On the west coast of Vancouver Island and closer to Vancouver, mastering a high-performance anchovy setup paired with a flasher is often the saltwater fishing method of choice for dedicated coastal anglers. This presentation becomes incredibly lethal in midsummer, when massive schools of mature anchovies push north into local waters, as well as anytime sand lance or immature herring crowd the coastlines and hungry salmon are feeding heavily on small bait. Whether you are fishing the rugged shorelines of Ucluelet, the tidal currents of Port Renfrew, or the deep waters of the Strait of Georgia, dialling in this presentation is key to a productive day on the water.

There are many different anchovy and teaser head colour combinations available on the market today. Professional West Coast guides keep it simple and reliable: use green glow or chartreuse combinations in green water conditions to maximize underwater visibility, and switch to blue or purple haze finishes when the water clears offshore. Matching your teaser head to high-visibility flashers from trusted brands like Gibbs-Delta or Oki ensures a cohesive presentation that calls salmon in from great distances.

The Advantage of Wire-Rigging Your Bait

The traditional rigging method relies on a standard Rhys Davis anchovy teaser head held in place with a tensioning toothpick and a lead treble hook, set to bend the anchovy into a gentle curve. However, because frozen anchovies are inherently soft, they quickly take on a sharp, unnatural bend just behind the gills when trolled. This ruining of the roll can cost you strikes. A far better, guide-tested method is to rig the teaser head with a piece of 18-gauge (0.0403-inch diameter) stainless steel wire. This wire is inserted directly into the anchovy parallel to the backbone, holding the desired curve perfectly and providing a highly reliable roll. This material is readily available at local marine supply stores across British Columbia, where it is commonly sold as stainless steel “locking wire.”

Traditional teaser head leader configuration optimized for West Coast salmon trolling.

Most modern anchovy teaser heads come pre-drilled with two small holes explicitly designed to accommodate this wire. A 4-inch piece of stainless wire works beautifully for standard bait sizes. When prepping your gear on the boat, compare the wire to the physical length of your bait and cut it cleanly so it terminates just past the dorsal fin. Carefully insert the wire into the meat of the anchovy and gently manipulate the bait to form a clean curve. For the ultimate strike-inducing action, aim for a tight “bullet roll” that mimics a spinning pencil in the water column. As a general rule of thumb: the greater the physical bend you introduce to the anchovy, the wider and slower the resulting roll will be.

Optimizing Your Anchovy Setup Hook Configuration

While many sport fishermen traditionally use a #4 or #2 treble as their lead hook, which performs adequately for smaller salmon, this setup has noticeable drawbacks when targeting trophy-sized fish. In my experience, a treble hook can reduce the chances of a missed strike initially, but it frequently pulls free during an extended, high-intensity fight with a massive, hard-jawed Chinook salmon. Furthermore, treble hooks make it incredibly difficult to cleanly release smaller, non-target salmon without causing unnecessary harm. Coho salmon, in particular, tend to roll and tangle the line terribly when trebles are used, creating a messy situation on deck.

By modifying your anchovy setup to include a dual single-hook configuration, you improve both your landing ratios and conservation practices. Pass your lead single hook directly through the lateral line of the anchovy so the point cleanly emerges on the opposite side. Leave the trailing single hook hanging completely free, ensuring its end sits roughly level with the natural tail of the bait. Once positioned, use a standard plastic or wooden tensioning toothpick inserted into the teaser head to firmly take up any remaining slack in your leader line.

Leader Specifications and Line Weights

My personalized trolling leaders are built very similarly to the ones I deploy for cut-plug herring, but they feature slightly closer spacing between the hook eyes and heavier line testing to withstand the constant rotational torque of the flasher. Begin your rig by cutting a 7-foot section of premium 40-lb Maxima Ultragreen monofilament line.

Tie in a dependable 4/0 Gamakatsu trailer hook using a standard bumper knot, followed immediately by a 4/0 Gamakatsu lead hook. Ensure there is a precise separation of exactly 2 inches between the turn of the lead hook bend and the eye of the trailing hook. While these heavy-duty hooks may initially look oversized next to a small baitfish, they are necessary tools when you are hunting for legendary West Coast tyee.

West Coast Rigging Specifications Reference

To ensure your gear is tuned perfectly for local conditions, consult the reference table below for optimized leader specifications based on your target species and typical trolling depths around Vancouver Island:

Bill Haymond is the esteemed author of “The Science of Salmon Fishing”, a comprehensive guide detailing modern angling tactics, which is available directly at www.thescienceofsalmonfishing.com.

This technical features article originally appeared in print in 2020 within the pages of Island Fisherman Magazine. Never miss another issue filled with insider tactics—subscribe today!