The longer they are your clam belly will come up off the bottom and start to spin. The same thing holds true if using bunker. The last time I checked clams and chunks of bunker don't swim up in the water column away from the bottom. The bait needs to lay right on the bottom. About 2 foot of leader or so, no more. Make sure your using enough weight to keep you down too. I fish in the Delaware Bay in the spring and fall. We have a strong current especially around the moon.

The Bass and Drum will not touch the bait if it does not look right.