Succes will depend on your target species. You want a nice slow (1 second per roll) for springs and a faster roll (2 rolls per second) for coho.
You can use your herring/anchovies fresh or put into a commercial bat holder which can work just as well. I prefer to brine the bait the night before (2 trys of bait in 4 qts. of non chlorinated water. Add 2 tablespoons of blueing agent will keep the shine on the fish. Do not over handle the bait. Try and keep all the scales intact. Using wetted and fitted rubber gloves will help. The cut is 45/45 and the two barbless tandem can either be hooked into the bait, or the trailer hook can just be left free. Make sure your hook does not extend beyond the tail of the bait.
Try fishing some of your bait whole with a commercial holder . Leave these herring/anchovies in the brine a bit longer.
The "roll of the bait is the most important feature and sometimes cannot be accomplished by the brine and cut alone. You can insert a small piece of firm but moldable wire into the bait to maintain its shape. Insert this very carefully thru the anal vent and along the spine. If you have a sloppy looking herring on your line, you are more likely to attract bottom fish than salmon........Tight lines........Ortho 8)
