How To Fish With Dummy Flashers

Tyler Kaye, Big Fish Charters

As a guide, the most common question I get asked regarding gear is “What’s your favourite setup?” Last season, I religiously used a Gibbs 4.0 Herring Aid with either the Purple Haze or gold Betsy flasher. That combo completely crushed, though there were times when I’d mix it up and put on a UV Ghost Car hoochie when it started getting slow. Leader length, speed, action, and attraction all take a vital role in getting the attention of a nice chrome spring salmon.

Light and Flash

Glow-dipped cannonballs on your downrigger help as an attractant to your setups. Why not more flash? Dummies, you ask? I’ve found by using dummy flashers, my number of strikes greatly improved: More flash means more strikes. If they work for sockeye and chum, why wouldn’t they work for all salmon? Be it for an illusion of a school of fish or making a bait ball, more flash brings more opportunity.

Make Your Own Bait Ball

The idea is to create your own bait ball, or the illusion of small bait fish in a bait ball. You can use any types of flashers. Simply clip them on your cannonball, and grab some glow paint or rubber dip and prep your cannonballs to glow. It doesn’t hurt, and any extra prep work for your fishing experience always pay off.

Types of Dummy Flashers

There are many types of dummy flashers on the market. I’ve used the Kone Zone Daisy Chain and the WiggleFin Swarm, and I have made my own chains using a couple of Gibbs 8″ inline flashers, all which have worked for me. Which setup you use depends on what you want to spend. They vary widely in price, and the key is to have as much flash as possible. I recommend a visit to your favourite local tackle shop to see what they have and what suits you.

How To Set Up Your Dummy Flashers

Whatever flashers you go with, make sure they are clipped well to ensure you don’t lose them. Clip your rod line about 10′ to 15′ above your dummies to allow all your gear to work together in creating flash and bait. The next thing to consider is the length of your dummy flashers. Then lower your gear to your desired depth at a controlled speed. You do not want to have them all wrapped up in your line clip—you will have a twisted mess in no time. To ensure this doesn’t happen, I drop my gear slowly while watching the flasher on its way down as best I can. I keep my clip well above the dummies to accommodate the flashers as well.

Fishing With No Inline Flashers

I also will run spoons and plugs without flashers attached to the line. This makes for a sensitive, controlled fight. Without the drag of a flasher on your line, it’s just you and the fish. There’s nothing better.

Don’t Be A Dummy

There is no doubt in my mind that I have been catching more fish since I have started using dummy flashers. You may get tangles at first, but with a little practice, you’ll get it dialled right in.

Stacking Fishing Lines? Here’s an in-depth article with diagrams.

 

This article appeared in Island Fisherman Magazine. Never miss an issue—Subscribe today!