Fresh or Frozen?

• Fresh herring stays on the hook better than frozen, but it is more difficult to obtain. Frozen herring is available from just about any store that sells bait, but fresh herring needs to be kept alive. The thawing process makes frozen herring soft. You can toughen up frozen herring by soaking it in a brine made from a mix of water and rock salt. Add a dash of liquid bluing to make the herring's scales more reflective. Soak the frozen herring overnight and it will stay on the hook much better.
  
  

Plug Cutting Herring

• You need to get the herring to perform a slow roll when pulling the herring through the water. Most anglers opt to plug cut their herring. This releases a scent trail through the water. To plug cut a herring, lay the herring down on a flat surface. Position a sharp knife just behind the herring's head and cut down at an angle of about 45 degrees. Cut the head off in one clean slice. Remove the head and pull the guts out of the body cavity. Slice a little opening in the belly near the vent so water can flow through the body cavity.
  
  

Hooking Your Herring

• Trolling herring usually involves using a two hook rig, with the top hook inserted through the cut area, and the bottom hook trailing near the herring's tail. This way if the fish strikes short, the trailing hook will still catch in the fish's mouth. Insert the point of the top hook through the exposed meat on the cut edge and out through the skin. Insert the bottom hook through the wall of the body cavity and pull it completely through the herring.
  
  

Checking Your Herring's Action

• Before you begin trolling, check the herring's action by dragging it through the water at the side of the boat. The herring should revolve slowly in the water, making a wide circle. If the herring won't spin, try repositioning the top hook. As you pull the herring through the water, the skin on the leading edge will begin to separate from the meat. Check your herring for damage every 20 to 30 minutes if you don't get a bite. If the skin has separated, put on a new herring.