Try messing around with buoyancy, too, especially on waters with a layer of blanket weed on the bootom. Stuff the bait with a bit of balsa dowel (just enough to make a floater) and shot the trace just enough to sink.
You can then go for a really slow retrieve without getting hooked in the muck, and stop now and then for a minute or two. You often get takes the moment the bait moves again.
I used to think it mattere whether the bait was hooked to travel headfirst or tail first, but I don't these days. Headfirst is good, but if your baits keep flying off on the cast, try tail first (or tail section only!).
The advantage of head first is that 1) it looks more natural 2) more importantly, because the fins are facing the 'right' way it doesn't get snagged so badly.
If fishing baits in reverse, trim the fins off, or down.
Sink and draw is fabulous fun and massive productive. It encourages you to move around (do so stealthily because a lot of takes will come at your feet as you begin the final 'draw') and it nails fish in difficult conditions.
I'd always go for braid for this style. The sensitivity will pay dividends when the pike are a bit cagey.