I fish them loose. They seem to get more action if you just slide them over the leader. I will also cut down some of the foam in low/clear water conditions to get rid of some of the white. Do they work better than good old corkies and yarn? Hard to say, mabey then again mabey not. I like to use them as my go to lure. When nothing else works I'll try a aerofly and it that dosn't work I give up and move on.