I can't vouch for it personally, but I was told by a guide in Alaska, that he uses the yellow/brown kitchen sponge for bait. Cuts it about the size of a rasberry, and attaches under the egg loop on his hook. Fishes it just like drift gear. Don't know whether it's a crock or not, but we catch a lot of fish around here on colored nerf football trimmed like a big egg. Nuff said