Lake Mead Cutbait: Sardine vs Anchovy

[Erawk]

Read this thread to learn where to buy, how to differentiate between, and rig the two most common cutbaits used at Lake Mead, Sardines (Dinos) and Anchovies (Chovies).

Whole, frozen anchovies or sardines are the best natural bait to buy for use at Lake Mead. You do not want the canned or non frozen bagged types. Cut squid works as well.

Places to buy bait
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Sportsman Warehouse
Address: 5647 Centennial Center Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89149
Phone702) 474-1100
Hours: Thursday hours 9:00 am–9:00 pm
located at Ann and the 95.

Wal Mart in a freezer in sporting good section, ask if you don't see it.

Grocery Stores that are close the the lake will often carry bait, ask a clerk to show you where it is in the freezer section.

Sandy Cove Bait
5225 E Lake Mead Blvd
Las Vegas, NV - Clark County
(702) 459-2080
Nellis and Lake Mead

Seafood City Supermarket
3890 S. Maryland Parkway
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Contact: (702) 851-0021
Hours: 8am to 12 midnight daily

and my favorite

International Market
Address: 5000 S Decatur Blvd,
Las Vegas, NV 89118
Phone702) 889-2888
Hours: Thursday hours 9:00 am–6:00 pm
Tropicana and Decatur (its like a Costco so they charge 5% or you can get a yearly membership card for $10)
These are Sushi grade Sardines, they are for Human consumption so they are in really good condition.

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[TheWhizzle]

Sardine-

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Anchovy-
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The sardines are spotted, and the anchovies are just shiny. The mouth is the give-away. Sardines have a smaller, predator style mouth, while the anchovy has a massive plankton gulping mouth.


I prefer to chum with cut up anchovies and fish with sardines. The sardines are bloodier and more oily, and hence, seem to get bit more often.


The Whizzle
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[Erawk]

Rigging tips taken from an old Whizzle post

cut the anchovy or sardine into 3 or 4 pieces and rig the head like this,
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rig the remaining body pieces piercing through the side under the backbone and out the other side. But don't slice them longways like is shown in this pic.
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It is best to leave the hook tip exposed.

Some prefer to chum the heads and tails, and only use the center sections on the hook.
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[Erawk]

The most common rigs for fishing these baits are the

carolina rig
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any sliding sinker will work, egg or worm type are best. Some like to add a bead between the weight and swivel to protect the knot. I use the improved clinch knot.


I also like to use a dropper loop when I want to get the bait off the bottom and up out of the rocks or weeds.
[inline DropperLoopRig.jpg]
Any type of weight with an eyelet will work for this, I use bass casters and bank sinkers. I usually use just one loop, but you can use as many loops with hooks as is legally allowed. I don't even use a swivel with this rig. You'll usually only lose your sinker if anything with this rig.

You can adjust the length of line between the loop and the bottom weight to suit conditions.

I really like the dropper loop because it is:
quick to tie
quick to swap hooks
uses less tackle
loses less tackle


Sometimes the carolina rig is better though.
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[iamthesmf]

Rather than having to tie to a swivel, then tie a leader to a swivel, then tie the leader to the hook (already I'm getting tired), you simple tie to the hook. Here's how it works...
To put a Carolina Keeper on your line you simply squeeze the Carolina Keeper with needle-nose pliers. It has a slit that opens when squeezed and you place the line through the hole and release the pliers. Use the same method to adjust the leader length. Pretty tough, huh?
The Carolina Keeper is great for use with sliding sinkers because it eliminates the need for split shot or swivels to keep your sinker above the bait. The Keeper can be easily adjusted up or down the line to change your leader length. You can easily make adjustments without having to change the whole rig. If it slips or if you are using a larger weight, adding a second keeper will keep the weight in place.[inline Carolina%20Keepers%202.jpg]
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[Erawk]

Check this [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/cgi-bin/gforum/gforum.cgi?post=281459"]LINK[/url] for info on rigging live bait (Shad). There is great info in this thread from a Veteran BFT NV member, Baysport. Thanks to Baysport.
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[Erawk]

Here is a thread with great info on artificial baits for Lake Mead. [url "http://www.bigfishtackle.com/forum/Nevada_Fishing_Forum_C39/Nevada_Fishing_General_F42/gforum.cgi?post=726171"]Click here[/url]
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