I have caught some smaller fish using the figure 8 but rarely do it any more. I just don't have the confidence that I'm not going to spook the fish. The technique that I use the most if I'm throwing a sinking bait is once I see the fish, I stop wonding and throw slack in the line to make as hard of an angle change as possibel to imitate the trout trying to escape. I've had a lot of heavyweights eat the bait just feet from the boat when I kill the bait. Experiment and see what works for you.