Sk8man

Good luck....I hope I'm wrong.....but last year they clogged up our downrigger wires so bad the weights couldn't be retrieved right about now....be interesting to see how you make out.

I think that they are there and probably large concentrations out there but the lines most prone to them seem to be lines running laterally (horizontal) and moving through large sections of the water column. Copper setups if running the braid backing just below the surface seem much less prone than other stuff where braid is run further out into the water column and riggers and wire rigs seem to readily accrue it and probably part of it relates to there being a lot of line out at an angle in the column. The flea concentrations seem to vary throughout the lakes and within the water column in those lakes. My hunch is that if you were to talk with folks that were trolling for good distances with riggers, leadcore, and braid they'd be complaining about the fleas. The fishook type seem to be more of a pain to get off too. Although the concentrations seem to vary from lake to lake and within the lakes they don't usually disappear until the water temperature gets down below 60 or so toward or in early Fall.At least that is what I have experienced with them thus far.

Real good summation. go with the flow and don't try to fight Mother Nature

It uses a special coated cable according to the literature from the company https://kelloutdoors.com/products/drx-10-speed-and-temp-system

Yeah I was joking. You've been doing pretty darn good without one though

Might be nice if all you have is a canoe in Outer Mongolia but I'm sticking with the X4D

I do use the offshores and others as well. Commonly use 4 oz but depends on what I'm running and the water conditions and water depth.

Most likely it is your own computer or device that is at fault.

Most of the time I add it right at the connection of the fluoro leader but I sometimes run it at the connection of the backing and copper depending on what I'm running. If I am running heavier stuff at the end I use the former and for sticks etc. I use the latter most often. After awhile you can tell by the feel of the rod and tip which point seems better for that particular setup.

Try using a flyrod with small black wooly flies or streamers (e.g. red ones)

Good plan

I camped at Sampson for years but never in the fairly new cabins. There are about 240 campsites and good bathroom facilities etc. At one time had a self-contained camper as well as tents. Tenting is not bad there and and no matter which site you choose (most are electric) water and facilities are in easy reach and the launch is within a couple minutes of any of them. Sampson and Cayuga Lake State Park are pretty busy campgrounds and often the sites fill up fast. Cayuga is also a real nice campground (just there past weekend) with many amenities and a wide range of sites, and swimming beach etc. and cottages but they are probably filled up for the season early)The launch there at the park is quite low water so I launch up the road about 10 miles south on Rt#89 at Dean's Cove where you have nearly immediate access to good fishing. There is a fee and a kiosk there in the parking lot that only takes credit cards no cash.

I think the key here is "long" coppers. It is the length of time bringing in the fish say on a 600 copper that is critical. I don't use anything longer than 300 and add weight if needed. 100 yds (length of a football field) is a long way behind the boat just for the wire alone.

He has helped out a bunch of buddies and in each case total satisfaction with the job done....rare level of competence in these times and highly commendable

You are right about the knot stuff but despite some folks aversion to wire crimps I have used them for 40 plus years and never have problems with them if carefully applied and routinely checked as should be done with any line or connection points. You do need to use the right size for the particular wire diameter used though.

You may wish to consider the 19 strand wire (if you can find some.....most placed are backordered). Some folks have suggested that it keeps the fleas off better and is less liable to kink. They all work if you are careful in deploying and maintaining them by keeping tensions at all times.