Has anyone used the new hotshot flashers with the quick release on them. Saw these at the boat show last week and was wanting some input on them. Hopefully I was not the only one that has seen them.

Kingfisherman,
I saw them at the SPortsmans show in Puyallup also. I just didn't see how it would really decrease line drag once it released, afterall it is still a flasher attatched to your line! I would like to here a little input on them as well before I purchase any of them.. You know the ol' saying about old dogs and new tricks!!

To be honest with you guys... I don't mind the drag at all. As I see it, the same drag we feel on the line is the same applied to the fish with the hook in it's mouth. So IMO it helps keep the hook secure.

Flasher drag isn't much with a fish over 8# anyways... especially if he's a hot fish.

I dunno... maybe the heat is making me crazy.
I can say this... my low-level beer alarm is definately going off!

Downriggin'

I'm with UM, the thing is still attached to your line and would still apply the same amount of drag when reeled in without a fish - which I don't mind but my wife complains about it Now if you have a fish on he will leave that flasher behind on a run, but this may not necessarily be a good thing as you would be fighting that fish at somewhat of an angle and more slack may develop in the line if it gets hinky, not to mention it being able to get more out of control when fishing in crowded conditions, increasing the risk of tangling with someone. I'll stick to the standard Hotspots, thanks very much :p

I agree and disagree with 2 points.

First, I've caught some nice fish in Sekiu and Sooke with the tide running pretty strong using a flasher and I can tell you that if the fish and you are playing tug-o-war sideways to the current, the flasher is taking a lot of sideways force from the current and it can vibrate pretty hard. So on this point I disagree. I can't see that this could happen with the quick release kind, seems like a flasher flapping in the current would have less drag than a flasher held sideways to the current. Minor issue really though. I've nailed a lot of fish both big and small with flashers and I don't think that the flasher drag is a real problem.

Second, I agree with Downriggin'. Big fish will tend to make flasher drag seem pretty insignificant. When I'm "feeling" a fish while using a flasher, if it's a big one especially, I'm feeling head shakes and can tell when they are rolling, etc. The flasher drag isn't really that big of a deal.

P.S. Nothing feels better than a coyote spoon or herring trolled solo using a medium/light outfit with a 20+ pounder on the other end though!!!!

If you're talking about the flasher I think you're talking about (it's not made by Hotspot), it will not create drag because there is absolutely no tension from the flasher. In fact, as you play the fish, the flasher will float up the line to the surface. The fish could be 100 feet deep and the flasher will just be floating on the surface with the main line running through a large eye that's connected to one end of the flasher.

As to tension, I have seen one large salmon (40+ pounds) lost due to flasher drag. The fish was running right on the surface very fast. The flasher was being pulled sideways by the fish creating a lot of drag which eventually pulled the hook out.

The idea is a good one! I've made a few similar rigs cause I think the flasher does a lot of the fighting( keeping pressure) on the fish and takes a lot out of the fish. I have had more fun with 20 - 30 lbers on cut-plug than 40-50s on a big flasher.

I've fished River's Inlet the last 9yrs (Aug) and there is no comparison between catching a hog on a large flasher or a cut-plug.

I'm gonna buya couple, it's ezr & cheeper than trying to make my own.

JMO.
herm

If you have a HOT fish on the other end of the line you won't even notice the dodger or flasher. The fish sure won't mind.

I caught a 28lb King at the mouth of the Green River a couple of years ago. I was using a 8oz. banana weight, 11" Hot Spot, and a hoochie. Still took me 30 minutes to get the fish to the boat. The fish took off up stream and peeled off about 150 yrds. of line.

I agree with DR on most things. A large fish usually has enough pull to keep the line tight. The "Jim's Break-a-way flasher" will let the back end float free which turns the flasher loose. The only place where I have seen flashers cause problems is in the ocean when you are fighting a fish on the top water. If you are heading into the rollers and you go over one, the roller goes on past you. When the roller gets to the flasher and fish, it can "pull back" on your line. This is like putting on the brakes. If the fish happens to run forward at the same time as the roller goes between you and him. He can get slack and come off.

I got talked into buying one at the sportsman show. Hopefully after this weekend I can give a report on how it works. Since I am fairly new at this and have not caught many fish I don't have much experience to compare it to.

I guess one of the real guestions is is this flasher going to come loose and free float everytime I pick up some crab grass or sea weed I know when this happens but have also caught fish when I knew I had stuff on my DR and flasher. And what does large balls of bait do to this.

I agree with JacobF, the slider type I've seen before pull the flasher from the bottom end (swivel) which changes the action of the flasher..not good. It should always be pulled from the top end.

Cigar

The Breakaway flasher is basically a HotSpot copy since the patent ran on for Hotspot. The flasher works just like a HotSpot but at the rear there is a plug that you push in with varying tension. This is basically a release clip. When the fish bites it pulls the clip out of the back of the flasher and the flasher freely slides on your main line. The flasher works its way up your line to the surface and the mainline is totally free...just you and the fish and either hoochie or spoon. I have a demo model and haven't tried it yet but others I know have and say the trick is to figure out how hard to push in the release clip just like a downrigger release so it isn't so loose it trips prematurely or too tight so it won't release at all. I'm really not sure about possible line twist. The commercial version of the real HotSpot has Sampo ball bearing swivels at both ends and those are the best in my book.

I saw these Flashers down at the Puyallup show, I have to follow up what grandpa said in his post. It looks like to much that you have to get just right or you are going to be tweaking the flasher and all the clips. I really haven't had a problem fighting the flasher drag in the water while fighting a fish. DR had a good point about the flasher applying pressure to the fish as well. I dunno, I like having several Hotspot flashers pre-rigged and ready to go with different rigs. I like the idea of tossing your gear over the side, ready to fish and not worrying about clips, etc.

Kev

Well thanks for all the replys and I think I will buy some of these when I use up the 15 or 20 Hot spots That I bought over the last 4 years.

Wait a minute that figures out to 4 to 8 years from now.