I have read a few threads on the fishing forum that make it clear that TGO does NOT recommend crank baits for walleye.

Is there a write up of what he does recommend?

To narrow it down even further, what would be recommended for the first full week of August?

Perhaps he can chime in here?

Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef.

Thread spanning from 2009 to 2017. Go info in there.

quote QueticoMike: "Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef."

What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef."

What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook."

Do you typically drift back and forth or anchor?

quote QueticoMike: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef."

What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook."

Do you typically drift back and forth or anchor?"

He is usually anchored with the leech pole in a rod holder while he furiously throws crankbaits on his other pole so he can come home with fish! ;-))

quote The Great Outdoors:
What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook."

OK. This seems like a very straight forward set up. Except for the split shot.

Is the idea to use enough weight to get the lead on the bottom and have the leech swim? Or is the idea more like free lining?

quote bpneiman: "Thread spanning from 2009 to 2017. Go info in there."

Excellent link. Thanks.

quote QueticoMike: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef."

What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook."

Do you typically drift back and forth or anchor?"

I troll backwards, usually have the motor in neutral most of the time. When the line goes limp, I shift into reverse for about 3-4 seconds, then back into neutral.
If using the motor as a brake while drifting, I put it into reverse until the line goes limp, then into neutral until I the line tightens, repeat. You want the line to be dragging the bottom or close to it.
The slower you troll, the better.
The split shot size should be BB or 3/0. The heavier the sinker, the better chance of getting a snag.

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "

quote The Great Outdoors: "

quote QueticoMike: "Just put a leech on a hook with a split shot about 18 inches up the line. Drop it down on a reef."

What he said but I prefer a small split shot to be about 3-4 feet away from the hook."

Do you typically drift back and forth or anchor?"

I troll backwards, usually have the motor in neutral most of the time. When the line goes limp, I shift into reverse for about 3-4 seconds, then back into neutral.
If using the motor as a brake while drifting, I put it into reverse until the line goes limp, then into neutral until I the line tightens, repeat. You want the line to be dragging the bottom or close to it.
The slower you troll, the better.
The split shot size should be BB or 3/0. The heavier the sinker, the better chance of getting a snag."

Thanks for the detailed specification. That sounds like the best method for motor boat fishing. I agree the closer to the bottom the better, 6 to 12 inches up is probably best.

I like simple math..........put your leech down where there is no fish and you won't catch anything. Leeches are not a silver bullet, fish don't automatically appear out of thin air to eat your offering (although sometimes it seem so ;-)

So, what to do? If you are adept at getting a handle on where to drop your offering by all means a leech or a crawler is the preferred method. But what if you don't know much? Don't know much about walleye habits and are in unfamiliar water and are more or less clueless? You can drop your leeches all day but if your not where the fish are they may seem like a waste.

I like efficiency and I like to make use of what the conditions offer. Do you have a slight wind? Something which will ease you along? Make use of it.........locate rubbly shorelines (avoid smooth rock like the plague) and gently drift along with your leeches trailing behind. Try one drift shallow (10ft) and then try another drift out a bit deeper. Rinse and repeat. Be advised that if your leeches arent precisely placed, i.e. near the bottom, you will not catch your walleye. If the wind comes up a with a bit more force you may have to add weight. Try and keep your angle down into the water at about 45 degrees. More than this invites constant snags.

If your conditions are flat calm and you don't know where to fish then it is crank bait time. Yes they can catch plenty of fish regardless the naysayers. They are the ultimate "search" tool and a day spent trolling a lake will reveal much. Again, your offering must be kept near the bottom. If your not hanging bottom once in a while your not fishing. A depth finder is helpful in this endeavor. Lacking a depth finder trolling cranks become exponentially more unproductive and you would be better off drifting likely ares with your leeches (rubble banks which gently slope and rock points as well as moving water.........do not neglect "saddles" between islands especially if waves are moving). Trolling cranks away from shore can also reveal "reefs" which may be located seemingly in the middle of nowhere. See that rocky point which goes out? continue along its spine far out into the lake and it may pop back up. Such spots can be excellent.

Leeches can also be placed on the back of jigs. Get a black Fuzz-e-grub and stick your leech on the end right through its sucker. Ease to the bottom and drift along. Such a set up may be better for less snagging in windier conditions. Such grubs should be gotten in 1/4 and 3/8 oz and can be used when split shots no longer hold bottom for you.

Move around and be aggressive. Be confident and not passive. The ONLY reason your leeches arent working is that you haven't placed it in front of a fish. They WILL eat them if you drop it on them.

Any good tricks to keep leech from twisting line or from crawling up line?
I love leeches as bait; easy to carry, easy to care for and tasty to all, but they turn my line into a twisty mess. I trim 18" off a few times a day as it gets too kinky to be useful.