I always used to add a bit of salt, say a palmful to a big pan full. Not sure if it makes any difference or not. Used to do really well on it years ago fishing 1 piece of maize and a piece of fake corn.
I dont use tubing i tie a knot in the hair but tie it to the shank of the hook at the same time. This creates sort of a blowback rig and when i catch a fish the knot it pushed up against the knotless knot. All i do then is gently ease it lose with my baiting needle and then slide knot back down shank.
I've fished with it on its own with a zig and caught and also fished it popped up about an inch over a bed of particles. Never just cast a piece out on its own without freebies but people have caught like that.
Once went to kingsbury water park after a bank holiday and it looked like a bomb had hit the place. I even helped the ranger pick some of the litter up it was that bad. I think he said he filled somewhere in the region of 20 black bin bags just round the one lake. That was due mainly from the argos brigade fishing in the holidays. Its normaly ok any other time. I dont see why its so hard to take it home with you though.