surprising places. Caught some in Idaho from a lake known for brook trout. I was in school at the time and had learned to age fish from the ear bones. These were big fish but the age was still surprising to me. 6 to 8 years old.
How does one decide on what type of foregrip to add? Do foregrips increase breakage risk? Seems like adding one adds leverage. I have a 12 wt blank I want to build and I have not found good guidance on adding foregrips.