i find that when the kings are finicky for the lures and deadbait, a livie of any sort should get a hit. i once dropped a live poddie after it spiked me and he got smashed by a king as soon as he hit the water... after getting no hits on anything with hooks all day. i threw in a poddie with a hook in its back after, and the kings showed little interest. i once saw them hitting bread chunks in a burley trail, but ate nothing connected to line or hooks. at the time i was using 30lb fluro, but even going down to 8lb on my light rod couldnt entice a bite from any kings, and i wasnt keen to livebait on a 2000 reel 😅