Salmon trolling setup questions (without a downrigger)

I feel like I'm finally getting a decent handle on bottom fishing.  But now salmon is opening up locally, so I have another setup to figure out.

How do you guys set up for trolling without a downrigger?  How do you know what depth your bait is at, etc?

I get the basic idea of a plug-cut herring behind a flasher, but where and how do you attach the weights (and how much weight), how far behind the flasher is the bait, and how do you run the hooks through the bait? 

Any other pointers?

I'm thinking of maybe hitting Saratoga Passage this Saturday.  I'll probably drop crab pots in Utsalady Bay (close to a friend's place), then head over to Cama Beach State Park to hit the salmon.  If there's other locations that are better, please let me know.

This is Spot's writeup from the frontpage.

http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?page=33

I go so seldom to the front page I forgot about that.

That said, where does the flasher go?  Just after the Main swivel?  It's not included in Spots write up.  And he doesn't explain what the bead and bead chain are for. 

I would think between the main swivel and the bead chain.

Confirmation would be nice because I'll be trying it with a  Kone Zone this fall.

I talked to a guy at the tackle shop recently about trolling, he said main swivel to banana weight to about 3'-4' of leader to Dodger to 9-12"leader with hook with a shrimp on hook.

That said, where does the flasher go?  Just after the Main swivel?  It's not included in Spots write up.  And he doesn't explain what the bead and bead chain are for.

- The beadchain is so that everything can spin freely without twisting the leader or the mainline.  It's a must anytime something might spin.

- The bead keeps the sliding swivel from rubbing on the knot

- The Flasher goes about 14" from the main swivel (Make sure that this distance is greater than the length of your dropper line or things will tangle)

- I use a bead chain at every connection point in the leader.  ie At the main swivel and at both ends of the flash/dodger.

You can just make out the bead chains at both ends of this konezone


-Spot-

hey spot, is there an advantage of usin a cannon ball instead of a banana weight?

Funny looking bait, you fishing for the landlord?

hey spot, is there an advantage of usin a cannon ball instead of a banana weight?

- I prefer to have my weight on a sliding swivel so the fish doesn't feel the weight when trolling. 
- In estuaries and other shallower water, you want that dropper length to ensure your spinner or herring isn't dragging in the mud.
- I also feel like I have better control over the depth I'm fishing when I use a cannonball. 

BTW: That's my secret Brycebait in the picture. 

-Spot-

Alright Spot I'll bite.

What advantage (if any) do you acquire when using a slider instead of spreader?

Signed,

Salmonless in Stumptown

Alright Spot I'll bite.

What advantage (if any) do you acquire when using a slider instead of spreader?

Signed,

Salmonless in Stumptown

Sliders are way cheaper   I bought a bunch of spreaders and realized Spot's method is cheaper, and I think the fish can take the line without feeling the weight as much.  But, that is just an assumption on my part.

Last year was the first time I tried this and I just copied what I observed on a guided buoy 10 trip. Basically, it is Spot's diagram plus a flasher. Salmonuniversity.com is a great resource.  I was using about a 12" dropper with the cannonball and a slider and found success straight away.

Question:

Alright Spot I'll bite.

What advantage (if any) do you acquire when using a slider instead of spreader?

Signed,

Salmonless in Stumptown

Answer:

Sliders are way cheaper   I bought a bunch of spreaders and realized Spot's method is cheaper, and I think the fish can take the line without feeling the weight as much.

Dear Salmonless, This can make a huge difference when you're pulling herring.  Salmon will take multiple swipes at your bait before committing.

-Spot-

spreader bar will cause more tangles i use a 18inch dropper and 18inch from the barel swivel to the flasher and a sliding swivel with cannon ball i wouldnt use anything else for salmon.

Is a slider the same thing I likely put my weight on when sturgeon fishing?