Short grass or cover, I might consider ditching the stake... High grass or cover, I would use the stake.
I try to make the decoys look natural and relaxed, and as visible as possible... I typically have the jake behind the hen, and set up the jake where I want to take the shot... If I think I know where the birds will come from, I try to keep the decoys out of a straight line of sight to me, and being a right-handed shooter, I put the decoys to my left (it is far easier to swing to your off-hand side).
Last couple years what I typically do is set up on roosted birds with my decoys and a great hide, have them completely ignore me, put the decoys back in the truck, and drum up a bird after the hens have left em'....
