If you can figure out the leadcore formula for putting a spoon just off the bottom over the depth you are fishing, you are going to get bit by the larger, bottom-hugging, goby-eating browns. Sounds like you figured it out.
Looking ahead to future weather, it looks like the possibility exists that sub freezing temps may extend long enough that rewinterizing your I/O may need to be considered based on where you live. Weather.com hourly forecast is helpful but can change daily.
Shoreline brown trolling you probably should be using a 1 color or 1.5 color. A three color at spring speeds will probably end up around 15' down so if you turn a little, you will dump it on the bottom. Off shore in a few weeks it is a good length for cohos and then again in June for offshore steelhead.
Two cohos and last picture is a steelhead. You need to learn the difference because steelhead have a size limit. If you examine the tail of both species, steelhead have spots from top to bottom. Coho have only spots on upper portion of tail and darker gums in mouth.
Nice meeting you yesterday leaving the launch. Congrats on the kings. We are two weeks ahead of last year so get offshore a little, the kings are there.
Above and beyond the alewife catch rate at depth, I was watching the graph when on the Kaho and I agree that the bottom was fuzzy with bait from the 300-400’ depth band.
I use a Weldon pad release with a dog clip. When a small fish is on, the heavy dog clip is easy to see hanging straight back. The heavy clip slides down the line easier in wind