TyeeTanic

30 or 40 lb Seagar Fluoro. Not sure why you are breaking off with 30 mono ... is the line old? Perhaps it's kinked from a wrap around the wire?

Sorry, should have clarified. Not trolling, but getting tackle out, rods down, etc.

I don't think the sail boat was trying to overtake. I heard the captain of the power boat wasn't looking and slammed into the sail boat. My guess is the autopilot was on, and the captain was busy attending to fishing lines, not paying attention.

I can't see any reason you would shorten the leader length for meat vs. flies. But this time of year is about getting salmon to strike out of aggression, so your setups should produce a more erratic pattern.

Torpedo, smoke color, 7 strand 30# .... you can go 19 strand, more money ... but I think the 7 strand is good enough.

Are you drifting, when you say you're not in forward gear? Or are you standing still speed over land?

This knot, except you can make it simpler by tying the overhand knot in step 4 FIRST, leave that overhand about 1 inch from the end of the doubled line, then put your swivel through. http://njsaltwaterfisherman.com/forums/index.php?topic=15015.0

Flashers with meat is the most common setup.

Well, North Shore gets tough ... staging salmon are not the easiest to catch. I'd much rather pick end of July to fish than September, that's for sure.

Kings in August and particularly September? I wouldn't waste my time ... September they are well into staging, have stopped eating and some have even started running up rivers. This starts mid August. The best time of the year to fish them is end July in my opinion. Anyhow, if you do go in August, try going earlier rather than later. The bite changes from one of appetite, to one of aggression that time of year ... and so normally we switch up to bright colors red/orange/purple ... even start going to erratic baits like lymans, j-plugs, reer runners, etc. Staging salmon normally move to shallower water, but sit right at the bottom, so you need to troll with your lines about 10' off the bottom.

I've had okay success with them. I've caught some big salmon with them, but they probably only take 10% of the fish, if not less. Sometimes it's flies, spoons or real meat. Anyhow, we always try them at least for some time ... Size is important ... the larger ones seem to do better. Color is MORE important. The one Bosun Cowboy shows is a great one. There's two similar ones, one is green with black dots and the other is the same silver as he shows with black dots.

I assume you are fishing lake Ontario. If so, look at this site, find out how deep you need to go to get in some 42 to 44F water. Set hooks anywhere from 42F to 52F. https://www.glerl.noaa.gov/res/glcfs/glcfs.php?lake=o&ext=vwt&type=N&hr=06

Wait for July and go to Bluffer's in Scarborough ... fish off Toronto Island. Best time of year, and best place to be.

Meat has to go behind a flasher ... the heads by themselves just don't provide enough action. A pro troll paddle or spin doctor is the way to go. Normally 11" or larger paddle.

Not sure if you've considered a charter from Wilson. Nice time of the year to go salmon fishing.