Now would be the time IMO to learn it so when prime time for doing it hits you will be ready to go. There are probably lurkers on here that can catch them now long lining but good for them. Now would be time to pull cranks !! I dont know how the ribbon grass is in Wheeler but that could be your biggest problem , its a night mare here in Guntersville,but Anytime due to the amount of water you cover makes it an adventure but over here on the Big G from mid Jan on until the spawn is over sometime in late April has always been prime for my buddy and I. We learned how during the Summer and thought we would slay them ,in the fall HAHA ... it was a bust but once we got into Jan the year we took it up each trip got more and more productive when we could avoid the grass!! best speed was .8mph using a 1/16th jig head with june bug curley tail jig or a paddle tail grub were good. We ran 4 lines on each side of the motor out back as his boat was wide enough to sit in a lawn chair as we pulled.