Does it Work and what is the Best one to Use, At Johns River, Columbia, the Ocean ect ..Looking to give some as a X-mas Gift.. Thanks

Yes they work, that's all we used on the columbia, the silver&dark green was the hot ticket trolled with a herring, out of four rods that had different colors on the second day that color had 18 hook ups compared to three on the other rods, guess who had the dark green&silver, hope this helps Doug

Yes, they work.

The bigger, the better.

Any color will do.... as long as it's green

Yeah, the dark green ones with the red eyes, like the others said.

I used both the smaller and larger ones this year for the first time with exceptional results.

Good flashers IMO.

I ama believer too but like the large red ones for Johns River...they cost too much though

Tried them for the first time on the Columbia River this fall.

I like the medium in red.

u can send some to me for christmas I like them. big fishies like them also. used them for springers and in the ocean.

They work for springers at Cathlamet and elsewhere too. They work in the ocean also - as I recall FishNg1 got a monster king while using one. Another variety I've had success with is a spinning type attractor called a Kone Zone. It's similar only it doesn't wobble, just rotates. I've caught several springers using one and tried one successfully a couple weeks ago for blackmouth.

The fish-flash is awsome! That was the go to flasher when chasin springers down on the columbia! My avatar (cathlamet springer) caught on a fish-flash. Definetely worth checking out!

skeets

I have fun with the medium size prizm and chartrues on all of those fisheries mentioned.
Good luck,
STRIKE ZONE

My stocking is hanging in the charles st. truck shop.

Blaster,

If you're buying Big Al's FFs as gifts, make sure they are the newer ones with the BB swivel in front. The old ones had a bead-chain.

be sure to get the good fish flash:

Ocean Westport: big or medium red one in am w/cut herring in am for kings; med. green in PM for silvers, every once in a while switch over to the disco flash --> we first started using the flash in the ocean about 3 or 4 years ago & they have consistently blown away cut herring by itself

Bouy 10: Red (any size) for bouy ten

Johns River: No Flash...
Cathalamet: No FLash....

Not sure what the affection is for red FF's. At 13 ft or deeper, it just goes black! Not saying they won't work at deeper depths.... they just won't appear red anymore. If they are truly that effective maybe they should be marketing a Black/Silver FF... but probably wouldn't sell as well from a marketing point of view... need those bright colors to lure the fisherman.

Actually, black is a great color, and highly visible, especially if the fish is looking up from below. One of the most effective colors we have used for Apex's in the ocean and in the bay is black/scale/pearl. Probably a good color for an attractor like the FF.

FYI, my most productive color FF this fall was one we call "Ginger"... a custom creation that's half bright green scale, half chartreuse scale, with deep metallic blue stripes. She scored 60-80% of the hits in my boat, and that's fishing four rods at a time.

Needless to say, Ginger now has three identical sisters.... can't wait for salmon season 2005!

has anyone used the glow in the dark fish flash for black mouth? i plan on running the fish flash off the downrigger wire and then running a swimmertail jus above it about 5 feet up the cable and out about 15 feet behind the fish flash..

I started using the red Fish Flash at Grays Harbor after watching notable guides such as Mike Kelly who consistently catch fish when others did not. The common denominator was a red Fish Flash. The color red in that fishery shows up in the low visibility and usually the fishing depth does not exceed 26ft. I don't think I agree with the loss of color as shallow as 13'...I would buy 40' which is deeper than most of the Grays Harbor fishery. I think Slab's recommendation on the new ones with the ball bearing swivel is excellent as well.

If fish can see ultraviolet rays through the water like the way they are beginning to think, red is still red underwater.

(Think fish vision here...) Ultraviolet rays are the only "light" source that penetrates through deeper water. In order for a fish to see the lure in "natural" color (i.e., red), the lure itself must be conducive to emitting a ultraviolet source back before the end of the color's wave length. If not, all colors turn gray at the end of their wave length.

I only know of one tackle manufacture that has taken UV serious for salmon fishermen- Radiant (Canada).

As far as a FF for blackmouth, I have had mixed results. I have used the glo version in front a spoon and just don't have enough confidence in the deeper water. When fishing shallow, (<70') the FF really produces well. Especially during the sand lance spawn. I'll run a Coho Killer about 30" behind the FF.

I like the Fish Flash. Usually run the large blue one on my gear. One of the posts said to make sure you get the new ones with the ball bearing swivels - that is a good idea.

For what it is worth, I run a Sampo ball bearing swivel on my main line, then a Luhr Jensen trolling rudder that is connected to the Fish Flash swivel. This really cuts down on the potential for line twist.

It is a lot more fun to play a fish using the Fish Flash as opposed to a ProTroll, Hot Spot Coyote flasher. I do like the ProTroll e-chip flasher, though. During my last few days at Sekiu in September, the ProTroll (large green) took 60% of the fish. I was running a green Hot Spot on the other rod.


If you don't mind the

I've caught/released kings and silvers in Puget Sound using Al's Fish Flash. I have silver mediums 8 " or so with green or red eyes and run a coyote spoon behind them. I've caught fish from 40 to 120 ft with them. I haven't seen the glow ones, but now that I know they exist, I may try them! Otherwise, I use the Jim's Breakaway Flasher in Glow/Chartreuse.

With their inline design they are the best choice while trolling with weights or divers. I buy green and blue reflective tape, cut strips about 1in. wide 4in. long and place a couple on each side of the flasher to break up the pattern. On the corners I place green and silver tape. Going over 100ft. deep using downriggers there are flashers with more action.

I figure at 20ft. intervals red then orange,yellow,green,blue, turn to black and scent and action become more important than flash.

Hey FNP, that "Ginger" sure sounds alot like my custom fish flash' I use, been snoopin around my boat? LOL.
Yes those fish flash definitely work and I have done many side by side comparisons with them and I would say it it better to have one in most cases than not.

Of course there are many other things that work too, so I don't always use them...wink wink.
Hey Downrggin, you gonna win that trip to Sitka this Saturday? I am going to try best, but no fish flash' will be involved.

Steve

I'm planning on giving it a shot Steve! Weather look like it may be a little bumpy

Hey guys how about posting pics of your altered FF's so I can make mine more effective. I have had good performance from dark green, chartuese, and red for kings, and silvers in the Columbia. I have to say I do prefer the chartuese though. Thanks.

I am looking over some of the Old Post, Does the Larger Fish flashes work better at the Johns? Thanks

I tried several times to take a pic, but the flash from the camera ruins the picture every time... too much reflection from the FishFlash. If I try it without the flash, the pic is way too dark and it's impossible to tell the actual colors. If I can ever remember to take a daytime pic, I'll give it another go.

With regard to size, I would say bigger is better. You can catch fish without them (I have a friend who kicks a$$ fishing with no adornments beyond a prime brined bait), especially if you have 4 or 5 baits in the water stirring up a commotion to attract fish. But if you only have 1 or 2 baits in the water, the FishFlash adds a lot of extra attraction/commotion, and in my opinion, an extra measure of confidence. If you are gonna bother to tie one on, may as well make it a big one for maximum flash. Heck, I've even seen guys out there using tandem FishFlashes to stir 'em up.

I'd like to see the altered ones that you guys are talking about, its always good to have diffrent flashers .. I know the Glo looks like a good one, I know it works well in Elliot Bay..

I took some decent pic's of my custom FF's today. Rather than just plaster them up for all the free world to see, I thought I'd simply keep it a "members only" kind of thing. Anybody who wants a copy can send me a PM. Merry Christmas!

P. S. As an incentive for folks to give a little back to the board, I will limit my replies to those who demonstrate a history of sharing. Your posting history says a lot about how much you contribute to the board. My apologies to lurkers and newbies.

I make my own fishflash out of road sign thickness aluminum with silver prism tape on one side and spray paint on the other - nice bright green is the best color and a lot cheaper than the tape. Just take the measurements from one in the store. I put 6 bead swivels on them with plug snaps - these don't clog up very easily with weeds like a single swivel, even a Sampo, will. These are just a touch heavier than plastic so you will need a little longer dropper if using them on the bottom in the CR for springers, but the rest of the year I run them on a diver and so don't worry about it. Fishflash work better than anything else shallow, but at depth I prefer a luminous hotspot.

Hey guys,

Im new here, so hello. Where can I find a Fish-Flash? Thanks