Anchovies for dead bait.

[Coachkwj]

Just bought a dozen good size fresh whole anchovies for about 3 bucks.
I have seen smelt and herring in threads for dead but not anchovies.
Will these make good pike bait? They really have a strong fishy smell so I think they would work.
Anyone use them? Any thoughts?

[bootstrap]

you can eat them if you dont catch anything.

[farmboy]

We tried them once when we couldn’t find anything else and they worked just fine. They were all smaller, around 6 inches but we still caught lots of pike and pike up to 41 inches on them

[TroutFishingBear]

anchovies are fantastic for northern pike through the ice, all my old big pike pics from the 2000's on here were caught on anchovies. Used to catch MONSTER PIKE on 6" dead anchovies in lakes that stocked rainbow trout at about 5-11" in the fall...my theory was the big pike thought they were rainbows. One day only had 1 bite all day, was a nice 30" pike I got on an anchovy on a tipup, usually released em but kept this one cuz he swallowed it and was bleeding. Upon cleaning him, found about a 9" rainbow trout in his stomach.

[VT snotrocket]

I would not hesitate to use anchovies at all. Not legal in vermont I have also heard mackerel works. When pike have the feedbag on I have found they arent that fussy. Just my opinion.

[esox_xtm]

As long as they don't find their way onto my pizza it's all good. 

Seriously, decent deads have been in short supply in this state the last few years. First the smelt population was decimated so I went to bloater chubs (like the ones that get smoked for eating). They were awesome but now their population is dwindling and all that remains is the stupid expensive vac packed stuff that runs like $16 - $20 a dozen. When I used to pay $1.50 a pound for whatever I wanted it just kills me.

As a result I'm not beyond shopping an Asian market for bait. Head to the back and look for the freezer bunkers and you will be amazed at the selection of sizes and shapes of fish frozen in the round. I know, may not be legal as bait depending on your location but still a viable resource. Amazingly inexpensive too. Wish I lived nearer a coast like you guys sometimes.

Anchovies as bait? Can't think of a better use for 'em!

[ICEHOLE]

As long as they don't find their way onto my pizza it's all good. 

Seriously, decent deads have been in short supply in this state the last few years. First the smelt population was decimated so I went to bloater chubs (like the ones that get smoked for eating). They were awesome but now their population is dwindling and all that remains is the stupid expensive vac packed stuff that runs like $16 - $20 a dozen. When I used to pay $1.50 a pound for whatever I wanted it just kills me.

As a result I'm not beyond shopping an Asian market for bait. Head to the back and look for the freezer bunkers and you will be amazed at the selection of sizes and shapes of fish frozen in the round. I know, may not be legal as bait depending on your location but still a viable resource. Amazingly inexpensive too. Wish I lived nearer a coast like you guys sometimes.

Anchovies as bait? Can't think of a better use for 'em!

Asian markets around here have amazing selections...herring, while i personally dont use them are getting hard to find this season. but endless amounts of Whiting, mackeral and ballyhoo etc etc etc

[Captn66]

Asian markets around here have amazing selections...herring, while i personally dont use them are getting hard to find this season. but endless amounts of Whiting, mackeral and ballyhoo etc etc etc

heck yeah why not .... I've gone to a pet store before for waxies, maggots, mealworms, and frozen feeder fish ...

[Water Wolf]

I have also used anchovies as pike bait in the past and they worked OK for me.
Hopefully you have luck with them as well.

WW