mr 580

I use fluorocarbon leaders for spoons and small attractors on riggers rods. For meat rods and big paddles I just run main line mostly as to me that isn’t a stealth presentation. I do tie my meat heads and twinkies with fluorocarbon leader material. I’m a firm believer that kings will find the weakest link so good knots, terminal tackle, and quality main line/ leader will save money in the long run.

The dominant fleas in Lake Erie are a different strain than in Lake Ontario. In Lake Erie you can fish 15lb on riggers and braid on divers all season as the fleas pretty much fall off the line. On Lake Ontario you need heavy mono or sea flea line on riggers and wire divers to counter the fleas. I also feel that over 50 foot target depth and higher speeds on Lake Ontario that wire has an advantage especially pulling attractors over braid. Some also feel that the “signature” in the water of wire gives more productivity over braid also. On Lake Erie I use braid all season as it is more forgiving especially for less experienced anglers. On Lake Ontario wire wins with flea resistance, higher speed at deeper depths.

My Mag 5ST’s are “sloppy” in the base with both the bolt tightened and locks in the base - so apparently normal.

What are your reels/drags? Wonder if you are having drags bind up after a few long runs? Breaking off 30 to 50 feet up likely not a storage or terminal tie issue.

Weather has been crappy this week , but you should find temp break around 75’ down. So starting in 80 and going out should work. I have been getting Lakers up in walleye temps on riggers and divers with spoons pretty regularly so you shouldn’t have trouble finding them.

When the military went to GPS then the LORAN network was not maintained and eventually was phased out. One of the main radio towers was at Sampson. GPS is faster and more accurate. My guess is you would need to find old paper charts to get TD lines. I had a LORAN unit and they would get you back - however GPS much more reliable.

TD is Time Difference and goes back to the LORAN C system used prior to GPS. LORAN was based on radio transmitters and was “turned off” quite a while ago.

I’ve found with marine batteries that you need to change every 3 or 4 years. At that age they don’t seem to fully charge or hold a charge. The voltage is down 1 to 1.5 volts from a new battery and that can be a problem for your riggers, and electronics. You can load test and they appear to be OK but they just don’t hold a charge. Replacing on a schedule seems to work.

I have had many years experience with 2 stroke outboards and snowmobiles with oil injection and never have had a issue. IMO going to premix has it own issues. In a racing situation the fuel usage is likely much less than someone using a boat to fish with several times a week. Proper premix is done in a separate container then into tank. Just dropping oil into tank then adding fuel from a pump doesn’t mean it will mix properly. Also most systems are variable where premix is fixed based on your ratio. Much more convenient to pump fuel then add oil into a separate tank. Prior to oil injection it was very common for snow sleds to burn down from oil issues and poor premix. In racing with specific fuels and fuel ratio then premix works. In a consumer world using pump fuel/ non ethanol, I’d stay with an injection system.

Try Hodges Marine - they show in stock. They drop ship from local warehouse so shipping can be quick. I got next day delivery on a Minn Kota trolling motor from them.