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putting nails in your deadbait is a bad idea... I've heard many stories of people cleaning their pike and finding nails in them from eating other peoples deadbaits... so you will be harming the fish! instead try attaching a rubber core lead weight to the quickstrike rig
Easiest and best way to make them sink is to puncture the internal airbladder.Use the hook to do it,may have to do this a few times,and the smelt will sink.Also can gently sqeeeze the air bladder area to remove.Using nails is a very bad idea.
You are 100% correct!!!!! Stay away from putting anything into bait that might kill fish