drop my weights down to 5 to 10 ft. off the bottom sometimes. hit bottom many times in the finger lakes but never got hung up. just pay attention when you are running them close to the bottom. the downrigger will bounce like crazy when you hit.
you will never have a problem with fluorocarbon as long as you use the 100% fluorocarbon and wet the line good before you clinch your knot tight. I think the fluorocarbon has more friction when you cinch your knot tight which can weaken it.
I was getting the rainbows off of sliders which are leaders 15ft. 10lb fluorocarbon. I was in 130'to 100' of water with my downriggers down 95' and 85'.
I fished the south end this morning and caught one small rainbow on a cheater with a Sutton 44. I also had 3 lakers and another rainbow that I lost close to the boat. all fish were on spoons. no fleas but lots of weeds.
I fished keuka sunday and only caught one lake trout trolling. I know a charter that has been skunked three days in a row. he also trolls. maybe jigging or fishing with sawbellies would be the answer. good luck
I tie mine to my leader. I use different test leaders for finger lakes and lake Ontario. they are always fluorocarbon and are joined with a double uniknot.
I wonder if you guys are using sea flea line from blood run tackle on your downrigger poles? this works pretty good on the fleas. I went back to wire cable from braid on the downriggers. I also run more copper lines and wire dipsey's which also help. we can't fish the way we like anymore because of pests but we can minimize the problems they cause. I think our biologists need to do some research to see if or any damage they are doing to are fisheries.