When you're plunking with the slider, you need a dropper to keep your offering slightly off bottom.

When drifting with a slider, just slide a snap swivel up your mainline, so that the snap hangs straight down. Now, tie a barrel swivel on the end of your main line. Tie your leader to the other end of the barrel swivel, and put lead on the snap of the swivel that's sliding up your mainline. It's best to just get some Leadmaster pliers and punch your own.

I only run the sinker-slides (the plastic tubes) when I'm fishing a plug with a dropper, or bait with a dropper from a boat.