..your not going to need weights.....the erratic movement of the Herring will Attract the Bass....the weight is only going to speed up the time it takes for him to die...(how good could you swim, if there was a weight tied to you???
)....you'd get tired real fast!!....you want the Herring to live as long as it takes for Mr. Striper to ....WHACK EM'!!!...
..and as far as hooking them through the head, your right...their instinct does make em' hit the head first (most of the time)....but, thats why you wait a few seconds....so he can inhale the rest of the Herring, then set the hook!!!...
..I've noticed, if you want the Herring to dive...stick him on top or thru the head area....mouth/nostril.....if you want him to swim for the surface.....stick him in the lower rear...and the picture of the hook thru the tail is touchy...you don't want to break his spine...try and go around it...so he can still keep his movement...
these are my observations...I'm sure others may have different approaches....try em out, and see what works best for you...