Just wanted to say Thanks for welcoming a newbie in my other post. I would like to share some tips in return if that's ok. I have been using sinker slides for many years...I used to make my own. Ones I have been using for quite some years now are a commercial brand that have a metal clip on them. I remove the metal clip just to cumbersome and tends to get tangled up on me. For those that don't use them sure a quick google will find them. Many people use a three way swivel which is ok....but with a sinker slide I find you are able to let the fish run with the bait.

The way I use them is I take and cut off a section of my main line a foot or two and lay it aside.
Take the bare line from the tip of the rod....run it thru the slide tie on a swivel
Then take the piece of line ya already cut off I like to use about 18" tie on other end of swivel.
Then the hook on the very end.
Tie a piece of light line so it will break away..I like to use something less than 12" and the your sinker.

If I'm fishin for large fish with larger baits I will sometimes put a fairly good sized clip on bobber a little ways in front of the hook. If I'm after smaller cats I will use a smaller bobber.
If you ever pulled your baitfish in and can tell that the tail is all scraped torn up then I believe it's because the baitfish try to hide there head with then the cats can only get there tail. I have pulled in 15" suckers after getting some weird action...only find the back half the fish eaten mouthed on. The bobber will prevent this. I have found big hungry cats are not tackle shy...