[McLovin]

When you say seal, are you talking about your rubber gasket for your fill and drain screws? Or your oil seal behind your prop?

If it were me, I’d probably do just what you said. Check it after a couple of trips and if you don’t see milky oil then it likely was just a failed gasket on one of your screws (assuming that’s what you meant). If it’s that black every time you change it out, I’d probably change the frequency that you are replacing the gear oil. I think most manufacturers say 100 hours.

[McLovin]

I’d venture that braid is always going to “bite” into the flouro/mono, where your hook end is being tied to a smooth, round piece of steel. Testing has always typically shown that the Palomar knot is one of the strongest (if not strongest) fishing knots, I’m not sure where the uni would stack up against the other two though.

I also like braided line with a leader because it allows you to take advantage of the braid’s sensitivity and casting distance, while keeping a lower visibility from the fish’s perspective. But I will say that fishing around the Trestles, I’m usually throwing 100% flouro for the reason you mention and for getting the jig to the bottom faster.

You could try the FG knot, it’s supposedly the strongest braid to flouro knot, but it takes longer to tie than a double uni.

[McLovin]

I’ve been by these campgrounds a few times and it seems like the WMA staff does a pretty good job maintaining the grass. I would still probably bring a weedeater as mentioned, but I don’t think you would have too much of an issue. Just make sure you purchase the camping permit for the days you are staying! If you look back through historical imagery, you’ll see they are pretty heavily used during duck season. Not completely full, but one or two people at almost every campground.