So, stop some place where the small fish normally are and get a couple of quick bites. The weight being part of the hook means that the weight does not slip away from the bait. This makes the slider head more natural looking when swimming or suspended. The bait looks more natural when being lifted and when falling. When fish are shallow most of their predators come from above.
Confidence is the key.
To get a strike, the lure has to touch the top of the submerged vegetation. Keep checking them and checking them during tournament day. Many tournaments go by with the numerous stops into an area and suddenly ol bucketmouth wants to eat your bait. If you are on a strange lake, you are likely to put in the time to find fish and develop several spots or a good pattern or two. But put anglers on a lake they know well, and they are very likely to go fishing, not prefishing.