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How to Troll with Flashers for Big Fish

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Hereâs what we got for you today:
How flashers can up your trolling game immediately â¨
Underwater footage of a disgruntled pike following a lure đ
Peter Griffin makes an appearance to go fishing đ
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đŁ Flash Or Pass
If you're trolling and not using flashers, you're leaving fish on the table. Flashers create underwater commotionâlight, vibration, and pulseâthat mimic baitfish in distress or a feeding frenzy. That kind of chaos draws predators in. But if you donât rig them right, theyâll do more harm than goodâspooking fish or twisting your line into spaghetti.
Hereâs how to get it right:
1. Choose the Right Flasher:
Standard flashers range from 8 to 11 inches and come in colors like chrome, chartreuse, and UV. Use natural tones in clear water and bold ones in stained or deep water. Inline flashers spin and create a strong pulseâperfect for salmon or lake trout. Dodgers, which wobble instead of spinning, are ideal at slower trolling speeds.
Fishing for smaller species like kokanee or stocked trout? Mini flashers under 8 inches create flash without overpowering your gearâor the fish.
2. Dial In Leader Length:
Leader length from the flasher to your lure plays a big role in presentation. Spoons have built-in action and should ride 30â36 inches behind. Hoochies, on the other hand, depend on the flasher for movement, so keep them closerâ18 to 24 inchesâto get that pulsing action they need.
3. Pick the Right Lure:
Hoochies, spoons, and bait like herring or anchovies are all great options. Just make sure your trolling speed matches. Spoons like a faster clip (2.0â2.5 mph), while hoochies and baitfish do best slower (1.3â2.0 mph).

Goldstar hoochies are some of the best in the business for salmon and halibut - LINK HERE
4. Add Scent and Keep It Clean:
Flashers can carry scentsâgood and bad. Always wipe them down after storage. Apply gel scent (like anchovy or garlic) to the back side of the flasher to trail a subtle attractant without messing up the flash.
5. Use a Ball-Bearing Swivel:
Flashers spinâand theyâll twist your main line if you donât run a high-quality ball-bearing swivel ahead of the flasher. Cheap swivels or skipping one altogether is a fast way to end your day with a tangled mess.
6. Light It Up:
For deep trolling or low-light conditions, flashers with built-in LED lightsâlike those from Pro-Trollâare a serious upgrade. The subtle flashing light mimics baitfish scales and stays visible deeper in the water column. Weâve seen them change the game for deep-running salmon.

These Pro Troll lighted flashers are expensive, but we canât recommend them enough for days when the bite is tough. Weâve landed fish when everyone else is getting skunked - LINK HERE
When rigged right, flashers donât just catch attentionâthey trigger instinct strikes. Fish see the flash, move in, and thatâs when you make âem pay.

đŁ IN THE FIELD
The grumpiest pike youâve ever seen:
This is hilarious - apparently the summer 2025 trend from Vogue is for women to paint their nails to mimic fishing lures. 2025 has been FULL of surprises to say the least đ
Weâve become big fans of underwater footage so we can fine tune our fishing technique. Hereâs the type of action you should be looking for with your flasher:

AI CORNER
Every week we generate fishing related AI images. See the coolness/weirdness below:




đ CHEFâS KISS - RECIPE OF THE WEEK
Not everything has to be complicated - try this four ingredient smoked fish recipe:

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