Tie direct.
As for retrieve you might remember here we have stocked rainbow trout which typically swim in fairly open water at a usually steady rate with the occasional burst of speed. They usually swim 1-2Ft (or 1/2 a Meter) from either the surface or the bottom. Our bass key on them because they are a mouthful of food with almost no brains(from being raised in huge tanks without predators).
If you can find what your big bass prey on and find out how that prey lives it's life, imitate it. You might even repaint your lure to look like local prey, or create your own lure to imitate local prey.

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade