Trolling Peanut Flies for spring Coho Salmon is the main presentation used for the early fishing on Lake Michigan. Peanut flies are used trolled behind either a dodger or flasher. All salmon and trout will attack a peanut fly trolled behind a dodger or flasher. The peanut fly can be used with a variety of trolling techniques: Downriggers, Planner Boards, or Dipsy Divers. Peanut Flies are tied directly onto treble hooks. Care must be used unhooking fishPeanut Flies with peanut flies in their mouths. Do not grab the thread or fly material directly with your pliers as it can destroy the fly. Leader length for peanut flies is 12-18 inches from the back of your dodger or flasher to the peanut fly. The colder the water temperature, the longer the leader length should be used. The leader material is open for debate and discussion, some use Fluorocarbon leader, most use regular fishing line. Most fishermen use 40 pound test fishing line (Ande or BigPeanut Fly Turned Game) as is gives a great snapping action to the peanut fly. Peanut Flies are tied with the knot at the top of the eye of the treble hook for the best action. Always check your fly whenever a fish hits and misses your fly. Sometimes the leader attached to the fly can slide on the eye of the treble hook or become "turned". That turned fly will never catch a fish and becomes a wasted rod. There are many popular color patterns for peanut flies: Two Tone, Next Generation, Blue Green Gold, Black, Coho Candy, Green Liz, and Little Boy Blue are some of the favorite patterns.
