A Different 3.5 Spinner for 360° Flashers

Fishing Techniques Videos, Product Review, Tackle Tips, Talks, and Techniques

A Different 3.5 Spinner for 360° Flashers

Wise Guys Stand Out in a Crowd of 3.5 Colorado Blades

A round, or Colorado-style blade is not always the best choice for 360 salmon trolling.

It has its place, but sometimes there is a better option. Under certain circumstances, a Wise Guy will outperform everyone else’s spinners in the water.

So, when would you troll a Wise Guy instead of a round blade?

It’s a matter of perspective. That is, the perspective of the fish, not the angler.

If trolling in the same direction as the current, whether tidal or river, you are essentially fishing into the face of the fish.

That’s because fish naturally tend to orient themselves facing into the oncoming water flow.

Under those circumstances, most spinner blade styles will work, but a round blade will present the largest, most visible profile due to the nearly perpendicular lift of the blade.

When trolling in any direction other than head-on into the fish, a blade with less lift will be more visible due to its lower profile spin.

This includes

Trolling against the current
Trolling across it from an angle
Trolling in slack water

Under these circumstances, the Wise Guy 3.5 spinner blade is the best choice due to the low lift, low profile spin.

We asked two salmon fishing guides, Gary Geis and Ed Chin, some key questions about their experience with Wise Guy Spinners.

Gary Geis is the owner and operator of Double G Guide Service. He has been either fishing or guiding for salmon in the Pacific Northwest since he was a teenager.

Ed Chin is a pro staff member for Lowrance Electronics and guides for salmon and other game fish via All About Adventure Excursions.

Here is what they say about Wise Guy spinners and Spinner Blades:

Q: How often do you use Wise Guy Spinners or Blades?

Gary: I have at least one rod daily using a Wise Guy blade in line spinner or a shrimp spinner.

Ed: I fish at least one rod with a wise guy blade, either my rod or one customer’s rod.

Q: Have there been times when Wise Guys have outperformed Colorados for you?

Gary: Wise Guy blades perform better than others because of their longer and tighter profile.

Ed: YES, the wise guy blade has outperformed Colorado Blades, especially if the fish are pressured by the heavy boat presence. Usually, we can pick up a fish right behind someone who is fishing a Colorado Blade in front of us.

Q: Are there certain times or conditions when you prefer Wise Guys over other blade styles?

Gary: I will use a Wise Guy blade at just about any time of the tide, or if the water color is a little off, it is a little more visible

Ed: YES, depending on the weather conditions, I like using the Wise Guy during bright sunny days and overcast days. They tend to send out a different vibration and attract fish to strike.

Q: Do Wise Guys work well with 360 flashers for you? Is the rotation of the flasher impeded at all by the action of Wise Guys?

Gary: The Wise Guy blade has less resistance than others and rotates more easily and tighter to the line or shaft, which makes it perform exceptionally well with a 360 flasher.

Ed: YES, they work well with 360 flashers, I don’t notice a difference in the rotation of the flasher, and I don’t see them impede the action of the flasher.

↪ See How Wise Guys Look Behind a 360° Flasher

↪ Checkout the different color selections by clicking below…

Wise Guy Spinner Blades

Wise Guy Standard Spinners

Wise Guy Soft Tie Spinners

Salmon Spinner 3.5 Wise Guy Soft Tie Mono

To simplify the whole 3.5 mindset and reduce confusion about actual spinner sizes, it can be helpful to think of all spinners that troll well behind a 360° flasher as 3.5 class spinners.

It is not the stated size for a spinner or spinner blade that counts, but rather how it behaves when trolled. To help illustrate, remember to check out this ‘Tech Sheet’.

Check Out & Download the Tech Sheet

Poulsen Cascade Tackle, based in the Pacific Northwest, specializes in crafting high-quality tackle solutions tailored to the needs of dedicated anglers. Renowned for innovative designs, exceptional craftsmanship, and the use of premium materials, the company is a trusted name in the fishing community.

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← The Truth About 3.5 Spinners and Blades

The Truth About 3.5 Spinners and Blades

Fishing Techniques Videos, Product Review, Tackle Tips, Talks, and Techniques

The Truth About 3.5 Spinners and Blades

How Spinner Blades Get Their Sizing

By Tom Hester

As a spinners and spinner blades manufacturer, we are often asked for a particular spinner blade size.

You would think that such questions would be simple to answer.

But rarely can they be answered without a lot of discussion.

Typically, these questions are posed as:

- - “What colors do you have in a 3.5 blade?”
  - “What colors do you offer?”
  - “Do you offer a size 6 blade in Denver Bronco?”

If those sound like the questions you might ask, you’re not alone. We hear them all the time, especially at trade shows.

- - So why don’t we just answer them straight up?
  - How hard can it be?
  - After all, a size 6 is a size 6, and a size 3.5 is a 3.5, right?

Wrong!

- - The problem is that every blade style has its own size scale.
  - There is no universal spinner blade sizing chart. Each blade design was given its size range by its designer.
  - To add to that confusion, manufacturers may size the same blade style differently.

For example, Cascade-style blades made by us, Poulsen Cascade Tackle, vary in actual dimensions and specific sizes compared to other manufacturers.

To confuse matters more, they may even have different family names.

What we call a “Cascade” style blade (incidentally, that’s the namesake of our brand) might be called something such as ‘Mag Willow’ or ‘Olympic’ by other manufacturers.

Even the well-known Colorado-style blades can vary in sizing by different manufacturers.

Let’s look at some examples that might help you understand this.

Here, we see a collection of spinner blades that one might argue are of similar sizes.

The first blade is a 3.5 Colorado-style.

Can you guess the sizes of the remaining blades in this grouping?

If you guessed 3.5 or something close, you’d be incorrect.

In fact, none of the rest are 3.5s. We flipped them all over so you could see, written in Sharpie pen, the actual sizes of each of these spinner blades.

The blades in this collection are as follows, from left to right:

- - # 3.5 Colorado
  - # 4 Indiana
  - # 1 Bear Valley
  - # 1/0 Bear Valley
  - # 2 Backmore
  - # 3 Willow
  - # G Prop

Now, look at this collection of blades.

What do they all have in common?

Every one of them is a size 6! That’s because each style has its own sizing scale.

The blades in this collection are:

- - # 6 Tidewater
  - # 6 Backmore
  - # 6 Bear Valley
  - # 6 Wisdom
  - # 6 Cascade
  - # 6 Lucky “R”
  - # 6 Chinook
  - # 6 CV
  - # 6 CV Vortex

The sizes of spinner blades need to be considered in terms of length and width at the widest point of the blade. There is no other way to compare for size.

Size should not be the only factor when choosing a spinner or spinner blade. It’s essential to know how it will appear to a fish.

Along with length and width, the shape and contour also contribute to determining how a blade style will behave in the water.

The combination of these factors affects

- - How much drag will be exerted by the spinner
  - The degree of lift, or angle of the spinning blade in relation to its shaft
  - How easily the blade will start spinning
  - What perspectives offer the highest visibility

These qualities are essential when trolling behind a 360 flasher.

Size, shape, and dish contour all affect the degree to which a spinner will interfere with the rotation of your flasher.

If a blade is too large and has a too wide profile, it will dampen the flasher’s action. It can even stop it from rotating at all.

On the other hand, if a blade has a narrow profile with a relatively shallow dish contour, it will have less draft and, therefore, less drag.

That combination allows for a 360 flasher to function properly, even though the blade is longer and more significant than a traditional 3.5 Colorado.

>>> Check out the following article & illustration
3.5 Class Trolling Spinners – What Kind Should You Use?

One more thing to consider when choosing a spinner blade is the direction of presentation.

When trolling downstream, chances are you will be presenting your offering directly toward the face of the fish.

In such cases, a blade with a lot of lift, such as a Baby Back, will have the highest visibility.

If trolling upstream, less lift is desirable because fish will view it mainly from the side. With less lift, you can have a larger blade, like a Wise Guy, thus increasing visibility.

Check Out & Download this Chart

To see a couple of examples of how this looks in tow behind a 360 flasher
click on these short video clips:

Now that you know there is more to choosing a spinner blade than the stated size, you should be able to select the best one for your purposes.

The sizes stated for any blade are only relevant to that particular style. Shape and dish contour are equally important factors.

We invite you to Share Your Thoughts and Questions. Please Submit Your Comments.

← Kokanee Trolling Without Downriggers A Different 3.5 Spinner for 360° Flashers →

Kokanee & Trout Trolling

Fishing Techniques Videos, Tackle Tips, Talks, and Techniques

What You’ll Need

Disclaimer: The content of this video is for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not a paid promotion, and we have not received nor paid any compensation for featuring any products, services, or brands mentioned. The views and opinions expressed are our own or those of the speaker. Always do your own research before making any decisions based on the content provided.

TROLLING: Arrow Flash Dodgers run at a wide range of speeds, from approximately 0.6-1.8MPH. On average, 1.0-1.7MPH is a great range to start with. Let the fish tell you what speed presentation they want that day! Cousin Carl Lake Trolls will run at virtually any troll speed, so experiment to see what the fish respond to that day.

LEADER: When trolling the Arrow Spin Micro Spinner behind an Arrow Flash Dodger, running a leader length from 6-16” can be very successful, with 8-10” often being the sweet spot. When trolling a Wild Weasel behind an Arrow Flash, slightly longer leader lengths are generally used, usually 10-16” in length. When trolling a Cousin Carl Lake Troll with an Arrow Spin or Wild Weasel behind, you can use leader lengths up to approximately 24”.

BAITING: Both the Arrow Spin and Wild Weasel have fish-catching action, but to make your presentation even more irresistible, tip your hooks with your favorite Kokanee or Trout bait. Be careful- too much bait can add drag or block the hook’s point.

Download - Trolling-for Kokanee Tech Sheet Rigging

Kokanee & Trout Trolling

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HOW TO RIG

Arrow Flash

From your main line,

String on the Free Slide with the dropper snap closest to your rod tip
Tie your mainline directly to the Free Slide bead chain
Attach the duo-lock of your Techni-Strand to the Free Slide bead chain
Clip an Arrow Flash Dodger to the bead chain/duo-lock end of the Techni-Strand
Clip on an Arrow Spin or Wild Weasel

Cousin Carl

From your main line,

String on the Free Slide with the dropper snap closest to your rod tip
Tie your mainline directly to the Free Slide bead chain
Using a duo lock, attach the snap swivel of your Cousin Carl to the Free Slide bead chain
Clip on an Arrow Spin or Wild Weasel

Download - Trolling-for Kokanee Tech Sheet Rigging

← Kokanee Dodger Rig Setup Kokanee Trolling Without Downriggers →

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Kokanee Dodger Rig Setup

Fishing Techniques Videos, Tackle Tips, Talks, and Techniques

The Best Kokanee Rigs for Trolling

Start with the Best Kokanee Dodger

Kokanee Spinner Rig Arrow Spin

Kokanee Dodger Arrow Flash

Kokanee Dodger Rig Setup

Kokanee Guides, tournament anglers, and serious kokanee anglers of all stripes will agree that the most essential thing a kokanee dodger setup does is impart action to the bait or lure being towed behind it.

Color matters, too, as does flash, but the ‘kick’ puts the fish on the bite. Furthermore, the kick helps set the hook when a kokanee does take a swipe at it.

The Challenge

The challenge is finding a kokanee dodger that can produce all the action, kick along with the flash at relatively slow speeds of 1.7 mph or less, and do so reliably every time without fidgeting and tuning the device.

And since kokanee fishing is generally done with light-action slow taper rods, the dodger mustn’t create too much drag.

To complicate the quest a bit more, whatever the actual lure or bait behind the dodger, it has to be such that it will respond to the action intended to be imparted by the dodger.

It won’t thrash about sufficiently if the leader is too long to induce a strike.
If the drag of the lure is too significant, the dodger won’t kick.
If the leader is too light on the material, the lure or bait will just tow along lifelessly, not doing much to get the fish’s attention.

In short, even with the best dodgers, if the rest of the rig isn’t correctly balanced to produce all the desired action, not much fishing will continue.

This video demonstrates one such kokanee setup

Kokanee Dodger Rig Setup – The Results

This results from input from serious kokanee anglers around the Western United States. The dodger is an Arrow Flash, and the spinner rig behind it is an Arrow Spin.

The Arrow Spin leader rig incorporates a size 4/0 Bear Valley spinner blade, placed with a few beads on a 12-pound test leader, using VMC kokanee hooks.

The leader is only about a foot long, maybe a bit less. This is the leader length we found kokanee guides and tournament anglers most often recommended to us.

The dodger in this video is a standard-size Arrow Flash, just as it is when removed from the package.

No tuning, bending, or other adjustments have been made.
The trolling speed is 1.5 mph. As you can see, the dodger kicks like a mule but does not roll over.

Likewise, the Arrow Spin leader rig is dancing up a storm behind the Arrow Flash. We were looking for this in a kokanee setup based on inputs from those whose kokanee fishing is a serious matter.

To sum it up, this sort of kokanee trolling setup addresses all the requirements of action, kick, and flash needed to satisfy the elements of successful kokanee angling. It has repeatedly proven its worth in this arena. And does so without excess drag.

← 3.5 Class Trolling Spinners Guide Kokanee & Trout Trolling →

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What’s the Big Deal About 3.5 Spinners for Salmon?

Fishing Techniques Videos, Tackle Tips, Talks, and Techniques

3.5 Spinners for Salmon

What Size Spinner for Salmon is Best?

Not so long ago, spinner fishing for salmon was a matter of large spinners with a distinctive ‘thump.’ Anglers in the know wanted to see their rod tip bouncing to the beat of the spinner blade as they trolled the rivers and bays in pursuit of king salmon.

The ‘thump’ accomplished a couple of vital functions:

First, if it was thumping, it was working. The thump would change or stop entirely if the spinner got fouled with weeds or even on its own line. You knew it was time to reel it in and clear the mess.

Second, and probably more importantly, if the thump stopped and the line went slack—even a little—you knew your spinner had likely been picked up by a salmon headed toward your boat. For those who could recognize these ‘slack-line bites, ’ the time to set the hook had been signaled.

Finally, there is speculation that the thump generates additional attraction as it sends low-frequency sound waves out into the water.

Those large spinners like the old T-Spoons and Cascade #7s will still produce just like they always did. But trends change, often for a good reason. Such is the case for the 3.5 salmon spinner craze.

Some years ago, serious salmon anglers and guides discovered the benefits of 360° flashers (those with agitator rudders). Although they had been used for trolling with bait set-ups since they hit the market, it took the innovative thinking of a few to discover how effective they were when rigged with a spinner.

The problem was that most traditional salmon spinners were too large to allow the flasher to rotate as designed.

The solution? A smaller spinner!

Sounds simple enough, but the right balance of attraction and action had to be coupled with a hook that was not so large as to throw the whole works out of balance, yet strong enough to handle a battling Chinook salmon.

Through trial and error, guides and serious salmon anglers developed a spinner that employed a 3.5 size Colorado style blade with a size 1 or 1/0 hook. That allowed the desired action and just enough hook to handle the target fish (most of the time). And thus, the 3.5 spinner craze was born. And so was a mindset that only a 3.5 spinner would work.

While perfectly understandable, this thinking obscures the fact that other spinner styles and sizes will also work behind a 360° flasher. The issue is that every spinner style has its own unique sizing scale. Also, the actual size of the spinner that will allow a flasher to rotate properly depends as much on the shape and contour as the length and width. The 3.5 designation applies primarily to Colorado style blades. But other spinners and sizes also work.

For example, while a slightly different shape, a size 1 Bear Valley style blade is approximately the same length and width as a size 3.5 Colorado. Furthermore, since it is more pear-shaped than the rounder Colorado, it actually trolls with a bit less resistance and so allows a slightly freer rotation of the flasher.

Here’s a different comparison. A Wise Guy blade is longer but has a slimmer profile with a shallower-cupped contour. Because of the hydro-dynamics of the longer Wise Guy blade, the flasher can still rotate well, but the spinner will have a much different profile and look to a salmon.

You can see in this video how even though the Wise Guy 3.5 Spinner Blade appears larger than a 3.5 Colorado blade, it still allows a 360° flasher to rotate freely.

To simplify the whole 3.5 mindset and reduce confusion about actual spinner sizes, it can be helpful to think of all spinners that troll well behind a 360° flasher as 3.5 class spinners. It is not the stated size for a spinner or spinner blade that counts, but rather how it behaves when trolled behind.

To help illustrate, click to check out the ‘Tech Sheet’ (click here).

3.5 Class Trolling Spinners Guide →

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