Welcome to the forum, cwright!. Great looking boat. Sounds like things shaping up for some good fishing!!
Hickory is my home lake, and I enjoy fishing here, although I struggle a little finding any quantity of crappie on Hickory... I like fishing for striper here, too, especially through the winter - this will be my first year fishing with live shad, lol. We'll see how it goes. I used shiners in the past and they work ok, but I look forward to fishing with fresh netted shad. Assuming I can catch some, lol. Hopefully I'll see you on the water. I'm in a HydroSports white/teal center console.
P.S. Watch out for teamhooksetter, lol...he'll send you down a dead end!! Just kidding!!! He's a good friend, and a darn good fisherman....put me on some good stripers this past year.