Bag vs. Tray Anchovies: Which One Actually Gets Bit?

alexosen
14 minutes ago
3 min read

When you’re soaking bait for stripers or catfish, the bait isn’t doing any of the work for you - the scent is. That’s where the difference between bag and tray anchovies really shows up.

Let’s break it down.

Same Fish, Different Treatment

Anchovies all start the same way, but how they’re handled after they’re caught changes everything.

Tray anchovies are flash frozen, preserving natural oils, blood, and juices.
Bag anchovies are frozen in bulk, which costs less but sacrifices scent output.

Flash freezing keeps the bait closer to its original state - and fish can tell.

Why Scent Is Everything

When you’re fishing anchovies on the bottom:

There’s no movement
No vibration
No flash

The only way fish find your bait is by following a scent trail.

Rigging matters:

Cut off head and tail
Hook through the belly
Tie to the hook with Miracle Thread
Score the bait to release juices

When you score a tray anchovy, you’ll see blood immediately start to bleed out - even while mostly frozen. Once submerged, that scent spreads fast and wide, pulling fish toward your bait.

Bag anchovies will bleed some, but the scent trail is weaker and smaller.

A Simple Way to Think About It

Imagine two pieces of food sitting out:

One looks dry and tired
One looks fresh, juicy, and ready

Even hungry fish are going to investigate the stronger signal first.

That’s exactly what tray anchovies do — they broadcast more smell into the water.

So… Which Should You Use?

Tray anchovies: When bites matter, tough conditions, targeting bigger or fewer fish
Bag anchovies: When volume matters, soaking bait, or fishing casually

If your goal is to maximize attention and get fish to commit, tray anchovies are worth the extra few dollars.

Because when bait isn’t moving, smell is your presentation - and more scent means more opportunity.

Fish happy 🤙

Alex

aka Mr. Sweeney

CatchHappy.co

He Bought a Fishing License — And Gave It Away (Part 2)

A few weeks ago, a customer named Joe walked into the shop with a request I had never received before. Every year, he bought a fishing license for his little brother, Carlos. That was their tradition. This year, Carlos passed away unexpectedly. Joe asked if he could buy a license in his brother’s name - and have us give it to someone who would truly use it.

That responsibility wasn’t easy. How do you choose the right person? How do you make sure it means something?

Then Skyler walked in.

Skyler is just getting started. He’s on a tight budget, trying to put together a simple setup to fish the river and Lake Berryessa. When I asked if he had a fishing license, the answer was no- not because he didn’t want one, but because he couldn’t afford it.

That’s when it felt right.

Today, Skyler received a fishing license in Carlos’s name. He’ll fish with it, learn with it, and carry that memory forward every time he’s on the water. That license will be used the way it was intended - with purpose, appreciation, and respect.

Rest in peace to Carlos. And thank you to Joe and his family for turning loss into something meaningful.

Sometimes fishing is more than fishing.

Congrats to our catch of the month winner

This month’s Catch of the Month brought in some incredible submissions from our community, and we’re excited to congratulate our latest winner Gabe Mozzetti aka Water-Peak Outdoors !

If you’d like to participate, it’s simple: share a photo of your catch to your Instagram stories and tag Sweeney’s Sports.

Each entry gives you a chance to be featured and win a $30 gift card.

A big thank you to everyone who submitted this month — we truly appreciate your participation and can’t wait to see what you reel in next. Keep the photos coming! 🎣