The buckets hanging off the stern is to keep you from swaying in the wind. I only used them (haven't fished down there for a while) when the wind was pretty severe. Also won't be as much of an issue if your boat doesn't have that much side area, say, if you have an open sled.

Am going to go down late this month, let me know if you want to team up. Am planning on heading for the Bonneville area.