You should consider changing the clips that come with the planers to locking style made by Off-Shore. Pretty expensive but worth the price. Simple adjustment of pressure on the pad with a screwdriver and they lock on the line so no boards to chase down. As far as the weeds, they are more pronounced in the shallower water but lots of fish are sometimes near the edges of the weed line if you can find it. Deeper water has less weed but there are still some floating vegetations even out there. Seems to me that the inflow of the Detroit River might just hold down the water temp. some and that is another plus. Don't take chances in big water with any boat especially a small one. Read the weather reports and wind advisory before going. Good luck and be safe.