RT-
I have actually rigged sardine fillets on spinners before. Which actually leads into another tip, another one I really didn't want to share because it's something that if someone had the time and money could make a lot of money on this idea.
I have successfully fished the mouth of the cowlitz with alvins but in the last two years I have just dominated with this rig, it goes like this:
What you need-
The ability to tie a spinner, a package of light sticks, components to a spinner and variable blades.
First, I tie my treble hook on then when you open the package to the light stick there will be a clear plastic tube inside. Take the clear plastic tube and slide it down on the spinner shank as if it were the body, next finish with a bead, interchangable blade clevis and you're done tying the spinner. Now when fishing the spinner, take the light stick and crack it so it luminates usually green or red light sticks work best. Insert the light stick into the plastic tube (you may need to lube up the tube so you can insert the light stick) once the light stick is in, the spinner sits a little cockeyed, so that is where the bait wrap comes in. I take a small piece of sardine or herring and wrap it on the opposite side of the light stick. It covers all senses that salmon and steelhead have. It's like a strobe light when you put it in the water.
I have had a ton of success on this at the mouth of the cowlitz during the fall, catching limits of chinook, steelhead and silvers. I have fished it both anchored and trolling with great success.
Keith