First off, I will never argue the success of bait for moochers...

Trollers... Some folks use nothing but bait.
This is their speciality... I will never knock a bait fisherman for he has the odds with him. However, there are times and places for bait. In the sound, I feel you will be more consisent (key word to support my comments) by using artificals. Here's why...

1) Our main target for the majority of the year is blackmouth. A blackmouth's diet consists of 60% sand lance and 40% herring, smelt, squid, and shrimp (shrimp being the lowest of factors). What if salmon are keying in on sand lance or smelt and not herring? How about squid?

Kings and Silvers are seasonal... this would be a great time for bait.. However, for Silvers, I like a spoon or spinner and 2oz of lead behind the boat. If I get a hit and didn't hook-up, I still have a lure in the water. Maybe a different fish in the school will hit.

2) Most of the fresh herring you buy is not always the same size as what is available to Mr. Salmon. Sometimes, the marina will have that bait for weeks at a time in the holding pen(s). Now you have 6-7 inch herring for bait and the whole bay is full of 3 inch herring... With an artificial, I can accurately "size up" the bait.

3) Artificials can be modified to make additional sounds, movements or both. Only with the help of the e-Chip can you add additional sound to a herring. I add a colorado blade to all spoons and sometimes cheaters or spin n' glo to hootchies.. Every style and size of spoon I own has an unique bend or modification.

Ever had bad or no action from a flasher because of the weight/force of a bait? You might not know you've have had that, but it happens. Especially if the bait is cocked or too large.

4) Most importantly.... I can troll a heck of a lot longer, deeper and faster with an artificial than bait. Bait requires constant checking (usually every 15 minutes) and my gear can stay down 25-30 minutes before I have to bring it up and recharge the glo and Smelly Jelly. This gives me time to cover more water and concentrate on structure when working the bottom. If you have a manual DR... that is a heck of a lot of work to boot- especially at 150'+! Don't forget to check your bait after those little "tap-tap-taps." Keep in mind the dawgs and ground fish love herring too. Cover the water as fast as possible. Don't wait for the salmon to come to you, find them.

I personally don't like to waste time.. Bait causes too much wasted time. It has to be cut just right, tested before lowering, it's messy, needs to be checked al ot, etc. The hook setup is not conducive to hooking fish consistently either. Beyond popular belief, Mr. Salmon is going to swat your bait from behind 80% more of the time than the head. In a sense, your upper hook is only 20% effective. Probably closer to 10% since the bend is partial blocked with the bait. I like both hooks tied close together hanging out the back. With flasher rotation and he breathes on the lure- I have him!

Here's my take on effectiveness:

a) A spoon is probably the greatest of artificials. They come in all sizes and shapes that provide good representation of bait in the sound. Their action is second to none. They can be modified make more sound or action. They can be trolled slow or fast. The hook placement is in the ideal spot- behind the bait.
b) Hootchies work great when the size of the artificial has to be close to the natural. You can cut to length. Leaders/hooks must be modified for proper placement and action.
c) Plugs are a good searching lure when there is a lot of bait in the water or for fishing Fall Kings. Their only down falls are they need to be trolled faster than normal to impart correct action and hook placement- which can be 25-40 degrees off center from the bait (depending on the plug).


Just my .02 cents....