Everything that they've said is true. Seat time is the only thing. We haven't had a bad winter the past few years so it's been early, IMO, the past couple years. I remember year before last I caught fish 18" deep on the bank on February 8th. Who woulda thunk it?? If I hadn't gone fishing I never would have known. I was the only one on the water that day and me and my daughters ripped em!!!!!