NEN,

I'm sure you've read about this trick somewhere before, but it's one that I've been using for quite a few years and it REALLY helps the fighting the flasher problem.

I run a full-size green Hotspot off of 15' of 80# Tuffline with a good Sampo ball-bearing clip swivel used to clip it directly to my downrigger ball. About 8' above that, i hook on a stacker release, and let back my Coyote spoon about 4' further back than the flasher. I'm using a ball-bearing swivel and a bead-chain about 5' in front of the Coyote and that's all that's connected to the rod. I find that the flasher draws the curious fish in, and the action of the Coyote by itself is enough to entice the strike.

It's a hell of a lot more fun to fight the fish without having to fight the flasher too! Give it a try sometime, you won't be dissapointed!