Bait for walleye instead of trolling?

Any of you guys using bait up there for eyes instead of all that trolling?  Might end up with an Erie worthy boat next season but I really don't care for all that plug chugging nonsense.  I assume that crawler harness / drift fishing would still work, even if it isn't very efficient.  
 
And just to flip that around... anyone use gulp instead of the emerald shiners?  Assuming that the shiners are pretty easy to find up there, but the catching we did on our charter seemed like those 1" gulp minnows would probably have worked just as well.  This one is a curiosity, we'll likely try it for ourselves if we end up fishing up there.
 
Thanks!

Don't waste your time with gulp, real worms will outfish it every day.
 
 
 
 

zippyduck, trolling is not that difficult.  it's definitely some work, but once you've got the 3 main tools(down riggers, planer boards, and dipsies) figured out you get into a rhythm and things should go smoothly.  personally, switching to lead core was the best thing i could have done; takes alot of the guess work out.  i'm mainly using 2 or 3 types of plugs and printed out the dive curves for the weights of each type; especially handy when you're flat lining.  did the same thing with dipsey diver dive curves.  carry them in plastic freezer bags for quick reference when needed.  a fish finder with gps is invaluable.  you can get back on your fish that day, or on your marks the next time you go out (you gotta start somewhere).  make things easier on yourself.  install a concave ball rest next to your down rigger,  or at least install a locking rope guide that will keep your ball from swinging around.  when you bring your dipsey rod in, drop that dipsey diver onto the deck of your boat before you start working on the line or lure; no need in fighting the weight of the diver as it's rocking all over with the boat.  keep a boat hook handy to pull in planer board lines to set out different plugs if you don't have a pulley system installed.  there's alot you can do.  for myself, i need 3 people on my boat.  a driver, and 2 of us to help each other set rods, (it's tough for me to set rods by myself, reel in, and net).  and keep the number of rods you're running to a manageable amount.  you'll catch more fish with 5 or 6, then you will if you're constantly untangling 9 or 10.  running a high number of rods takes skill on the driver and rod setters parts.  not for the rookie or faint of heart.  and if you're not catching, observe other boats in closer or out farther with binoculars.  and hey, sometimes they're just not biting.

Drifting with night crawlers and bottom bouncers is the funest way