Making sure that smokepole goes off!!!!

[Skinny Shooter]

This is a good topic and welcome to Huntchat.

The day before, I make sure my flint sparks and will chip the edge if needed with my forged screwdriver.
Then foul the barrel and load a ball with an ox-yoke patch over FFg.
It stays like that for awhile into the season.
From your description it sounds like you're not using a patched ball.