in line flasher

[clawman]

On Northwest Wild Country this morning Herzog is talking about in line flashers like the Big Als. Anyone tried these or similar?

 

[clawman]

Update;
I tried one of the Big Als today and was really impressed. There is very little pull on your line from the flasher. Today I landed 8 fish and lost two more at the boat. 6 came on the Big Als. The only size I could find around Spokane was the 6". Looked around for a 4" but none here. The 6 pulls so easy I don't know that I would buy a 4" and 6" should flash more.
Thats just great, another thing to buy!!thumbsup

 

[dragonfly]

clawman, are you talking about the ones that are shaped like a triangle with bent tips that rotate sort of like the short bus type, I have looked at those and thought they would work with the apex or wiggle hoochies and lures that had there own action but never talked with any one that ever tried them. dfly

 

[SilverBullets]

The last few years i've been useing the medium size Fish Flashes on the end Vance's ball trolls with good results. This year i'm planning on trying the small size jigging. Another one that's works great is the Dee's Diamond Flashers... going to try out the Double Dee Micro when drift jigging/vertical jigging. It's recommended to use a single micro tied above the jig with the fat end to the mainline/narrow end toward the jig.

 

[downriggeral]

clawman, You must have fished Idaho today? I have quite a few of the 6" Big Al's and other brands. What color did you use today? I too really like the way they pull. Alan

 

[KokeRook]

Here is a picture off of the NWWC facbook page. Frank B...a NWWC follower (as I am) tried one out on a recent trip.

Agree with Duane, Bill, and others...interesting idea with a lure with it's own action. HMMMMM

Then again...in this picture looks like a straight hoochie to me...maybe there is a blade that can't be seen.

BTW: The next 16 weeks it is KOKANEE NATION on NW Wild Country tooexcited. (Saturday mornings 6-8am 950 kjr radio Seattle, I'm sure you can listen over the internet as well, and on TV at comcast sports net)

View attachment 7089

 

[clawman]

Yes, I was on Hayden. The 6" Big Al's I was using was UV silver foil. I can not say the flash is ohhh wow but I did catch more fish on that setup UV sling blade and did not catch anything on flashers. I was looking for a 4" but no stores carry it over here. As easy as the 6" pulls and logically would flash more, I'm sticking with that size. Next experiment is daisy chain several on the down rigger pipe.

 

[kelson]

Something I have thought of but never tried is to drill a series of small holes in one wing and attach the hoochie to a hole that gives the desired action at any given leader length. The hoochie rigs we use are small enough that they shouldn't vary the spin of the in line flasher much. Probably a different story with a fish on the line. For salmon I use these (un-modified) off my DR ball by stringing 2 to 4 together with great success. This negates the need for a rotating flasher or dodger on my main line when using a lure with it's own action, spoon, cut plug, etc.

K

 

[clawman]

VERY UNsceintific test-
15 fish on today-
15 on the Big Als
0 on Kone Zone
0 on Sling Blade
0 on everything else

 

[downriggeral]

Hayden again? What was the set up if I may ask?
Thanks, Alan

 

[clawman]

Hayden again? What was the set up if I may ask?
Thanks, Alan

Alan,
Yep, Hayden, a LOT more boats there yesterday than previous days. I tie pink flashabou on stack bead to make a tube fly. I snell two #6 red Gam hooks on 15# fluorocarbon and slide a 1.5 red scale smile blade on the front. On this particular fly I used a glo color stack bead.
If you recall I was wondering what the birds indicated. Well I now think they indicated the fish would be shallow. Far less swallows,no bugs hatching and the fish were 30-35' deep. In previous weeks when there were many many swallows and a small fly hatch you could catch fish on the surface to 10', not yesterday. I was marking fish shallower but 30-35' was the "sweet spot". Did catch a couple as deep as 45'.
As I mentioned earlier I would change the lure that was catching fish to the Kone Zone, Sling Blade, and Flask Lite and the lure behind the Big Als got the bites. 1.3 -1.6 mph.
Fun day

 

[DLM]

So if I understand the posts correctly the Big Al rotates and does not swing back and forth like a dodger? And by the way, if you search for Big Al's Flashers on Bing Images you may see more than you bargained for, don't ask me how I know this.101shock1101t4luil

 

[downriggeral]

David, Big Al's FISH flash should keep you out of trouble laugh hyst Yakima Bait now builds them, the quality is much better. I caught some kings with a Big Al's FF and Brad's cut plug in the lower Columbia last fall. Sure nice to crank the fish on those as opposed to the 11" flashers.

Clawman, Thanks for the info. I have a friend who fished Hayden yesterday and did well with a red wedding ring behind a dodger. Biggest was 18'. WOW!

 

[clawman]

So if I understand the posts correctly the Big Al rotates and does not swing back and forth like a dodger? And by the way, if you search for Big Al's Flashers on Bing Images you may see more than you bargained for, don't ask me how I know this.101shock1101t4luil

DLM,
Yes they rotate on their axis so pull much easier than any other attractor.

 

[mrmike]

I've fish many flasher they mostly all rotate the same. They do add drag and since they don't have a wobbler action YOUR LIMITED TO A SPINNER / or something that has it own action hoochie or tube won't work. There are numerous flasher's on the market/no different then a set of Medium Ford fenders which in many cursumstance are extremely hard to beat/we aren't reinventing the wheel here. I have had very limited experience with flasher personnel. I have better success with tube/hoochie squirt pulled with a wobbler. not saying a flasher won't work at special time's, pulling a spinner, but WHY ADD THE EXTRA drag. Even pulling trolling spinners I may try 5 or 6 types and the fish will only hit one size or one color,a good example is they (kokanee) won't want a silver or brass but only a half and half and won't want a small or a large only the medium. Just because Mr Bill Herzog of North West fishing the country does it doesn't make it so. He only a host and trying to sell products. I'm saying keep it simple and also remember every body of water fishes different

 

[SilverBullets]

For koke fishing these type of attractors are better served on the end of ball trolls imho. They put out a good flash/strobe with no drag on the line. An alternative is useing 3 or 4 in tandem off the ball. Like mrmike mentioned why add the extra drag useing them inline.

 

[clawman]

For koke fishing these type of attractors are better served on the end of ball trolls imho. They put out a good flash/strobe with no drag on the line. An alternative is useing 3 or 4 in tandem off the ball. Like mrmike mentioned why add the extra drag useing them inline.

I've been using the 100' rule whereas if I want to have my lure 30' deep it is 70' back from the ball. Seems like if I have the flasher off the ball and my lure is 70' back the fish will not see both. Am I understanding correctly?
As far as the drag the 6" Big Al's I've used create far less drag than sling blades, fenders, or any other flasher or any dodger but nothing in line would certainly be better.

 

[SilverBullets]

I've been using the 100' rule whereas if I want to have my lure 30' deep it is 70' back from the ball. Seems like if I have the flasher off the ball and my lure is 70' back the fish will not see both. Am I understanding correctly?
As far as the drag the 6" Big Al's I've used create far less drag than sling blades, fenders, or any other flasher or any dodger but nothing in line would certainly be better.

Sorry... should have clarified. This works best with short set backs. When fishing at the 40' depth or deeper i run close to the ball... takes advantage of the black box, enables sharp turns to entice strikes and to stay over schools, and for a more accurate depth of the presentation. When useing ball trolls with this flasher i attach the clip 4' above the ball with the dodger/lure trailing a foot or two behind the end of the trolls. If running a longer set back useing the flasher in-line would be a much better choice.

 

[downriggeral]

Morning Clawman, I've always had the same question. I do know, from the seminar I attended at the Portland Sportsman's Show put on by Kokanee Kid, that the lure needs to be close to ball troll - like within 10' or less. In my opinion that would mean the ball trolls are for when you are down 30' plus; let's see what the others have to say about this.

What have you been using for rods with the BA's? Since they have less drag have you had any difference with the hook to land rate? fencing

 

[SuperD]

The 100' rule is more of a trout based rule than a salmonoid rule. Kokes aren't line shy or nearly as boat shy as trout. 30' deep on the wire is a pretty arbitrary depth but one I prescribe to for starting to make things close to the ball. The advantages of short set backs are many including ability to use ball trolls to being able to turn around on a dime to get back to the school without tangles. Once I get below 40' deep, it won't be uncommon for me to be 10' - 15' behind the ball. If I run trolls, 6' - 10' behind the trolls.