Not a lot of sugar for a nickel tommy. My top rig has a short leader...6" max usually 3". The point is to give the minnow some leash to roam without fighting against the weight on the main line and to some degree to prevent the fish from feeling the weight of the main line immediately, but more importantly, when it flares it's gills to suck in the bait, the short leader does not inhibit the movement of the bait into the fishes mouth.

Course...all this is academic. Haven't seen a rig yet that WON'T work. Just the above works best for me.

Wannabe...