Please help with trolling setup for salmons

The flasher helps in dirty water for sure. I have not used a flasher for trout fishing in years and I'm still landing whoppers every now and then. Ultimately it's going to depend on the water conditions.

I agree if you're gonna use the classic: dropper lead, flasher, herring combo you'll need heavy mono (50 - 150 # test) between swivel and flasher.

Alternatively try this simple method with less moving parts and a lot less tangled line hassles. Run a bar jig (alternatives: buzz bomb, flutter jig) in front of your herring, spoon or plug, about 5 to 6 ounces work best. Just make sure you have a high quality ball bearing swivel at the leading edge of the bar jig Sampo swivels work the best and be generous on the leader (35" to 40"). Flashers might help if the water is dirty but these fish make a living finding bait fish by tuning in on any irregular vibrations. The fight is a lot more fun without a flasher and there is less chance of pulling the hook as the fish rips the flasher backwards and sideways thru the water.

That's the simple setup I used for catching all my salmon. Flashers and dodgers are helpful sometimes but I have not had any need for them this year. I hooked into one big king and it wrapped up in the flasher. After netting that fish I stopped using the flasher and continued to catch fish at the same rate.

I'm really starting to wonder if a flasher or dodger is necessary myself. My Barbie rod experience was I had one of my best days ever just using a sinker and herring.  Though sometimes when using a hoochie you need them for action.

I will say that I use dodger when I ice fish. I do firmly believe that a fish coming to a small bait with a dodger near by causes the fish to attack more aggressively. Without a dodger the fish comes in and will check out a bait or jig much more closely. I believe that the presence of a larger dodger triggers a competitive reflex that leads to more aggressive strike when a fish believes the dodger is a competing fish. I've witnessed that play out hundreds of time just feet from my face while ice fishing.  Does it transfer to trolled salmon? Dunno. But I think it might.

Have you seen the action discs  from wigglefin Rudy? Wigglefin is a Idaho company.just a thought. Would add action to a fly or hoochy with no flasher.

  Eugene,
 
  Seeing as how you are fairly new to this game-- I have a suggestion.

   KISS

  Keep it simple for a while . Get several days of easy fishing under your belt before you complicate your tackle. A banana weight 3 feet in front of your herring is about as simple as it gets. Maybe put snap swivels off your mainline so you can adjust your weight to the conditions. Keep your leader at a manageable length 3-4 feet is plenty. Use a herring helmet if your plug cutting needs work.
  Many people complicate things way more than they need to. Keep it simple for a while . Catch a few fish. Then , if you think it will help, start adding other stuff to your arsenal..
  Good luck and keep trying. Now is prime time ........

         Mark

I agree if you're gonna use the classic: dropper lead, flasher, herring combo you'll need heavy mono (50 - 150 # test) between swivel and flasher.

Alternatively try this simple method with less moving parts and a lot less tangled line hassles. Run a bar jig (alternatives: buzz bomb, flutter jig) in front of your herring, spoon or plug, about 5 to 6 ounces work best. Just make sure you have a high quality ball bearing swivel at the leading edge of the bar jig Sampo swivels work the best and be generous on the leader (35" to 40"). Flashers might help if the water is dirty but these fish make a living finding bait fish by tuning in on any irregular vibrations. The fight is a lot more fun without a flasher and there is less chance of pulling the hook as the fish rips the flasher backwards and sideways thru the water.

That's the simple setup I used for catching all my salmon. Flashers and dodgers are helpful sometimes but I have not had any need for them this year. I hooked into one big king and it wrapped up in the flasher. After netting that fish I stopped using the flasher and continued to catch fish at the same rate.

I'm really starting to wonder if a flasher or dodger is necessary myself. My Barbie rod experience was I had one of my best days ever just using a sinker and herring.  Though sometimes when using a hoochie you need them for action.

I will say that I use dodger when I ice fish. I do firmly believe that a fish coming to a small bait with a dodger near by causes the fish to attack more aggressively. Without a dodger the fish comes in and will check out a bait or jig much more closely. I believe that the presence of a larger dodger triggers a competitive reflex that leads to more aggressive strike when a fish believes the dodger is a competing fish. I've witnessed that play out hundreds of time just feet from my face while ice fishing.  Does it transfer to trolled salmon? Dunno. But I think it might.

Have you seen the action discs  from wigglefin Rudy? Wigglefin is a Idaho company.just a thought. Would add action to a fly or hoochy with no flasher.

I have a few. I like the action. I don't like the disc being so large ahead of my skinny hoochie but I bet they'd work if I gave it a try. It's definitely a more realistic shimmer vs swinging side to side.

I also have their swarm flashers. A few folks swear by them here but I just haven't used my downrigger much and I don't think I'd use their large size directly in my line.

If it works for you, I should give them some more time.

Another consideration is to forget the flashers all together. Over the years of fishing both with and without flashers, I have come to the conclusion that I catch at least as many fish without them as I do with them. This year I have not used them at all and am having my best year ever. Remember, you can only catch fish when your line is effectively working in the water. Time spent untangling equipment is time not spent fishing.

I agree with eliminating the flasher to simplify.  For river fishing, I still prefer a dropper for the lead instead of an inline weight just because I do touch bottom with the lead to make sure I'm down there, and I don't want my herring leader to get snarled during the touch/reel up couple turns.  I"m constantly making adjustments to my depth as the bottom terrain changes.  MOst of the time I do not have a fish finder, so my lead dropper is my depth indicator.  I often use a whole herring because they last longer than plug cut and look quite natural with the right troll speed.

Guys, thank you all for useful tips/advises! Finally today I tried a completely different setup, it works just awesome. I have trolled with it around 5 hour, absolutely no more mess. But anyway I caught nothing I tried different depths, different speeds. Accordingly to Lowrance I was going in a range 1.5-2.5 knots. Herring action was pretty good, at least when I tested it . I also added some shrimp gel to it. I can't realize what also can be wrong  Distances between banana sinker and flasher and between flasher and herring are the same and ~40 inches - maybe too far? Flasher model is SpinRay Echip 8.

Guys, thank you all for useful tips/advises! Finally today I tried a completely different setup, it works just awesome. I have trolled with it around 5 hour, absolutely no more mess. But anyway I caught nothing I tried different depths, different speeds. Accordingly to Lowrance I was going in a range 1.5-2.5 knots. Herring action was pretty good, at least when I tested it . I also added some shrimp gel to it. I can't realize what also can be wrong  Distances between banana sinker and flasher and between flasher and herring are the same and ~40 inches - maybe too far? Flasher model is SpinRay Echip 8.

I tried the Spinray this year to no avail. I caught several fish on other flashers but nary a bump on the Spinray. It looks to me that you need more speed to activate the eChip and to match other flashers action. You might want to try a different flasher.

As for getting fish to strike, that's a whole different matter. Take it from someone who has spent many a trip scratching my head as others in my group (ndogg, Craig or Rawkfish) are nailing them. One day I trolled the same set up, side by side with a friend. My friend caught and landed his limit to my zero. He unsnapped his set up and gave it to me. I then started catching fish. The only difference was that my leader was 6 inches shorter than his.

My best advise is to do exactly what you are doing. Ask questions, get involved with seminars and go to meet ups on the water. The more the merrier, for everyone starts off with a little different set up. When a pole bends look to see what it has going on and copy it. Most people on this site are happy to share.

As for me, 8 to 12 ounces of lead, 24 inch dropper (or 8 inches and three cranks once I hit the bottom), 12 inch braided line spacer with chains, Pink and chartreuse Kone Zone flasher and a  48 inch 40# leader tipped with a Dicks sure spin helmet. I am intrigued with the banana weight. I found two eight ounce ones in my lead bin. Can't wait til next year to try it.

I hope to see you on the water.

Wobbler

Wobbler - thank you! I never know that it is hell difficult to catch salmon. What do you think about Yakima Big Al's no-drag flasher? I usually go to FredMeyer for fishing stuff, they have only herring dodger (I already bought) and these Big Als.

I think it has a lot to do with the density of fish populations. It's a BIG ocean out there with typically lots of bait.   Sometimes you can get a person's attention with your normal voice sometimes you have to yell.

If you know the fish are there,  it seems a flasher is unnecessary. But when they are scattered, I have more confidence with flashers. Maybe the fish don't care, but having confidence in the  gear I run seems to have some correlation to the fish I catch.

Wobbler - thank you! I never know that it is hell difficult to catch salmon. What do you think about Yakima Big Al's no-drag flasher? I usually go to FredMeyer for fishing stuff, they have only herring dodger (I already bought) and these Big Als.

Don't spend 15$ at FM for your flashers...get then on sale at Fishermans or other sporting goods store. I have good luck with the $1 blank clear flasher at Fishermans. Just add your favorite UV tape....pretty satisfying for your own creation to catch fish.
Get that tight spin on the herring, get it close to bottom....it's gonna happen!

Lots of good info here, thanks guys.