Those little steel sliding sac makers work quite well at pinching the top of the sac so you can get corrrect tension and tie it off easily. Kinda like a second set of hands.

I use good ole Chicken of the Sea - packed in oil and you might want to try a little anise :p . Further you can change the consistency with canola oil.

Finally, a little bird once told me to go to the craft store and buy some glitter to mix in to the bait.