Since I troll most of the time I prefer to use artificials which will mostly be flies behind a hotspot flasher and Plugs. I've moved away from baits over the years because I've found I dont need them and because it's been less hassle not using them.(no stinking up the boat,no having to buy bait, no having bait tear off and more important no dogfish!) The only time I'll use bait is silver fishing and then I'll only use a herring strip(mostly to give the hoochies some spin)