Hooks used on rattle reels

[beer batter]

I've always used a wide gap walleye hook in different shades of color (glow, red, black) with a shiner and a split shot weight about a foot above it. It has always suited it's purpose and worked pretty well.

Last year I had a camera down watching walleyes swim in right on the bottom and those shiners would use all their strength to swim up. They were able to get over 2 feet off the bottom. The walleyes would typically not go up after them. I moved the split shot lower but I think that defeats the purpose of a plain hook, natural look I was after.

This got me thinking I need some sort of weighted jig on the end of my rattle reels to keep the shiners in the strike zone. I'm thinking vertical instead of horizontal, but not real sure. What do others use to keep the minnows down in the strike zone?

[dirtking]

I have tied on swedish pimples and then hooked a minnow through the back - the minnow swims and it shakes the pimple from side to side - I would say these have out fished plain hook and jigs for me. I will always put one down on a rattle reel at least - and when i am getting up at 2 am to pull up a wally a lot of times it is on the pimple

[deadminnowcatcher]

A THOUGHT THAT JUST CAME TO MIND. HOW ABOUT A DROP SHOT RIG ON A RATTLE REAL. THAT WOULD KEEP THE ACTIVE SHINER IN STRIKE ZONE SAY APP, 1 FT OFF THE BOTTOM. I TO LIKE THE PLAIN HOOK IDEA BUT WHILE WATCHING ON THE VEXILAR I SEE WHERE IT SOMETIMES IS 2 FT OFF THE BOTTOM AND THE EYES REFUSE TO GO AFTER IT. ///?????????

[wingnutken]

Trim the bottom piece of the tail fin off. That will make the minnow swim downward. Ken