Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Alaska Question about flashers

I was talking to a fishing partner today about fishing flashers and we both felt the same way in that we're not convinced of our own opinion. 😁 When trolling I almost always run an 11" Hot Spot, Gibbs, etc but I've always wondered if the color of the flasher really matters? After all these decades I have superstitious preferences but I'm no closer to being sure than I was 40 years ago.

What do you guys think? Does flasher color matter? Does a particular color or pattern work better for one species than another?

Not in my opinion.......the flash is intended to mimic the flash of other fish participating in a feeding frenzy......color doesn't matter IMO

When power trolling in SE back in the 80s we convinced ourselves color mattered a great deal. Bright colors on bright days, dark on all others?!?!

I always fished dodgers

Never used dodgers, always run short bus flashers, last year "sweet Abby " was a hammer. I think color does matter.

I used to fish dodgers but have gotten away from them over the years in favor of flashers, thing is I don't know why.lol I picked up a bunch of brand new but old dodgers at goodwill the other day and may give them a go again this year.

I run a dummy flasher off the ball when fishing spoons for coho and don't have to fight the flasher. The flasher stays in the water when fighting and landing a fish and I've had schools of silvers following me around all day. Take the flasher out and they'd disperse but as long as they had something to follow they did.

Dodgers with herring - Flashers with hootchies.

Like the #2 Abe & Al with herring for kings, though. Slow troll with the flasher wagging, not spinning. 40"+ leader.

That's how I used to fish dodgers, with bait. Over the years I got away from bait but have started to use it again and it seems I almost always catch more with bait. Last year I fished bait while my partner stuck with hootchies and coyote spoons, I out fished him 5-1 that day.

Nothing outfishes an 11 inch flasher. That is not even debatable. Color does matter, but not as much as other things. They are coming out with new color/tape combos every year. The new glow stuff is good but different boats fish differently. As far as species, cohos are dumb and bite just about any color flasher. You can improve your king score slightly with a different color flasher.


But there are a lot of variables in catching kings and flasher color is one of the more minor ones.

In my opinion, when scratch fishing, bait will usually come out on top in terms of bites. I will say that at times, they just prefer bait and you better have it down. But, when over a good amount of fish, plastic will always put more in the boat because you can get it down faster, and not have to deal with missed strikes etc. You also lose a lot more on herring, which can end up giving the edge to plastic at the end of the day too. Threading herring is an art form, and guys who can do it right, catch a lot of kings. I run mostly plastic, but definitely believe in the hot hoochie color which changes every year.

Calvin, threading herring? Whole? Cut plug? I've caught my bigger kings on whole, but more strikes more fish on cut plug. You guys brine em? I brine, dye blue with anise. Later

I was hoping you'd give your opinion. So flasher color definitely improves king numbers? Agreed about silvers, they'll hit anything when they're on.

I've always used red or some combination of red for kings out of habit and rarely deviate but this year I might do some non scientific experimentation. Green/chartreuse has always been what I go to for silvers off the ball with a coyote spoon.

I don't think you'd notice with sportfish numbers, IMO. With commercial you can put a whole lot more out there and catch a lot more fish and start seeing some definite trends. I know I can't really tell when sportfishing and only catching 6 kings a day. I have been using a green big shooter on one side, and a black hot spot on the other. I've been hard to keep up with this year.

Interestingly, the hot flasher in lower SE right now is a black flasher and it has been a real king catcher the last few years. They sold out of them the last few years. FYI, a lot of trollers have gone to big shooters now too, as they are a bit tougher and don't bend as quickly.

Whole, sometimes with the tail fillet'd out. Depends on the hook. Mouth shut with either a petite fastener, wire, or some other contraption. I know when I've threaded a good one, and it don't wobble. I've tried anise, but it just ends up making a big mess.

Heres my riggin, I think diver color matters too. I also cut the leader in half and put a bead swivel in, whole and cut plug spin better..

Calvin, is this the 11" style your talking about? Thanks

Thanks for your input Joel. I figured you guys that run big spreads on your trollers would definitely see a preference or trend while us sportfishers might be hard pressed to get a definitive idea. Having a lot of gear in the water gives someone the chance to get a better feeling for what works best. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the "Big Shooter" is that a brand like HotSpot or Shortbus?

Color maters here UV for sunny conditions this is a custom 10" Spin doctor I had made up fish with a meat rig behind it

Another with a 2 faced UV 10" spin doctor and meat

10" Big Weenie flasher with twinkie rig and meat