Flasher Tips

By a noted Outdoors Writer

A flasher is used in trolling to attract predators like salmon or halibut to a lure. The latest molded plastic flashers, like the original Gibbs Highliner flasher or the newer Farr Better release flasher, are already "tuned" to rotate properly at almost any trolling speed. The rotation of the flasher resembles the movement of a competing predator that has found some prey and is preparing to strike. Vibrations and light reflections from the flasher will attract predators looking for an easy meal, which the lure represents.

Downrigging Techniques

A downrigger is the most effective way to control the depth of baits. Downriggers let anglers fish their lures from just below the surface all the way down to depths of 250 feet, or even more if necessary. More importantly, downriggers allow anglers more versatility when using flashers with their lures. Here are two methods if using flashers while downrigging.

Method 1: Flasher on the Main Line

Most anglers use a flasher that is tied directly to the main fishing line, just in front of a lure. In this configuration, the flasher will work in two ways: by imparting extra action to a lure, as well as attracting predators to the lure.

Tie a mainline of 20-pound test or more breaking strength (30-pound test is best all-round) directly to the swivel at the front (narrow end) of the flasher. Use an improved clinch knot, a Berkley knot, or a Palomar knot (if using one of the new "superlines") to attach the mainline to the flasher.

Attach a lure to the other end of the flasher using a leader of between 25- and 40-pound test. The length of the leader will depend upon two things: the targeted species, and the kind of lure you’ve chosen. Leaders of higher breaking strengths will add additional "snap" or "flick" to a lure when the flasher moves from side to side, or occasionally reverses its rotation.

Use a longer leader for natural baits like herring or anchovy, for high-action spoons (like the Gibbs Gator or Gypsy), or for wriggling lures (like the Gibbs Hockey Stick). These lures don’t need the flashers to provide as much additional action, so use leader lengths between 42 and 72 inches, with a starting length of 60 inches for Chinook, and 48 inches for Coho.

Hootchies that mimic prey like squid or octopus have no action of their own. Short, stiff leaders between 12 and 48 inches in length will allow the flasher to transmit more action to the hoochie. For Coho, start with 30-pound test leaders, 36 inches long. For Chinook, try 42-inch leaders. Short 12- to 27-inch leaders are adequate for sockeye and pink salmon.

Pull off enough line from the reel to let the flasher and lure run 15 to 30 feet astern of the boat. Attach the mainline to a downrigger release clip on the downrigger cable, and lower the downrigger weight just enough to get the flasher submerged. Check that the trolling speed is sufficient to cause the flasher to rotate, and that the action is correct for the lure. After adjusting the speed, lower the weight so the lure runs at the desired depth.

Note: The downrigger cable should make an angle of about 60° to the water at slower trolling speeds, and up to 45° to the water at the highest trolling speed. Changes in the speed of a lure can occasionally provoke a strike - every now and then try to vary the speed of your boat so the cable angle varies between the two extremes. Troll in a lazy zig-zag pattern once in a while to speed up the lures on one side of the boat while slowing those on the other.

Note: While it’s best to use a ruler to measure the leader length from the lure to the flasher, a full-sized #1 flasher is about one foot in length. Tie a lure to a spool of leader material, then holding the lure at one end of the flasher, wrap the leader material lengthwise around the flasher. Each wrap of line will be just under 2 feet.

Note: Cut off the length of main line between the downrigger release clip and the flasher after each fishing trip - it could be weakened from twisting by the rotation of the flasher.

Method 2: Flasher on the Downrigger Cable

Anglers who want the attraction of a flasher, but are using lures that shouldn’t be used directly behind a flasher (large herring, big plugs, or longer wiggling lures) should use this method. It’s also good for any lure that has its own action, if you want to play a fish without the added drag of a flasher on your line. This method is not for fishing with bare hootchies, as they need the flasher to give action. Tie your lure directly to the mainline.

Use 10 feet of very stiff 100-pound test monofilament, and tie stainless steel ball bearing swivels with quick-release heavy-duty snaps at each end. Attach a #1 or #3 Highliner flasher to one end of the line, and attach the other end directly to the eye on the downrigger weight.

Lower the weight 10 feet into the water. Let out your main line until the lure or bait is 15 to 50 feet behind the boat. Now slip the mainline into a downrigger release clip attached to a "stacker" cable clamp (which allows the release clip to be located anywhere on the downrigger cable), then attach the clip to the downrigger cable using this clamp so that it is 10 feet above the flasher. Lower the downrigger weight until your lure is at the desired depth.