Flashers for Hali

[Mark Kleiter1]

Have noticed on some halibut posts guys useing flashers similiar to that used by salmon fishermen. Anyone have any knowledge or methods to that for halibut. Thanks

[DaGoose]

Hi Mark,

It's called bounceballing. The technique is essentialy slow trolling the bottom and it works great for flatties. There's heaps of ways to do it.

I like to use a dodger to get a nice back and forth swaying action then put a hoochie just behind it with a softbait bridled in. The combo of the dodger waggle and softbait wiggle behind a lead ball making a commotion on the bottom is deadly. No need to use bait.

Dodgers vs flashers can be confusing when it's all new to you. Basically dodgers sway back and forth and work best at around 2 mph. Flashers spin, like an inline spinner, and aren't speed sensitive.

There's some more information on my website below that may prove helpful.

Sorry to sound like a know it all, I just love to fish for flatties!

Rick

[el capo]

I would consider you a foremost expert in this style of fishing Rick.Your track record shows that all by itself.So yes,you DO know it all as far as I am concerned.

[spike]

I will say that when I first saw and heard of this dodger bounce balling gig my first thoughts were that it seemed quite lame. If it was not for Bloodydecks I never would have heard of this technique, but it does make lots of sense, visual stimulation on the bottom, somthing bottom feeders can't miss. I have fished with flashers before (In Vancover) and know that is maninly just eye catching for fish.
Rick and his posts are the only experience I have had seeing results, I have not seen it first hand. Ricks reputation proceeds him on this site for catching halibut, and he has sold me on the flashers and bounce balling. Though it will take me awhile to try using all the extra gear, I am more simlpler and stuborn, I still use smelt, dines, and plastic, I would never count out the results that Rick has on Butts. Rick is a Butt expert for sure, but please keep your balls from flashing me. Sorry for the thread jack.

[DaGoose]

Spike,

No worries bro! Bounceballing is not for everyone. I do believe trolling the bottom can often be a huge advantage compared to drifting. You're in complete control of the trolling path, not subject to the wind for movement. Plus you can pound heaps of sand. And that's what it takes many days to scratch up a legal flattie or two.

Another advantage is it's a troll bite. No guessing when to swing and set the hook. They either are hooked or not, and most often they are. With the shorts, they can easily be released with only minor damage to the mouth area, where the hook penetrated, even with trebles. That also helps avoid line abrasion from the sharp teeth. Only the bigger she-fish swallow it deep on occasion.

Halibut fishermen in general are secretive, perhaps those who bounceball even more so (trust me, I take some heat for posting this stuff ).

But it's all good. This is just how I like to do it and maybe it will help someone. To each his own!

And enough of the expert shit, (thanks for the compliments though). Really, I'm just a guy who loves to fish for flatties. If I can do it, anyone can!

Tight Lines,

Rick

[Mark Kleiter1]

Thanks Rick. Quite an elaberate set-up. Makes perfect sence the rig. I kayak and trolling or drifting at a couple of knots doesn't seem to difficult and it keeps me preoccupied while waiting for a bite. I still boat with friends and this technique will definitely blow them away. Now it is just to keep my fishing costs to myself so my wife doesn't frown on it. But if she wants her favorite fish on the table, that is the sacrifices we must endure.

[vagabundo]

wow ...i just tried it an d bam....caught this

[Mark Kleiter1]

You must have been fishin near the Nucleur Plant. I would deep fry that bitch.

[?? fisherman]

Good stuff as usual from Rick "DaGoose" as he and a few other on here are most definitely on top of the game when it comes to bounce balling. Before anybody gets all defensive about what I am about to post here, keep in mind that I consider Rick (as well as many other BBers I know) a very good friend whom I have known casually for quite a number of years now, and have the utmost respect for him.

As far as Bounce Balling vs Drift fishing for halibuts, I still heavily prefer to drift fish over Bouncing as I find it much more challenging when trying to set the hook on a halibut that has taken your bait....... because with halibut fishing, if you try and set the hook right on the initial bite, you are many more times than not going to loose that fish as you really have to have extreme patience when trying to set the hook on a halibut that bites a drifted live bait (which by the way I dont use trap hooks either).

Bounce Balling can no doubt be a very very effective way to catch flatties, as its a very popular comersh way to fish for them. I find it a tad more meat fishing than sport fishing though, and liken it to how the majority of us fish for threshers right now vs those that are now trying to get a mouth hooked thresher, as Rick said, when BBing, the fish are almost always hooked right on the initial bite.

The reason I wrote this is nothing more than to give an alternate opinion on other ways to effectively fish for halibut as I feel that drift fishing for halibut may become a lost art, and which I really feel could become scarce. Im hoping there are still a bunch of guys that wish to drift fish with a single hook and light line and really see how bitchen and challenging it is to catch flatties on light line.

This isnt in any way meant to discourage anybody from wanting to try and Bounce Ball (I do it myself on occasion), but rather to express that both have there place and time, and Im hoping a bunch of drift guys keep doing it for the challenge aspect alone.

Of interesting note is that in this past years 2008 ATIHC halibut tournament, at least 95% of the legal halibut caught were drift fish this year, and we actually had a pretty good amount of guys fishing BB this year. For whatever reason the butts responded really well to the live drifted baits this year.

If you do wish to try Bounce Balling, then by all means check out Ricks website which gives tons of valuable info in regards to this type of fishing, as well as offering everything you need to Bounce Ball for sale.

Originally Posted by DaGoose

Spike,

No worries bro! Bounceballing is not for everyone. I do believe trolling the bottom can often be a huge advantage compared to drifting. You're in complete control of the trolling path, not subject to the wind for movement. Plus you can pound heaps of sand. And that's what it takes many days to scratch up a legal flattie or two.

True to a point, but in all honesty, when drift fishing all you need to do is figure out the direction and path of the drift and set yourself up to take the course you wish. After that drift you just reset and pick a new path or repeat the one you were on if something makes you feel it was a good drift (raked baits, a lost fish or?). Lack of wind can be another story entirely, and that is when bounce balling or power drifting may become a necessity.

Originally Posted by DaGoose

Another advantage is it's a troll bite. No guessing when to swing and set the hook. They either are hooked or not, and most often they are. With the shorts, they can easily be released with only minor damage to the mouth area, where the hook penetrated, even with trebles. That also helps avoid line abrasion from the sharp teeth. Only the bigger she-fish swallow it deep on occasion.

For me personally, this would be a disadvantage, as I LOVE feeling a halibut take the bait (Hard Thumps) and then having the patience to know when to set the hook. Halibut are an extremely challenging fish when it comes to drift/bait fishing and knowing just when to try and set the hook as they love to mouth and play with the bait at times before swallowing it, and for me and many, this is of the utmost challenge when trying to set the hook on one.

Even if you have tons of years of expierience fishing halibut, it still puts you on edge every time you go to set the hook on a good halibut bite......... it's good stuff man!

Trolling for me is kinda boring (for most species) and lacks the excitement of catching fish on bait or any other method where you feed the fish line and then have to set the hook. When tuna fishing, what most of us do (or should be doing) is trolling to try and locate the school and then get them going on bait, which is what most of us love when tuna fishing.......... getting them to go on bait!

Originally Posted by DaGoose

Halibut fishermen in general are secretive, perhaps those who bounceball even more so (trust me, I take some heat for posting this stuff ).

Just as I will probably take some heat for my replies

Originally Posted by DaGoose

But it's all good. This is just how I like to do it and maybe it will help someone. To each his own!

Exactly, and that is what I hope people realize. Two different guys (who are friends) who have two different opinions and methods of fishing for them.

Originally Posted by DaGoose

Really, I'm just a guy who loves to fish for flatties. If I can do it, anyone can!

Rick

Ditto!


The unknown fisherman

[DaGoose]

Mikey,

Great points and I too have total respect for you, and those who prefer to drift, especially with light line and a single J hook.

IMHO, the beauty of it all is the passion to do whatever flips your switch. It's the essence of fishing. Catching fish isn't always the measure of a great day on the water.

My only point of contention is this: that day in and day out, drifting is more effective than bouncing. Two different styles and mindsets, but sometimes folks just want to catch a nice flattie or two to reward their day on the water. The ATIHC (hope I got it right this time) results should bear this out. There are many talented fishermen in the mix, and most drift fish. Team Boomzing has done extremely well while bouncing, not always getting the big fish of the tourney but in terms of overall results.

Don't hate me bro...............I'd give you a big nuggie and bear hug now if I could

Rick

[?? fisherman]

Goose ~

No hate from me, you know better than that

I gotta say though, that I do truly believe that more times than not Bounce Balling will outproduce drifting when numbers are concerned, although there are the few times when the opposite is true.

No Doubt that you and Ron have been very consistent in terms of the ATIHC.

The unknown fisherman

[crazy hawaiian]

Quote "The reason I wrote this is nothing more than to give an alternate opinion on other ways to effectively fish for halibut as I feel that drift fishing for halibut may become a lost art, and which I really feel could become scarce. Im hoping there are still a bunch of guys that wish to drift fish with a single hook and light line and really see how bitchen and challenging it is to catch flatties on light line."

Mike. as far as it becoming a lost art I wouldn't worry too much. Too many lazy fishermen out there, although I do not consider myself lazy.

Like you I enjoy the thrill of a halibut hitting the bait, and having the patience to await the correct moment to set the hook. Just determining that it is indeed a halibut at the other end of the line is a fun part of the game.

Not sure which method works best for halibut, bait vs throwing plastics, but while drifting I employ both, throwing plastics on one rod while another is dragging along the bottom.

A trick I've learned is not to actually drag the bait on the bottom, since it will result in all kinds of snags, but rather drop the baited hook straight down, crank it up a couple of turns to get it off the bottom, and put it in a rod holder.

Maybe a lot of people prefer to let the line out a little further from the boat thinking that have the boat directly overhead will scare the halibut away, but that is not the case. Even when using plastics in shallow water I do not lift the leadhead out of the water as soon as it gets close to the boat, rather bounce it a couple times before lifting for another cast. You'd be surprised how many halibut hit the plastic, or the bait within 3-5 feet from the boat. If you think that's close, I've had many halibut hit the plastic and/or bait right at the water's surface.

The height of that type of fishing is when the water is clear enough to actually see the halibut inhale your plastic, watching as the halibut shudders at strike, most of the time moving his body backwards before taking off in a rush, kicking up a plume of sand in his wake.

Sorry if I'm getting teary eyed here, just love my halibut fishing.