Hitting Knife Lake in about 2 weeks and have been wondering if anyone has strictly fished a 3"-4" Gulp Minnow on a slip rig with a buried hook. Might not be the best for trolling but with an occasional jerk and drop, wondering if it may be successful. Thinking about grabbing a pack for the trip. Opinions?

I use Gulp minnows all the time jigging lead jigs. Also use Gulp leeches when trolling spinner rigs. I've caught Northerns, Walleyes, and Bass using them in the BWCAW. Back home I can add crappies and catfish to that list.

Why bury the hook? I much prefer an exposed hook unless the conditions are very snnaggy or thick weeds. Your chances of a good hook set are vastly improved. If your not Carolina rigging with a slip sinker why not just a straight jig head? Lots of very good jig heads these days with premium hooks.......don't skimp.

Don't be afraid to rig your bait sideways.........a bit more of a glide and a slower fall good for cooler water or neutral fish.

Knife lake.......really clear water if I remember correctly. Natural colors and 6lb gamma mono or braid with a floro leader. I did very nicely on chunky smallies passing through knife on the Hunters island loop. Again think light line, fine needle sharp hooks and long casts.

I like Quetico mikes Zulus for this time of year if smallies are the target.

quote mastertangler: "Why bury the hook? I much prefer an exposed hook unless the conditions are very snnaggy or thick weeds. Your chances of a good hook set are vastly improved. If your not Carolina rigging with a slip sinker why not just a straight jig head? Lots of very good jig heads these days with premium hooks.......don't skimp.
"

+1

another thought concerning the Zulus...........part of what makes them so effective IMO is that the radical movement imparted if your fishing them right gives the fish precious little time to examine your presentation.

As opposed to a gentle finesse tactic like a gulp on a jighead. They are going to take a good hard look at that set up and on a clear lake like knife the bigger fish might be hard to fool. Of course we are generally talking smallies and the gulp minnows will take the walleye especially in low light conditions. Knife lake.......think light line........think exceptional knots.........have I ever mentioned the tie fast tool ;-)

Just got out of fishing the Numbered Lakes last week and Gulp Alive minnows were the golden ticket. They didn't care if they were the shad or pumkinseed color. The walleyes (and occasional pike) couldn't get enough. This was the first time that artificial minnows outfished live minnows for me.

Elkman how were you fishing the Gulp minnows? jig?

We fished the Gulp Alive minnows on Northland Whistler jigs (orange and chartreuse). Other jigs worked as well, but these definitely were the hot item.

All I ever use for crappies any more! Great bait and lasts several fish! I have good luck in cold weather with them for walleye too.

I used the 4 inch Impulse minnows on my Sept trip to Wabakimi last year with GREAT success, fished them on a jig and either slow trolled the jig or jigged it. I did have some Power leeches along but didn't even bother to try them. A few years ago I was in the same area with my son and Daughter-in-law, Emily took a gold Big Doctor spoon tipped all three hooks with Gulp Leeches [insert me rolling my eyes and shaking my head at her] then she proceeded to out fish my son and I together nearly 2 to 1 both on walleyes and northerns. FRED

Have any of you used larger Gulp minnows dorsal hooked for still fishing? I've had mixed results still fishing with other plastics. Typically, if there is a little wave action, the plastics bob and move a bit, tending toward more bites. Anyone have any luck fishing Gulps this way?

We fished with Gulp Minnows. That's what we usually do fish with actually - but as you're probably aware they reek - so we triple bagged them in zip locks, and then hung them with our food.

quote MNLindsey80: "We fished with Gulp Minnows. That's what we usually do fish with actually - but as you're probably aware they reek - so we triple bagged them in zip locks, and then hung them with our food. "

Tell me,the lid came open in my pack,it still stinks.