Gas prices are killing me know also! It costs me over $80 to fill my jeep now and that would be one trip to Winni and back. I need to figure out the northern lakes though. I am hoping to find some lakers on the bottom and anchor over them.
Try Yanking them. A buddy showed us how this year and it works! We use lead core line ( I have 10 colors he uses a 12 color set up). What you do is troll .8 mph. Let out the lead core line with a short (6-8') 20lb leader and a sutton spoon. The thin ones like the #61 hammered. You want the light spoon so if flutters. Anyway you pay out line, we have been fishing 50- 70' of water right now, figure on ten feet down for every color ( aprox.). As you let out the line yank the lure up and let it down then yank again When you reach the bottom you will feel a thump in the line when you yank it up. This takes some feel to know your not to deep or too shallow. I have also read thet 5-10' off bottom is ok too, but we go right down on it.
Anyway you troll along yanking the line continuosly, don't pause at all. As the bottom comes up you take line in to prevent hooking bottom, as it dropps you lay line out. I have found the best way to do this is set the rod in a verticle holder, free spool and clicker on. Payout the line until you are on bottom and while holding the line that goes to the rod tip in one hand you hold the line going into the water in the other hand and yank with that. Sometimes the lead line will wrap around the rod making it a hassle when you hook up and try to reel in the fish. You have to straighten out the rod first, but it does work.
One key I noticed fishing like this is you do have to be moving .8 mph any slower and we have had no luck, faster and we can't hold bottom.
Give it a try and let me know how you make out. Maybe we can start Team Yankers! LOL
Spike
