I've seen guy's use small treble hooks buried into some pogie chunk's.
They would scoop up chum
with a little hand shovle & toss that nasty glob of fish matter into the canal then immediately cast there treble hooked goodie into the slick and drift it.
They swear by it.
If your having problem's with the hook staying in the bait try cutting it while frozen or keep it extremely cold that way the bait will keep it's consistency/firmness, Macks are awesome for that but pogies break down & thaw to quickly & get squishy.
What about artificial's they have no sent at all on-em laced with two sets of trebles & they catch fish.
I dunno I really don't think it matters,but thats my 2 cents.