Here's a challange...

[HAppnhook]

What is the best way to target suspended walleyes in waters that have a ton of weed chunks and debri to fowl any long lining bait. Or in light to moderate wind in the same waters. Assuming they are at 15-22' in 35 feet of water with very limited anchoring options. Oh yeah, and you are by yourself..........

[jgeatz]

I would try slip bobing and drifting at the same time. Might have to use a 3/8 ounce jig but it should work.

[Team Otter]

Try a different lake.

[PerchJerker]

Best way to target suspended walleyes is trolling crankbaits or crawler harnesses.

If there's junk in the water fouling your bait put a swivel on your line, rigged to catch most of the junk before it gets down to your bait.

The way to do it is this: Use a ball bearing swivel (very important that it's a ball bearing swivel). Tie it to your line 6 to 10 feet ahead of your bait. Position it so the thicker, blockier end (which doesn't swivel) is on the end closest to your rod. That puts the narrower, streamlined end that does swivel pointed towards you bait. Rigged like this, there will be no adverse affect to the action of your bait, and the swivel will stop must of the junk from sliding down to your bait. Even if the swivel is covered in weeds, cotton, gunk, etc. the bait will run true and stay pretty clean.

If the water is really messy this might not work, but it's a great technique to use in waters where you otherwise couldn't pull cranks or crawlers. Good luck.

[Rost]

To ad to what PerchJerker said...

Here's a few more.

1. Try trolling with a super line such as Power Pro. The smaller diameter line often will cut through green slime.

2. Sometimes a crank bait with an agressive action will shed off slime. (Salmo, Jointed shad raps, Hot n Tots)

3. Tie line on direct to the crank intead of using a snap

4. Speed up and pump the rod works too.

If these ideas along with perchjerker's suggestions don't work, I'd take Otter's advice!

[B420]

One trick that works great for us is to run your bait behind a planer board and clip a very small snap weight 50' from your lure.

Ben

[insurance guy]

I fish a lake just like that. They have weedcutters there and it has heavy boat traffic creating a floating weed nightmare most of the season and that's when I rely on my downriggers. Using the riggers will allow you to keep your bait in the zone without getting fouled because the cable will catch some of the weeds and some will get on your line but it won't mess up your lure. I will take another fishing rod as I troll and use the tip of it to "steer" weeds away from the cable and line as I go along which helps a great deal. You won't block em all but it's a very effective way to troll in that situation and get those walleyes in the boat Riggers are an overlooked option for walleye by many people but you can effectively run stickbaits, flutter spoons or spinners and walleyes will often times not trip the release but if you get good at it you can read the rod tip and tell when you've got a fish the same as you do with reading planer boards.

[HAppnhook]

Great ideas, I'll give em a shot!

[Team Otter]

Using a planer board ahead of the crank would also be an option. The board, in some cases, acts as a plow if you will.

[Mike Walerak]

A split shot a few feet above the lure will help out a little.

mw

[Northlander]

Take a snap from the snap weight and put it on the line above your lure. No weight just the clip. A little tip Todd Frank uses I guess.

[Jim Hudson]

A tip that I carry over from musky fishing... Tie in a barrel swivel to your trolling line (usually I am running a 12lb fluro leader from my main power pro line). From the top of the barrel swivel attach a split ring that holds a #2 treble hook. Clip off all the hook points and barbs but leave the bends in the treble.

This will catch a lot of the floating debris. Not all though, so checking lines often is still needed. No real way to eliminate this problem, but a lot of good tips to ease the hassle and to keep your lures in the water for that extra time needed to catch some fish.

[markkstanley]

Rubber bands. Just tie the band directly to the line. They provide some nice added bulk above a swivel or split shot with no added weight. For real messy lakes I have used a clear adjust-a-bubble bobber. The kind that you can fill with water.

[toddb]

Set your rod tip about 18" below the surface. Rod will catch most of the dump that is floating. Set drag a little lite and turn on the clicker.

later,

toddb

[tunrevir]

The flowage I fish often has a ton of weeds floating and sumerged during the summer months. I like to use a small bullet weight crimped on the line but reversed to catch the weeds about three feet up from my lure. The fireline comment is good as well, lets you feel the weeds and or cut through them. Another option is to tie on a #4 blade and a few beads about three feet up the line just above a barrel swivel and then a three foot leader with your crank. It adds a bit of flash and vibration as well as a weed catcher just above your lure. Looks really odd but it does produce or it least it has for me.

Tunrevir~

[Team Otter]

I have to say, this has been a great topic. Great information everyone and thanks for sharing.