Fishing Dodgers & Flashers

Coupled with the effectiveness of trolling technique, flashers and dodgers are deadly fish attractors in both fresh and salt water. They are rigged in the line between the lure and downrigger release, diver or lead to provide attraction and impart erratic action to trailing lures such as plugs, spoons, flies or plastic squids.

Trolling with dodgers or flashers produces excellent results because you can cover a large amount of water in a very short time, thereby locating concentrations of fish with the least amount of time and effort expended. The flash and sound of these attractors draws fish from considerable distances, allowing you to cover a wider swath of water effectively with each pass . . . a big advantage when prospecting unknown waters or when fish are scattered.

Successful trolling requires knowledge of fish and their habits, proper equipment, the ability to troll various depths and a willingness to experiment with different attractors, lures and color patterns.

Tackle for trolling dodgers or flashers consists of a stout 7- to 9-ft. trolling rod, free-spool-type star drag reel filled with 20- to 30-lb. test premium monofilament line and a downrigger, diver or selection of lead weights to get your offering down into fish territory.

DODGERS vs. FLASHERS

The big difference between dodgers and flashers is the way they run through the water when being trolled. A dodger has a side-to-side swaying action while a flasher develops full 360? rotations. This provides you with two completely different types of attractors, each giving off specific flash and vibration patterns.

Flashers and dodgers impart an erratic, darting action to trailing lures and produce fish-attracting flash and sound. Plugs, spoons, flies and squids all can be used with a dodger, which transfers a crippled baitfish action to these lures. Flies and squids are best used behind an Abe 'n Al rotating flasher because they have no action of their own in the water and the flasher will give them a lifelike, erratic natural baitfish action.

For dodgers, the correct fish-attracting speed and action is achieved when the attractor has a side-to-side swaying motion. With your boat moving "dead slow", place a rigged dodger-and-lure setup in the water (see illustration) and slowly increase your speed until the dodger has developed the proper action. This is your optimum trolling speed.

Optimum rotating flasher speed, on the other hand, is obtained when the attractor is working in regular full 360? rotations. With your boat in motion, place a rigged flasher-and-lure setup in the water (see illustration) and increase your speed until the flasher develops these regular, full revolutions. Note: Flashers generally work better at slightly faster speeds than dodgers.

Dodgers can be used with a keel-type sinker, behind divers such as the Pink Lady, Deep Six or Dipsy Diver or behind a downrigger release, all of which are diagrammed above.

The most popular color finishes for dodgers and flashers are Chrome, Chrome/Silver Prism-Lite and Fire. Hammered Chrome flashers and dodgers, however, are being used more and more as they disperse light in all directions as do the Prism-Lite finishes. In the Great Lakes, Fire, Chartreuse, Watermelon and Kelly Green models are increasingly popular and in the Northwest, White and 50/50 Brass/Chrome are very productive.