Cool trip. The smaller fish will tolerate warmer temps a lot more than large fish. I've had some great luck on summer specks trolling in 20-30 feet on main lake shorelines and 2 oz weights. On those small lakes maybe try bouncing a jig and worm on some mainlake points. They will also push in shallow all summer for quick periods at low light.
Can't help with the ducer mounting, but I have the portable version of this unit (greyscale) and it's a great unit for the price. I can bring it on a week long fishing trip and not have to charge the battery once. You can definitely hook it up to the cranking battery.
Hopefully you don't regret being a cheapskate and going the electric route. Wind will not be kind to you. I know you said speed is not important but it sure is nice to be able to hop from spot to spot with ease. Also, if you're fishing alone you're gonna have to load up the bow of your boat with lots of weight or buy cable extensions for your motor, one guy plus a heavy deep cycle in the back is like having a sail in the front of your boat lol
It's still insanely weak, no excuse for that. I use main line mono usually (can't justify the extra cost for fluorocarbon) and it works perfect, it's not rocket science. If you insist on using fluorocarbon, then Seaguar is where it's at.
The amount of money, blood, sweat, tears, time etc put in to preserving the fragile fishery of native brook trout in rivers like Credit, only to have a dirtbag like him come in and exploit it...doesn't seem so minor to me.
I love burning spinnerbaits across the top. More versatile than a buzz bait that's for sure. Boil it across the weeds and slow it down when you come into a pocket...