What kinds of rod/reel are you using? We always use ultralights with light line (4-6 lb). If the bites are really light, I like to drop my spreader all the way to the bottom, reel up the slack til my rod tip touches the water. I then lift the rod tip up about a foot or two. If I don't get anything within 10 to 20 seconds I will drop the rod tip down to the water again (without letting out any more line) and then lift it up again. I can normally feel the bite when I lift it back up. There are a ton of different ways to do it, but this seems to work for me. Good luck.