The author with a Chinook taken with a 360 flasher and Original Super Bait in Seahawk color.įlashers have been in use in salmon fisheries for decades. Rather, we’re talking about a specific type of flasher. We’re definitely not talking about dodgers, which are designed to wobble from side to side. The key to this technique is the use of what many refer to as “360 flashers.” That’s a little ambiguous, as all flashers rotate 360 degrees while being trolled. It is highly effective at attracting fish and stimulating them to bite-even maturing fish in terminal areas that have slowed or stopped feeding. This technique isn’t yet used much in Alaska’s troll fisheries, but in areas like Southeast, Seward, Whittier, upper Cook Inlet, and Valdez, it should be. Its use has since migrated west down the Columbia all the way to the coast, and has spread to other bay systems such as Tillamook Bay, and indeed up and down the coast in saltwater, especially in areas where maturing salmon are gathering. The technique was employed first on the Columbia River in eastern Washington and Oregon several years ago.

Flashers: the hottest current technique for icing Chinook and coho salmon up and down the west coast is undoubtedly Pro-Trollin’ I had a 29 Chinook that fought far harder than the 39. 8' lemon/green crank working fine for me with 25lb fluoro.This Chinook couldn’t resist a Hot Tamale Original Super Bait. You want at least a Loki and associated suitable reel and line.

Great fun, I highly recommend trying it for the few quid it costs for a 24 hour pass.īe warned though, your Jigwinner will not cut it. I have had Chinook to 39 despite not knowing anything about the place, doing what I do irl and having a cast per step working my way downstream. I didn't go there in search of the unique 70+ Chinook or to discover all its secrets just yet, just wanted to see what it was like having such a large variety of fish willing to take the same type of lure. So much fun just wandering the river with crankbaits catching different types of salmon. So out of curiousity I bought a 24 hour pass for Alaska because I'm only level 30.

Line leader fishing planet alaska