The other advantage of a trolling motor (Minn-Kota) type autopilot set up is the anchor feature. You can use it like an autopilot, but you can also anchor up for perch or other "still fishing" applications. More versatile than AP........ pricey but worth it.
Stopped today.... the gates were open, and the permanent docks were well under water. The odor is terrible, but the mosquitoes will drive you away before it gets to the point of nausea.
My elderberry sources have been overgrown or torn out over the years, and I would be interested in learning new sources, or bartering Lake Erie walleye fillets for berries...... any interest?
Rochester area............
You're correct. I grew up in Erie, and launched at Walnut and Lampe for years without paying a dime to do so. Been 25 years since then, so maybe things have changed.
Yes.
I'm running the same transducer to a Garmin Echomap Plus 93SV, in CHIRP, and marking fish from the bottom to the top in 130 FOW........... last weekend.
There were plenty of lakers on the bottom where I was last weekend.........
You can probably search old threads and pick up 80% of what you need........ for the rest, just ask here. Guys are happy to share their experiences.
I'm just the opposite ...... only use "big boards".
https://www.lre.usace.army.mil/Missions/Great-Lakes-Information/Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/Water-Level-Forecast/Weekly-Great-Lakes-Water-Levels/
The one month projected level is updated at the link above......... -4 is the biggest projected drop in a long time.
Sometimes pinning in slow clear water, I've seen a definite increase in float drops when going to less than 6 lb test. These experiments were with fluoro, but it became difficult to land fish on less than 3.3 lb leader material. I've never run the same experiments with mono or copo. might be worth it though............
https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/152445-line-stretch-test-18-typesbrands/
Here's a little data on line stretch that might challenge the "fluoro don't stretch" myth.
And a video on 10 lb fluoro stretch and deformation.