I have tried the speck on a bobber trick and if the stress has not killed them the pike or other predator fish often get them. One thing I have seen work on occassion is big specks approach and hang out right next to my basket of other specks hanging over the side of the boat. I have only seen this happen when there are only one or two live ones in the basket and it is during the spawn, but the ones that approach are usually nice slabs.
It is not about the equipment you have to use,
It is about how you use the equipment you have. :D