I have had mine for a year and half, run in auto all the time, and have never had an issue with it jumping. I had an issue once, but that was do to a huge school of herring swimming under my hole.

All I use is 8lb. for all my shallow rods. You just have to take your time, play the fish out and watch your line on the bottom of the ice. Trout do a lot of thrashing at the bottom of the hole. The ice is the only thing that has caused and break offs for me. I have straightened hooks, but haven’t broke my line.

Unless you are going deep for lakers, a med action walleye rod will be just fine. I fish all walleye gear until I go deeper that 70-100 ft. Also, the same baits used for jigging walleye will work for trout. You just have to go a little heavier at times with the current on lake superior.

The biggest seller for me on a snowmobile is safety for travel. I fish Lake superior all winter, so crossing cracks and pressure ridges is a guaranteed thing. For this situation a snowmobile is the much better option.

I use the stretch fit, knit gloves that are about $1.50/pair. I cut the fingers, and carry a couple pairs with me. Then, a hand warmer in the pocket to keep one hand warm at a time and your good to go. It works for me.
I do have a pair of the striker gloves that are warm, wind proof, and water proof. But I don’t like the bulkiness when I’m hole hopping.

This is a known issue they had with some of the solo’s. I went to a shop in town and bought a couple feet of line and replaced all of them except the main pick up line. I haven’t needed a zip tie yet, but we’ll see.