Hey so I got a dumb question and I'm sure there is a very obvious answer. Why don't you ever see people use live bait for salmon? I looked through the regs but couldn't find anything. Does it just not work well? Anyways just looking to talk about anything other than covid

If your mooching it’s the way to go.  Otherwise I don’t think it makes any difference .  Most of the time your chovie is rigged to a rig that does all the work.  Plus a semi frozen chovie stays in one piece longer.  Ie: no belly rip. 

If it’s too lively it may slide off the barbless hook. But I’ve never tried so I can’t say if that is true or not.

Those pricey little bait buttons might do the job...I hope to mooch my face off at some point this year...

I'll second they are harder to keep on a barbless hook but a rubber piece of anything helps...maybe even a little chunk of squid so that salmon thinks your little fishy is nibbling on it.

I bring the proper tackle to do it and usually have a sabiki when I target salmon from my kayak...are you wondering about "people" as in nor cal salmon anglers via kayak, or salmon anglers from a boat, specific area or broad, etc?

If you're just referring to our local core group of anglers fishing from their kayaks on our local coast then I would speculate this: You have to catch your bait, unless you already have it, which can take time or not even happen. Many of our fishing days are spent trying to capitalize on bite windows (ex. Early morning) and before tides/wind/swell chase us off the water so time spent trying for bait may mean less time fishing with it.  If you already have it then you have to lug a livewell around which can be a convenience and storage issue. Lastly, many of us seem to cover water in order to search for the fish, to give our bait/lures action, to get exercise, etc.  I don't think you get as much flash and vibration from a nose hooked bait than one presented with the wiggle or roll...not that a salmom won't bite a nose hooked bait on the troll.

Oh wait, I've come up with more! Lack of confidence and didn't think to do it. So add those to the list among the other reasons like don't always have the live bait or the tackle to do it and prefer to troll.