Length of flasher questions

[Anonymous]

I have been going through some old stuff in the attic. I found some of my dad's old flashers. They are what's known as The Abe and Al type flashers made by Luhr Jensen. They are quite long, 13" Most of the larger flashers I see these days are maybe 10"... OK, I'm sure there are a few larger ones out there.

Can someone just tell me when do use a very long flasher and when go with a short one? What type of fishing, or which variety of salmon?
Also, 1 of these is pure chrome color so no tarnishing. The other two are 50/50 split of copper/chrome. The copper is kind of tarnished. Does anyone have a recommendation for what I could use on these to minimize the tarnish. As kids we used to put copper pennies in catsup:chef: to clean them up.

[A9]

I just use a tougher scrub brush that you would find in a sink for cleaning tougher stuff off dishes and use some dishwashing detergent. Give em a good scrubbing, and I've also heard a run through the dish washer also can help. Just a scrubber thats more abrasive then a sponge should work well.

Any size can work for salmon. I like 8" and 11" flashers, so those dodgers you are finding that are of similar length would also work well. I like 8" flashers for silvers, 11" for kings.

[Rollin with Rolland]

Just like A9 said quadradomus. Scrub pads for the flashers. I will go through and clean up my metal/painted metal lures with fine steel wool. Really puts a shine on chrome/brass and actually works pretty well on a faded metal painted lure (spoon, spinner, ect.), just go easy and light, and it will look brand new!! As a general rule, could you say the smaller the target fish the smaller the flasher?? 11"+ king, 9-11" coho, 6-9" kokanee..??? something like that???

[Gringo Pescador]

The copper is kind of tarnished. Does anyone have a recommendation for what I could use on these to minimize the tarnish.

Brasso, you can find it pretty much anywhere (Fred Meyer, Wallgreens, etc.). It cleans up brass, chrome, copper, even CDs & DVDs (so I've heard).

http://www.reckittprofessional.com/prod ... rchType=ST

[The Quadfather]

Ahh.. Brasso. Anybody who has ever spent time in the millitary is hip to Brasso. I went to bed many a night with stained fingers from polishing one's brass.
When asking for ideas on cleanup of the flashers I guess I was concerned about finding something that wouldn't leave any sort of odor. (but then sometimes maybe we over think this fishing stuff a little) Plenty of soap and water cleanup after Brasso would prob. be just fine.

[Bodofish]

Salt water the bigger the better!!! I'm not sure the size fish have anything to do with the size of the flasher. Lake Wa socks, 00 chrome with bare hooks. 2# pinks with the biggest you can put on your line and a little pink squid.......
I've taken 10" trout trying to get the gear down to the Maks. 12" Dodger with a croc.

[G-Man]

Abe and Al flasher with a glow squid was my fathers standard setup for most any fish in Puget Sound. I especially remember catching True Cod on this setup before illegal commercial fishing put and end to this fishery. These metal flashers have been mostly replaced by the newer plastic versions, made by Hot Spot and Pro-Troll. I still use them with good success and I have a mini 6" version that I use for trout as well. The secret to using them successfully is being able to tune them to the speed you want to use. The plastic versions will start to turn over at a set speed, by bending the Abe and Al flasher at a corner of the lure end you can adjust the speed at which the flasher turns over. This may not seem like a big deal but adjusting your flasher to work with the bait you choose and at the speed you want can make a huge difference. Another benefit is being able to detect shakers and weeds on your lure. If you are using a pinch style release on your downrigger or some form of dipsey diver/sinker system you will see a steady rhythm on your rod tip when your flasher is working properly. Once you have tuned your flasher properly, when the steady rhythm disappears you either have reduced your speed too much or you have something on your lure. Your flasher is there to simulate a feeding fish, such as a salmon, and impart some action to your Hoochie. A larger flasher simply simulates a larger fish, which is why folks tend to use the larger flashers when fishing for kings. Experiment and let us know what you find!

[The Quadfather]

Abe and Al flasher with a glow squid was my fathers standard setup for most any fish in Puget Sound. I especially remember catching True Cod on this setup before illegal commercial fishing put and end to this fishery. These metal flashers have been mostly replaced by the newer plastic versions, made by Hot Spot and Pro-Troll. I still use them with good success and I have a mini 6" version that I use for trout as well. The secret to using them successfully is being able to tune them to the speed you want to use. The plastic versions will start to turn over at a set speed, by bending the Abe and Al flasher at a corner of the lure end you can adjust the speed at which the flasher turns over. This may not seem like a big deal but adjusting your flasher to work with the bait you choose and at the speed you want can make a huge difference. Another benefit is being able to detect shakers and weeds on your lure. If you are using a pinch style release on your downrigger or some form of dipsey diver/sinker system you will see a steady rhythm on your rod tip when your flasher is working properly. Once you have tuned your flasher properly, when the steady rhythm disappears you either have reduced your speed too much or you have something on your lure. Your flasher is there to simulate a feeding fish, such as a salmon, and impart some action to your Hoochie. A larger flasher simply simulates a larger fish, which is why folks tend to use the larger flashers when fishing for kings. Experiment and let us know what you find!

G-man,

Thanks for that tip re: bending the flasher and also about the precise rhythm of your rod tip and the change that you can see with shakers. Good info. to know.

[racfish]

I didnt realize thats ole timer stuff.I have a bunch of the Abe and Al Flashers.I even have a hinged one.I use the large flashers for Silvers trolling in about 10-20' deep with a coho fly on it.I remember dad and his fishing partner used to troll them right below the surface.