ossuss

a small stick of powder with the hook buried in can stop the masking and help against tangles on the way down, plus give you some extra attractor if you need it. I agree with kev about the putty, i tend to always use a decent blob or a split shot, even with a bottom bait and have noticed a lot more full takes rather than odd bleeps and tugs I used to get - which I did put down to blow outs. You just have to take it off everytime you put a new stick on. A ring on the shank can help hammer it home when the fish blows aswell, but the hook has to be turned and in a good position for it to work well, so Id personally still use the putty/shot. nothing is going to be 100%, theyr'e still going to get away with it in some pick ups, but youve got to respect the crafty devils for it

same principal as dorset, but I sometimes use a small pellt band looped through the rig ring. with a hard pop up if you stretch the band through the pop up until you can just see it poking out the other side, theres no need for a bait stop. I wouldnt do this with a soft boilie, but then you prob wont be using them on a d rig.

you can also use a polaris float for this, which automatically finds the depth, great for trying different spots without having to plumb and adjust the float.

Although I'd personally use alot shorter hooklength than that shown in the link above, 4" max. Just my personal preference though.