smell!! shell a fresh peeler cut it in half and have a GOOD whiff ,now remember that lovely pungent aroma !!!! next peel a dead one ,and have a whiff ,it wont smell rotten! just different. i often smell frozen ones and can tell if it was dead before freezing ,smoothys and bass will normally not go for a dead one but cod and coalies dont seem as fussy in my few years of experience

and doggies home in on dead ones

and any other bait you have