My brother and I used to fish a large private reservoir and would utilize that exact technique!
We would tie on some tiny spinners and quickly put about five BG or GSF in the live well. My brother would then troll them out behind the boat on a big catfish hook under a bobber.
We would then fish the shoreline for LMB. Several times during the day, we would hear his drag start singing on the trolling rod. Caught and returned many bass over 5#. Ate many bass around 2#.
He also definitely lost many bass beside the boat - that were not actually hooked! He just reeled them in as long as the bass was willing to stay clamped on the BG. I actually netted a large LMB that I don't believe was hooked. The BG sprung out of the fishes mouth as soon as the bass felt the net.
P.S. Being young and stupid with my brother sure were good times!
