bait shops

Any recommendations for good places to get herring and prawn for spinners. Does anyone use food grade, ie: from costco or Freddies? What sized do you recommend for trolling in the Mult channel or W or C?

Thanks
John

I usually go to Fishermans Marine or BiMart. Green label herring is a common size to use.

I did a survey of sources of bait in the Missoula area, and was disgusted to discover that it was cheaper to buy seven inch long fresh sardines at the Good Food Store, a local organic food store, than it was to buy frozen bait fish at any of the local sporting goods stores.

Food grade Prawns work great.  I cure them up with equal parts egg cure and salt.

Food grade herring don't always hold up as well.  The bait herring are kept alive and starved for a couple of days, before flash freezing, to ensure the flesh is firm and the scales stay on.

I generally buy mine at Hoggs, Bi-Mart, Dicks or Fisherman's depending on my schedule.

-Mark-

I can't recommend these enough. http://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/dicks-sure-spin-herring-helmet They make your herring last a lot longer saving you money. As for bait, I mostly get mine at Dick's since they are on the way home from work. What I started doing this last year was buying a dozen then mixing up brine (I used Pro-cure bait and brine). I would put 4 herring and some brine in a vacuum bag and vacuum pack at a low vacuum setting on my chamber vacuum. When I would go out, I would throw a couple 4 - packs in my bait cooler.  Most days this Fall with the sure spins, I would only need to open one bag.

As for my Springer season last year, I could have fished the whole season with one herring. 

+1 on Dick's herring helmets, expensive but they pay for themselves by saving you bait. I find they work even better with a bobber stopper behind it.
Has anyone tried the other style of helmets that allow you to leave the head on herring? I've been interested in mixing it up with some of these to see if they stimulate a bite on the days the cut plug isn't producing results.

I can't recommend these enough. http://www.anglerinnovations.com/products/dicks-sure-spin-herring-helmet They make your herring last a lot longer saving you money. As for bait, I mostly get mine at Dick's since they are on the way home from work. What I started doing this last year was buying a dozen then mixing up brine (I used Pro-cure bait and brine). I would put 4 herring and some brine in a vacuum bag and vacuum pack at a low vacuum setting on my chamber vacuum. When I would go out, I would throw a couple 4 - packs in my bait cooler.  Most days this Fall with the sure spins, I would only need to open one bag.

As for my Springer season last year, I could have fished the whole season with one herring. 

Look for their Angler Innovations booth at the PNWSS. I stopped by in Seattle and said hello to the owner Steve and wife Kris. They are super nice people and very great supporters of our ORC. They were excited to show me the new colors and UV as well. Stop by and tell them thanks for their support. I swear Kris will hug you! Sure Spins are truly amazing for Herring and kayak fishing. I rarely fish without them now because the save bait and make herring last sometimes for 30-40 minutes. Just add a tiny bit of herring scent every once in a while.