I've tried that trick before and it works, but with optimal the pellets are quite small and oblong. I wonder if you could use fly thread or sewing thread and tie the pellet to the inside curve of the hook?
Although Stubby Steve's are advertised to work in all fishing conditions, I have not found them to work in lakes around my house. I don't know if you need a pellet conditioned fish to eat a bait that looks like a pellet? Or maybe you have to switch over to the larger stubby steve's that look like worms or leaches or critters?
