i like the spike it markers to but if i dont have any handey you can also use a sharpey marker they work just as good and just cover the bait with bang garlic spray. i will go as far as coloring my pinchers on my trailers red or orange depending on time of year and color the tips black so it looks more like a real crawdad. might not make a difference but as long as i think it does and i am catching fish then to me it makes a difference.