Sherman51,

Just curious. 72 foot depths in the Central Basin in the summer have a thermocline. I've scuba dived wrecks out in those depths in August and the bottom is COLD. The upper layer of the water column temperature is in the mid 70's but under that thermocline it's around 45-48 degrees, from what I can remember. There is a HUGE differance. That being said, I would doubt there are any walleye down on the bottom out there, plus the high probability of anoxic water (low oxygen). Have you ever taken a water thermometer out with you and checked the water temperatures every 5 feet, especially down past 30-40 feet? If you are catching walleye at a depth around 50-55 feet or so, I'm betting those fish are just above or at the thermocline.

If you've never taken water temperatures out there, you should. Finding that thermocline line, knowing what depth it is, will help you find the fish. Setting your baits just above it would probably put them in the fish zone. The water clarity also can change around the thermocline which is another factor in where the walleye, and thier prey, might be.