ADK i dont realy know we have fished all day with deadsmelt and have been sore the next day from chasing flags down. and then we have had days when they will not touch them. So we jig up some live ones throw them on and kabam!! the fish start bitting so now we usually mix it up half and half if we get a couple on deadsmelt we switch them all over if we get a few flags on live then we put all live on.. NOTE this is for lake trout, salmon seem to prfer live smelt but we have had them hit dead smelt. My own personal opinion??? well just look at my name... But i am still unsure?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? so did i answer any questions here ? answer.......... NO.