May 2006

Troll Light for Rainbows
by Scott Haugen

I still recall those cold spring mornings when Dad, Grandpa and I trolled for trout through various high lakes amid Oregon's Cascade Range. This was when I was a kid, back in the 1960s and '70s, a time when a bucket of burning briquettes served as the heater, and stiff rods and heavy hardware the main fishing setup. Once the strike came, it seemed the fun part of the battle was over, as a great deal of effort was spent reeling in not only the fish, but the hefty trolling gear.

Times have changed, for today heaters and specialized gear make the overall trout trolling experience much more pleasant. Never before has the trout angler had so much high-tech gear at their fingertips, and bottom line, it makes for a more enjoyable fishing experience.

Case in point, my two boys, Braxton, age six, and Kazden, age four, are into fishing and love spending time on the water, be it a river or lake. Wanting to ensure they had a positive lake fishing experience last summer, I tinkered around with some of the new trolling gear that's out there, and was elated with the results. Not only did the strikes come hard, but the fights were long and kept the boy’s interest levels piqued; heck it was all I could do to keep from taking the rods out of their hands to fight the fish myself.

Since that time I've experimented considerably with ultra-light trolling gear, and am amazed with the results. Trolling today can find anglers locked in battle with their prized quarry, and the high-tech gear greatly adds to the experience.

The Attractors

There are numerous lake trolling riggings on the market, from plastic to multiple metal blades, Mylar and more. Some meet specific angler needs, and oftentimes deciding which one to use comes down to personal preference. Other factors that may influence which trolling rig to go with may depend on the species being sought, depth being fished, water visibility, light penetration, time of year and more. For my boys and me, the objective was to get a lightweight trolling setup that would maximize the fight of the fish from the moment of hookup to the time it was landed. Using a 1-ounce trolling sinker, rigged inline, it was necessary to find a trolling setup that required little speed to properly function. Not only was this necessary to achieve our primary objective, but also to allow minimal weight to sink down to targeted trolling depths.

With the trolling sinker tied to the mainline, a Mack's Lure chain swivel was attached to the other end. The opposite end of the bead chain snapped into the trolling attractor.

At first we tried a variety of trolling rigs, with the Dee's Diamond Flasher quickly gaining popularity among the boys, and their dad. We used the smallest of the three models, 4 ¾” high x 4” wide. A four-foot leader was attached to the trailing end of the flasher, and that's it.

We've used the larger Dee's Diamond Flasher with good success on salmon, both in oceans and bays, but this was a first for trout. In the center of these flashers is a thin Mylar window, which not only reflects light well, but makes a noise when being trolled that's intended to simulate baitfish. No question, it worked, and worked well.

Not only did the rainbows love the Dee's Diamond Flasher, but the level of resistance of this trolling rig truly maximized the fighting action, making the battle more exciting. The Dee's Diamond Flasher is a must-have for the serious trout troller.

This spring, consider going ultra light on the trolling gear when targeting trout. Not only will it increase rod sensitivity, it will allow you to feel the fight of the fish, all the way to the net.

May 2006

The Power of Attraction
by Tom Carney

Dee's Diamond Flashers brings several improvements to its flasher for 2006: molded plastic bodies, heavier duty ball bearing swivels, brass grommet attachment points and four new solid colors. Four hard breaks in the flasher create rotation at all speeds with virtually no drag, and two hard breaks in the neck create both a wobble and a number of "mini-flashes." Custom holographic tape on both sides deliver the greatest amount of flash. The patented "Baitfish Sound Circle"; produces the sound of feeding baitfish and can also be used as a scent holder.