Trolling probably is the better way to go but I was plume too lazy. Saw bait up higher and fish swirling for a while three cast distances away. LOL Still did OK bottom fishing but the bite was soft again. Lots of pull downs and fish getting off. Managed seven and never got the 30 inch plus kicker I was looking for. Had several in the area on other days but not yesterday or today. Bait was as easy as before so I haven't had issues with the moon. The closer to day break, the more the moon is to the west and the better the bait quantity and quality.

It's my experience that I've never known a shiner not to dig if they see the bottom regardless of where you hook them. Alewives tend to swim up regardless of where I you hook them (on Cumberland anyway). Hook Alewives through the nostrils and they tend to turn on the hook and hook themselves in the side of the head, unless you use a piece of rubber band or coffee can lid plastic before the bait to keep them from sliding too far up the hook. Hook through the tail and they don't last as long. Tail hooking today got less misses but got less bites.

If you want to "bottom fish" shiners on Cumberland, the way to do it is reverse. In the same area you would bottom fish, rig up three ways with the hook off the middle and a one ounce (no more no less; and I don't know why) weight on a two foot leader on the bottom. The middle leader needs to be right at a foot. Slow slow slow troll those rigs in the same area with the weights always on the bottom and your line as verticle as possible. The nose hooked Shiners will dive and fight to get to the bottom and will give the best action shiners can give.