When fishing west side of Vancouver island this summers all the locals were out fishing me using anchovies. As soon as I switched over to anchovies I started hooking fish. Down here in our waters no one fishinhs anchovies. Whats the reason? Has anyone tried using this Canadian technique in the Puget Sound?

I used them with good success up at Neah Bay this summer. The anchovies were thick there at the Big salmon Marina so we jigged some up. Of course we also did well with spoons, hootchies, and darts so I can't really say they were that much better. They did work well mooched though.

CF

A few years ago (01 I believe) the resort I work for (as well as everyone on the westcoast) had a major herring shortage, the resort bought anchovies to finish the season off as they knew we were going to run out of herring with 2-3 weeks left, long story short, we were doing better on old freezer burnt herring and just heads then on the anchovies. Anchovies may work ok trolling but they sure didn't mooch very well.

BTW, this was mid to late August which is primarily silver fishing, not sure how they would have fished in June and July for kings.

if your after chum, anchovies work great! try them on a bobber in chum fishing area,

Most anything will catch Kings off W coast of V Isle Anchovies are the local fave without a doubt. While I am a hardware guy, we more than keep up with the locals. I think presentation and bait size are more important than what type you run. Tofino in late June was hot with small Tomic plug or Coho Killers behind Flasher. North of there in late July was good with every size Tomic, Hootchies, spoons, and yes Anchovies. Had friends who normally fish out of Sooke come up for day, they ran Anchovies behind new Jellyfish Oki flasher. They got 4 Kings. 2nd rod also had 4 Kings on Red flasher w Army Truck Hootchie. Center setup w Tomic went untouched - that day. All fish came out of acre size slot and we were done in 2 hours. I know of Puget sound fishers who run Anchovies and they do well off Vashon.

JD
Some observationsLike most terminal tackle

This report is somewhat dated, so take it for what it's worth. I used to mooch herring off Ediz Hook, and always did well, but ran into a couple of times when the anchovies were thick and the Kings wouldn't even look at a mooched herring. Jigged up a couple of fresh anchovies and Boom...fish on. I believe "If they are feeding on anchovies.....feed 'em anchovies".

Right now there seem to be a lot of small anchovies in the South Sound.
As said earlier, 'chovies below a float will slay some chum salmon.

The first year we ever fished out of Bamfield, we were told anchovies and red Hot Spot flashers were the ticket. We couldn't convince ourselves that anchovies would be more productive than herring and that red flashers would be more productive than greens and blues. After getting skunked for two days, we switched to anchovies and started getting fish, nothing big, but fish. After a day or so of that, we broke down and bought red Hot Spots. We took a 32 and 29 pounder back to back.