Northwest Reel Life April 2023 Volume 2 Issue 10 - Flipbook - Page 12
But do not overlook the tube fly
or even the squid skirt with the
addition of a Wiggle Hoochie
Bill. These small plastic bills from
Mack’s Lure are simple to use,
just slide it down the leader to the
head of the squid skirt and push
it into the collar. If using a tube fly
then adding a bobber stop knot
or rubber bobber stop to the front
of the bill will keep it tight to the fly.
Knowing which scent to use is
more than just the baitfish it is
made from, but also which ones
are best to stay on the lures you
are fishing.
Downsize the dodgers and
flashers. The idea behind using
a dodger or flasher is to create a
feeding salmon scenario as well
as add action to your lure. Since
you are fishing for coho, be sure to
match the dodger and flasher to
the size of the fish. Most use the
standard 11-inch flasher but the
8-inch flasher is a better choice.
Instead of the attacking salmon
looking like a chinook with the
11-inch, the 8-inch reflects light
more to the natural size of a coho.
It is also less drag and that means
you can fight the fish better. The
smaller dodgers and flashers also
work well at faster trolling speeds.
12 | NWFISHING.net
The Sling Blade dodger from
Mack’s lure is a very universal
dodger that is designed to work
well at fast speeds. Since it is a long
teardrop design you can bend it
to create a more dramatic dodge
or side-to-side action, or you can
keep it straight and troll it fast.
This design also cuts through the
water well and allows you to fight
the fish and not the dodger, even
when using the larger 9-inch
version. The dodger comes with
UV-treated colors and is offered in
many sizes, which allows you to
change it up to the varied sizes of
lures you are using.
Since coho are often found
actively feeding near the surface,
you do not always need to use
downriggers. Instead, trolling with
a mooching weight that cuts
through the water easily and a
simple lure behind can be a way
to either add an extra rod out of
the back of the boat or not deal
with the downriggers altogether.
Again, the more you can keep
your lines in the water, the more
fish you will catch. When rigging
this outfit, use a longer leader
around 48 inches with a bead
chain swivel in the middle and a
lure that imparts action such as
the SpinFish, Brad’s Cut Plug, or
Simon Spin Dawg.
The Wiggle Hoochie Bill act much
like the bill on a plug, but instead
of creating a diving motion, it
moves the lure in side to side in
and erratic motion. They also
come in an assortment of colors
and are UV treated to add even
more visual attraction.
Coho are known for their acrobatic
fights, often coming right up to
the surface and jumping, but a
dodger or flasher can take away
from the fight and even become
a problem when the fish jumps.
The attractor breaks the surface of
the water pulling in an opposite
direction and taking the hooks
with it. When using downriggers,
you can rig in a way that the
dodger or flasher stays with the
downrigger ball and you get to
fight the fish without any extra
drag on the line. To do this, either
use one of the lures with action
or the added Wiggle Hoochie
Bill and then a downrigger clip
that is above the ball. Use a short
section of cord or very stout mono
line such as 50-pound test from
the flasher or dodger attached
to the downrigger ball, and then
set the downrigger clip twice
the length of the cord above
the ball. If you run the dodger or
flasher behind the downrigger
ball 36-inches, then set the
downrigger clip 72-inches, or 6
feet, above the downrigger ball.