Catching Bait

Red Monster

Well-Known Member
Does anyone bother to catch bait? I caught some herring today off the dock, some nice 8 inchers. I could use these for bottom fishing or trolling salmon I guess, although I usually use chovies. I vacuum packed and threw threw them in the freezer. Perhaps I should have brined them first?

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
Where do you live? Are the herring spawning or just hanging around the dock. When im bored i go catch herring and use the for dogfish on light line. Thats what happens when the salmon fishing is bad<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
 
Where do you live? Are the herring spawning or just hanging around the dock. When im bored i go catch herring and use the for dogfish on light line. Thats what happens when the salmon fishing is bad<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
 
I caught them at Kates Park on North Vancouver's Indian Arm, and it's the first time I tried (after I noticed a few folks catching them). I had no idea herring could be jigged here; I thought it was only common on the Island. Of course now I'm interested in learning the best times and places locally to catch herring. Indian Arm is also a good place for prawns and crabs so jigging a few herring (if there are no salmon around) may be a good way to have fun and kill a few hours after dropping the traps.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
I caught them at Kates Park on North Vancouver's Indian Arm, and it's the first time I tried (after I noticed a few folks catching them). I had no idea herring could be jigged here; I thought it was only common on the Island. Of course now I'm interested in learning the best times and places locally to catch herring. Indian Arm is also a good place for prawns and crabs so jigging a few herring (if there are no salmon around) may be a good way to have fun and kill a few hours after dropping the traps.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
Sorry i should have asked. I catch mine when they spawn ushually mid march i caught 117 in 2 hours thats not stop action the second my line went in i had a fish or four. It takes a great deal of skill to catch herring!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
 
Sorry i should have asked. I catch mine when they spawn ushually mid march i caught 117 in 2 hours thats not stop action the second my line went in i had a fish or four. It takes a great deal of skill to catch herring!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>
 
Kelly, whereabouts are these hard-to-catch March herrings of which you speak? I'm guessing Victoria.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
Kelly, whereabouts are these hard-to-catch March herrings of which you speak? I'm guessing Victoria.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
These fish are easier to catch than a cold! I catch them when the herring spawn just look for white water and cast a herring jig or any small hook baited with a tiny piece of red wool or a half jehsen egg or a herring jig!i caught thme near nanaimo.
 
These fish are easier to catch than a cold! I catch them when the herring spawn just look for white water and cast a herring jig or any small hook baited with a tiny piece of red wool or a half jehsen egg or a herring jig!i caught thme near nanaimo.
 
Just reading today in the new BC Outdoors Sport Fishing about trolling cut-plugged herrings, and a guy writes they "are by far the most effective salmon catcher on the BC coast." I wonder if that's true? What do you folks think?

So far, I've only heard from one guy who uses herring, and that's to catch dogfish! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

I guess part of my curiosity about who bothers to fish for herring was caused by my curiosity about who bothers to use herring to catch salmon. Are cut-plugged herrings any good? I wouldn't know because I usually use anchovies more than anything else and very rarely use herrings. How many people actually use herrings nowadays? Perhaps I'm wrong to think think that most people like myself use anchovies?


Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
Just reading today in the new BC Outdoors Sport Fishing about trolling cut-plugged herrings, and a guy writes they "are by far the most effective salmon catcher on the BC coast." I wonder if that's true? What do you folks think?

So far, I've only heard from one guy who uses herring, and that's to catch dogfish! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle>

I guess part of my curiosity about who bothers to fish for herring was caused by my curiosity about who bothers to use herring to catch salmon. Are cut-plugged herrings any good? I wouldn't know because I usually use anchovies more than anything else and very rarely use herrings. How many people actually use herrings nowadays? Perhaps I'm wrong to think think that most people like myself use anchovies?


Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
I dont think it works well on east vancouver island. Nobody fishes it but probaly because of seals and dogfish(yes seals they attack flashers here and 50 % of the fish!). I used them in port a bit but i we caught most if not all of our fish on whole anchovies.
 
I dont think it works well on east vancouver island. Nobody fishes it but probaly because of seals and dogfish(yes seals they attack flashers here and 50 % of the fish!). I used them in port a bit but i we caught most if not all of our fish on whole anchovies.
 
Springs that spend much of their lives along the coast feed a lot on Herring-Yes-but not those who head offshore.
There's more Squid, Shrimp and other baitfish out there than Herring.
This is an old debate with some people still believing strongly that Herring is best and many others having excellent results fast trolling Anchovy.
 
Springs that spend much of their lives along the coast feed a lot on Herring-Yes-but not those who head offshore.
There's more Squid, Shrimp and other baitfish out there than Herring.
This is an old debate with some people still believing strongly that Herring is best and many others having excellent results fast trolling Anchovy.
 
In Renny thats all that we used to use was cut plug there still is some die hards that do it. This year we did it(guides day) at the hole in the wall and nitnat had a lot of fun and got our limit it is something you have to have patience for, when your guiding its just easier to used flasher and chovie because all the guests want to do is catch,catch,catch,and more catch they really dont care just as long as your producing and alot of guests have a hard time anyways with the single action reels just imagine them with out the flasher on the line!!!!
I must admit though you get a way better fight with cut plugging and alot more fun too.

Wolf
 
Wolf, you seem to be saying it's harder or slower to use plugs. Why is that? Is it the preparation of the bait that takes more time and effort? Or is it more difficult to actually hook a fish? Why the need for "patience"? I have found that the plugs need to be replaced more often than when you use chovies.

Remember, it's called "fishing," not "catching."
 
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