How to Rig an Anchovy

the barbs are not required to actually be removed in Oregon, that is why they don't use any sort of 'cottonball test'.

Oregon regs., Definitions:

"Barbless hook: A hook manufactured without barbs or a hook with the point barb removed or bent down to the hook shank."

cheers, roger

Here's how WA defines a Barbless Hook: "A hook from which all barbs have
been deleted when manufactured, filed off, or pinched down."

rawkfish -

Just have one more question...

When you use the same rig for herring, do you use the medium helmets or the small? I got the UV medium helmets and they seem just a tiny bit too big my herring.

rawkfish -

Just have one more question...

When you use the same rig for herring, do you use the medium helmets or the small? I got the UV medium helmets and they seem just a tiny bit too big my herring.

Make sure you right size your herring for the helmet.  Big herring stuffed into small helmets don't spin well.  Small herring or anchovies stuffed into big helmets spin really well but Lg. helmets (and large baits) affect the rolling action of a ProTroll so you might want to use an inline flasher for bigger baits.

When all the green label herring are on the large size, I'll switch to red label herring.

-Mark-

rawkfish -

Just have one more question...

When you use the same rig for herring, do you use the medium helmets or the small? I got the UV medium helmets and they seem just a tiny bit too big my herring.

Make sure you right size your herring for the helmet.  Big herring stuffed into small helmets don't spin well.  Small herring or anchovies stuffed into big helmets spin really well but Lg. helmets (and large baits) affect the rolling action of a ProTroll so you might want to use an inline flasher for bigger baits.

When all the green label herring are on the large size, I'll switch to red label herring.

-Mark-

Thanks, Mark! 

Where do you get your bait? I tried googling and the closest places to me are not so close. I found a tiny little shop near the Edmonds Marina where I bought some herring but they don't sell anchovies.

Call John's in Everett and see what they have in stock.
https://johnssportinggoods.com/

Outdoor Emporium, but you have to go into Seattle.
https://www.sportco.com/default.asp

Hard to believe there isn't something between N.Seattle and Everett.

Google "fishing tackle shoreline/lynnwod" and make some calls.

rawkfish -

Just have one more question...

When you use the same rig for herring, do you use the medium helmets or the small? I got the UV medium helmets and they seem just a tiny bit too big my herring.

Make sure you right size your herring for the helmet.  Big herring stuffed into small helmets don't spin well.  Small herring or anchovies stuffed into big helmets spin really well but Lg. helmets (and large baits) affect the rolling action of a ProTroll so you might want to use an inline flasher for bigger baits.

When all the green label herring are on the large size, I'll switch to red label herring.

-Mark-

Yeah, that!

I have a couple questions, if you don't mind (glad to hear multiple opinions).

Intro:
I think I'm becoming a natural bait convert. I fished yesterday from 6am to 1pm, fish marks everywhere in the early morning. I've always been averse to herring/anchovies because (for me) they just deform/fall off/spin weird. I tried jigging, Brad's S.B.cut plug, spoons, flasher/no flasher...no bites. I noticed herring jumping/skipping on the surface (don't know that they were being chased-just noting that they were around). I had a few herring left that I had frozen and re-frozen a couple of times-using to stuff the Brad's so I decided to rig one up whole (I think they call it choked -2 hooks with a couple half hitches around the nose). It was spinning OK so I dropped it down and in under a minute I was hooked up to a really nice King. Unfortunately, it didn't make it into the yak (got it into net range but then poof). Not sure what to blame (most likely myself) but the 12 oz. weight might have been part of the problem.  It's hard to fight them with that much cannonball swinging around (lot of current here). Or, maybe the Gamakatsu hooks (purchased barbless) with their smooth round bend were part of the problem. The switch to bait and immed. hookup might have ben coincidence but I've spent a lot of time fishing artificials around here with little success.

Anyway, questions:
1) I plan to switch over to the big river hooks but 2/0 seems awfully small for a king. They seem to have a pretty small gap compared to some of the others too. Do you ever change up hook sizes based on target species? ever use the Owner Herring hooks? They're supposed to be a thinner wire/smaller eye so less likely to tear up bait-I plan on trying some of those for bank fishing for coho this month and next.
2) I've never had ANY success using a flasher. Maybe it's where I fish or some weird phobia I'm developing but, to me, they seem to spook fish. I wonder if it's because I mostly fish in areas known for mooching.
3) Brine or use fresh/semi frozen. A guy I met on the beach last year (who has pretty good success) never brines. His advice was to keep em as cold as possible for as long as possible.

Thanks, off to make my consolation greenling tacos...

Hey Rawkfish, thanks for posting the video.

I've been using the breakaway system that you showed, but since I started using it, I've noticed that my flasher occasionally fails to swing back and forth. Do you know how to remedy that? You mentioned that larger baits can affect the swing of a flasher - this failure happened to me a lot when I was dragging a 5" twitching hootchie - maybe I just can't fish a twitching hootchie with a flasher?

Man, I'm so behind on replies to this thread.  Sorry!

I have a couple questions, if you don't mind (glad to hear multiple opinions).

Intro:
I think I'm becoming a natural bait convert. I fished yesterday from 6am to 1pm, fish marks everywhere in the early morning. I've always been averse to herring/anchovies because (for me) they just deform/fall off/spin weird. I tried jigging, Brad's S.B.cut plug, spoons, flasher/no flasher...no bites. I noticed herring jumping/skipping on the surface (don't know that they were being chased-just noting that they were around). I had a few herring left that I had frozen and re-frozen a couple of times-using to stuff the Brad's so I decided to rig one up whole (I think they call it choked -2 hooks with a couple half hitches around the nose). It was spinning OK so I dropped it down and in under a minute I was hooked up to a really nice King. Unfortunately, it didn't make it into the yak (got it into net range but then poof). Not sure what to blame (most likely myself) but the 12 oz. weight might have been part of the problem.  It's hard to fight them with that much cannonball swinging around (lot of current here). Or, maybe the Gamakatsu hooks (purchased barbless) with their smooth round bend were part of the problem. The switch to bait and immed. hookup might have ben coincidence but I've spent a lot of time fishing artificials around here with little success.

Anyway, questions:
1) I plan to switch over to the big river hooks but 2/0 seems awfully small for a king. They seem to have a pretty small gap compared to some of the others too. Do you ever change up hook sizes based on target species? ever use the Owner Herring hooks? They're supposed to be a thinner wire/smaller eye so less likely to tear up bait-I plan on trying some of those for bank fishing for coho this month and next.
2) I've never had ANY success using a flasher. Maybe it's where I fish or some weird phobia I'm developing but, to me, they seem to spook fish. I wonder if it's because I mostly fish in areas known for mooching.
3) Brine or use fresh/semi frozen. A guy I met on the beach last year (who has pretty good success) never brines. His advice was to keep em as cold as possible for as long as possible.

Thanks, off to make my consolation greenling tacos...

1) I have been going smaller and smaller with my hooks for kings.  I've found that 2/0 work well for them.  You might lose a 60 lb'er when using them, but keep your drag smooth and loose and you'll be fine.

2) The point of a flasher when salmon fishing is to draw the fish in. The theory behind it is that it is supposed to mimic another fish that may be feeding. Salmon don't like missing out on food that their friend may have. Some flashers are better at this than others. Sometimes no flasher can be better than a flasher - I've found that tends to happen with springers in clear water.

3) Both.  Sometimes I feel that brines are just more work than is needed, but it does help keep the meat firm and last longer in the fridge.

Hey Rawkfish, thanks for posting the video.

I've been using the breakaway system that you showed, but since I started using it, I've noticed that my flasher occasionally fails to swing back and forth. Do you know how to remedy that? You mentioned that larger baits can affect the swing of a flasher - this failure happened to me a lot when I was dragging a 5" twitching hootchie - maybe I just can't fish a twitching hootchie with a flasher?

I've never used or heard of a twitching hoochie. I've heard of twitching jigs for coho, and trolling hoochies for salmon, but not twitching hoochies.

These wide roll flashers are designed to constantly swing around in a full circle.  If you're not seeing that kind of action, you either need to speed up your troll or change your presentation behind the flasher or maybe both.  Either make it smaller or try lengthening your leader.

[/quote]

1) I have been going smaller and smaller with my hooks for kings.  I've found that 2/0 work well for them.  You might lose a 60 lb'er when using them, but keep your drag smooth and loose and you'll be fine.

2) The point of a flasher when salmon fishing is to draw the fish in. The theory behind it is that it is supposed to mimic another fish that may be feeding. Salmon don't like missing out on food that their friend may have. Some flashers are better at this than others. Sometimes no flasher can be better than a flasher - I've found that tends to happen with springers in clear water.

3) Both.  Sometimes I feel that brines are just more work than is needed, but it does help keep the meat firm and last longer in the fridge.
[/quote]

“...might loose a 60 lber,” Shoot Me!!

There goes Rawkfish again, giving away some hard earned secrets. I couldn’t agree more. Heavier test leader, smaller but stronger & sharper hooks.

Great video and thanks for sharing.