tuffishooker

#1 Decide how much "coin" ie.$s you want to invest ; salmon fishing is not cheap !

#2 IMO electronics do not catch fish !

#3 Read Dan Keating's books on salmon fishing .

#4 The "bite" can change every day .

#5 You can fast track by going on a charter.

Read Dan Keating's books on salmon fishing.

Read Dan Keating's books on salmon fishing.

Ditto on spoons !either clean or as a stacker with a Spin Doctor and fly .

Colour selection is job #1 ; as previously posted changes with time of day . " 1000 + lures " is not unusual so be prepared !

Many answers to your question ; one theory is the wire sets up a harmonic [ noise ] which may attract fish ?  [ Maybe guaranteed to catch fisherman ?]  Wire is another depth device to be used at some distance from the boat .Again wire gives a different lure action which can make all the difference !

Wire is not easy to use and as you posted costs add up [ but who said salmon fishing was cheap ! ] .

My best advice after 30 yrs. on Lake O. KIS [ keep it simple to start ] ie. downriggers , add a stacker spoon. Dipsys next , but now you need wire or braid line with no stretch [ mono does not work well because of stretch ].

IMO less can be more : More can = tangles which has ruin a good .

Finally Dan Keating's books tell you all you need !

IMO if you use a " lipgripper " as in your pictures lake trout will swim away after dragging them for a short period to provide a " piscatorial CPR ". I have not seen any floaters using this method .

IMO the lake trout are decimating the bait fish population putting downward

pressure on the KS's ability to survive : A Chinook salmon must eat ~ 4 days or starve LKs do not have this " handicap ".

KS average lifespan is ~ 4 years ; yet to see a clear lifespan for lake trout , heard 20+ years .

This is reflected " in spades " with the apparent inability to re-establish a

viable Atlantic Salmon fishery .

Dissenting opinions are welcome !

May work for lake trout .

Blueberry Muffin .

I never leave the ramp without PFD on and now INSIST everyone else must also.

Body of lost fisherman found off Jordan June 09 .

PFD reported to still be in the boat !

Use quality tackle ; ie. SPRO or SAMPO terminal tackle : Welded rings are better than split rings !

!5 foot boat ashore at Charles Daley Park ; search continues today with police divers .

Greasy chicken wing .

Thanks for response ; you do not have to go out far to get fish off Weller !

Nice to read you got a fix ! Tks for letting us share your repair .

Thanks for post and update , what was working and where ?

Lost fish on snubbers so stopped using them ; as previously posted the drag is the main issue [ it has to be set right ]. I prefer a lever drag over a star drag reel.

I use a 8hp OMC 2stroke on a 16 ft. StarCraft 70 hp. would not go any smaller.Fuel savings add up plus the added safety of a backup engine.

Trolling down a big engine may lead to carbon build up .

As a last resort drop the lower unit and check for blocked exhaust ports from carbon build up , condition called " coking " : Had this problem on my 8 HP OMC.

Good luck and let us know how you make out !May be a good time to change the impeller.

Mea copa on the fuel filter but lesson #1 I was told by a fisherman I started with 30 years ago was to always FILTER your gas before putting in the boat's tank ( amazing the amount of debris in that funnel screen ).

Started to use a new filter from Hopkins Mfg. Corp. " Removes Water, Dirt and Debris from Fuel " Made in U.S.A. Anyone have an opinion ?

#1 If possible run the engine in the dark checking for sparks [ my lesson the "hard way was a loose bolt holding the power pack and the GROUND ; sparking was clearly seen in the dark ] easy fix to tighten bolt . I cleaned up ALL electrical contacts then put on " dielectric grease " [no further problems ]also ran a separate ground a lesson I learned from having a Chev. Vette !]

#2 Does the engine have a thermostat and does it work.

#3 Carbs or FI. carbs may have to be rebuilt.

#4 check or replace spark plugs.

#5 Check compression as a last resort ; if so use a gauge that screws into the block not one with a hose [ will give a low reading ]

Let us know if you get a fix !

Ditto also on the SPRO swivels and snaps also a quality product !