Bruce<
RE: #3
Have you tried a small round piece of foam, like from a pillow or craft shop, the color of pellets soaked in one of the liquid fish attractors. I've seen them for Crappie, Trout "Game Fish", and even worm and crawdad smells. They also have sprays of the various scents.
I read somewhere that you only have to be 2% smarter that whatever you are trying to do to accomplish your goal. Not sure if the guy who said that was a fisherman.
Dan