Looking for feedback… Pop gear attached to rigger ball

[berrykoka]

We often fish with set of large pop gear attached to the dowrigger ball, then put our dodger/lure on a stacker a few feet above and several feet behind the pop gear.
I've heard some theories about how the pop gear can attract predator fish and scare away the kokes?
I've also read of people having good success, especially when the bite is slow.

We seem to have good success with this set up at Strawberry but mixed success at Flaming gorge.

I'm wondering how many of you out there use this set up if any?? Whenever I read reports or see people at the lake, I don't hear much of other people using this technique??

Any thoughts on this? positive or negative??
Thanks all!

 

[dragonfly]

I don't use anything on my weights because most of the lakes I fish are pretty clear and I use a 40'-80' set back so they wouldn't help me much, but just like colors every lake is different, along with technique, so if it works stay with it, if not don't be afraid to change it up. dfly

 

[SuperD]

They are like the rest of your tackle in that they have their time and their place. I've used ball trolls in instances where they were on fire and I've used them with no positive effect. They are generally thought of as a very deep fishing item in that one wants to have very short set backs in the 6' - 10' length. If you have ever read anything by Phil Johnson on Koke fishing, his philosophy was to start with nothing (minimal tackle) and only add if circumstances dictate. Using ball trolls then would be when you've tried everything else.

 

[berrykoka]

They are like the rest of your tackle in that they have their time and their place. I've used ball trolls in instances where they were on fire and I've used them with no positive effect. They are generally thought of as a very deep fishing item in that one wants to have very short set backs in the 6' - 10' length. If you have ever read anything by Phil Johnson on Koke fishing, his philosophy was to start with nothing (minimal tackle) and only add if circumstances dictate. Using ball trolls then would be when you've tried everything else.

Thank you sir! Much appreciated as usual!
I have read some of Phil's stuff online and I find his theories great! I think it's a very logical way to approach fishing. Although I can't remember the last time I used a lure without some sort of dodger in front of it. And… I've never used an apex which seems to be his go to lure.

The thing that got me second guessing this pop gear method is that if you read the FWG kokanee university, he strongly discourages using of pop gear attached to the ball.

I think what it boils down to is that I'm becoming quite the neurotic fisherman and I feel like I should always be catching the maximum amount of fish ALL THE TIME!!!! hahaha!tooexcited

I also want to share an interesting observation…. When we we're fishing Strawberry last sunday we had both lines near the surface when we noticed cutthroat approaching and almost being mesmerized by the pop gear. This happened right behind the boat at about a foot below the surface. By the time we threw our lures back out there, the fish took off. But it shows that it's possible it might not be only a deep water method because of the proximity of the boat. Then again… This was at the Berry, and we know how many cutts there are in that lake.

Thanks again, and we'll be messing around with it again this weekend.

 

[berrykoka]

Also… Thanks dfly!