Every Manufacturer of Dodgers and Flashers have their own recommendations for leader lengths between their dodger or flasher and bait. The length recommendations will change for many reasons:
- size of dodger or flasher
- trolling speed
- amount of underwater current
- type of bait used
- size of leader material (pound test rating)
- species of fish targeted
- time of year
In the picture above the letter "A" measures the length of the leader between the weight and the dodger or flasher. The letter "B" measures the length of the leader between the dodger or flasher and the bait. The measurment "A' will be discussed for each fishing technique in that individual techniques section. Leader length recommendations for measurement "B" follow for the various types of dodgers and flashers:
Luhr Jensen and Silver Horde Dodgers:
For Flys and Hoochies the leader length is generally recommended to be between 1.5 to 2.5 times the length of the dodger.
- Coho prefer a slightly faster moving bait. Reducing the length to 1.5 times dodger length is recommended.
(example: size 0 dodger that is 8 inches long,
leader length = 8 * 1.5 = 12 inches)
- Chinook or Kings prefer a slower moving bait. Increasing the length to 2.5 times dodger length is recommended.
(example: size 0 dodger that is 8 inches long,
leader length = 8 * 2.5 = 22 inches)
- Lake Trout prefer a slow moving bait. Increasing the length to 2.5 or 3 times dodger length is recommended.
(example: size 0 dodger that is 8 inches long,
leader length = 8 * 3 = 24 inches)
Shure Hit Bait - Action Flashers:
The best action for this flasher is when the flasher wobbles back and forth and then turns over completely every 5th or 6th time.
- For Flys and Hoochies the leader length is generally recommended to be 1.5 times the length of the flasher.
- For Spoons and Bait the leader length is generally recommended to be between 2 to 2.5 times the length of the flasher.
Bechhold Flashers:
This flasher rotates extremely well at low speeds! The back of the flasher rotates in a 360 degree radius, approximately six times larger than the radius of rotation for the front end of the flasher. This creates somewhat of a funnel configuration. The end result is a whipping effect on your bait or lure if used with a 40" or shorter leader. The flasher also has three eyelets in the back end. There can be three different actions for your bait or lure. The far outside eyelet has a faster whipping action than the inside eyelet, which is considerably slower. The middle eyelet is a compromise between both end eyelets.
- For Flys, Hoochies, and Spoons the leader length is generally recommended to be between 2 times the length of the flasher.
- For Bait the leader length is generally recommended to be 40 inches.
Hotspot Flashers:
| Size of flasher | Hoochies or Flys | Bait or Lures |
|---|---|---|
| For Chinook or Lake Trout: | ||
| 8 Inch | 26" - 36" | 26" - 48" |
| 11 Inch | 36" - 50" | 42" - 72" |
| For Coho: | ||
| 8 Inch | 22" - 30" | 22" - 48" |
| 11 Inch | 26" - 40" | 24" - 42" |
O'Ki Flashers and Luhr Jensen Coyote (Alaskan Eagle) Flashers:
- Brown Trout: 72 inch leader using small or medium spoons connected to the center clip.
- Lake Trout: 30 - 40 inch leader using Flys, Hoochies, or spoons connected to the center clip.
- Coho: 60 inch leader using spoons connected to the center clip. For Flys or Hoochies use a 30 inch leader connected to one of the outside clips.
- Chinook: 53 - 60 inch leader using spoons or bait connected to one of the outside clips. For Flys or Hoochies use a 30 inch leader connected to one of the outside clips.
