Mooch,

Here's a small preview from the soon to be:
"Techniques and Theories of a Puget Sound Salmon Fisherman"

These lengths have been documented in my journals as being the most consistent over the last 24 years. The lengths in parentheses are my overall preferred starting lengths for 50# Mason or F/C leaders (20# for spoons). These lengths have also caught the most fish over the years.

Although these are common lengths for many fishermen, some might disagree... it boils down to a personal choice.

What some folks don't realize is you can get the same action from a 28" leader trolled slow compared to a 38" leader at a faster speed. Relative motion is the only difference.. I am not a big fan of the old adage "slow for kings, fast for silvers. " I prefer to cover as much water as possible during my day on the water.

For simplicity... I only covered 11" and 8" flashers here. The current sizes available on the market are 6", 8" through 15".

Apologize in advance, my format didn't take to well from "click and paste" mode.

Hope this hopes!

Leader Length Chart

11” Plastic Flashers

King (returning adult)

Bait 48”- 60”(52”)
3” Hootchy 40”- 46” (43”)
4” Hootchy 40”- 46” (44”)
5” Hootchy 41”- 47” (45”)
6” Hootchy 44”- 48” (46”)
2”-3” Spoon 40”- 55” (52”)
4” Spoon 42”- 55” (53”)
5” Spoon 44”- 60” (55”)
6” Spoon 48”- 60” (58”)
Coho Killer 40”- 46” (46”)
B2 Mini Squid 31”- 38” (38”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 28”- 33” (30”)
(or standard bucktail flies)
3” Apex 48”- 60” (53”) (slow troll)
4” Apex 65”- 75” (67”) (slow troll)

Blackmouth

Bait 36”-50” (40”)
3” Hootchy 30”-38” (35”)
4” Hootchy 32”-38” (37”)
5” Hootchy 33”-40” (38”)
2”-3” Spoons 35”-44” (42”)
4” Spoons 38”-48” (44”)
Coho Killer 35”-48” (42”)
B2 Mini Squid 30”-36” (35”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 28”-31” (29”)
(or standard bucktail flies)
3” Apex 48”-60” (55”)

Coho
Bait 36”-48” (37”)
3” Hootchy 29”-35” (32”)
4” Hootchy 30”-36” (34”)
2”-3” Spoon 32”-38” (36”)
4” Spoon 34”-40” (38”)
Coho Killer 30”-40” (36”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 29”-34” (34”)
Apex 45”-55” (50”)

Large Metal Flashers

King (returning adult)

Bait 42”- 52” (46”)
3” Hootchy 29”- 38” (36”)
4” Hootchy 30”- 38” (37”)
5” Hootchy 30”- 39” (38”)
2”-3” Spoon 30”- 40” (39”)
4” Spoon 30”- 41” (40”)
5” Spoon 33”- 43” (42”)
Coho Killer 30”-38” (35”)
B2 Mini Squid 34”- 40” (35”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 28”- 32” (29”)
(or standard bucktail flies)

Blackmouth
Bait 36”-50” (40”)
3” Hootchy 30”-38” (35”)
4” Hootchy 32”-38” (37”)
5” Hootchy 33”-40” (38”)
2”-3” Spoons 32”-36” (35”)
4” Spoons 33”-38” (37”)
B2 Mini Squid 31”-35” (32”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 30”-34” (32”)
(or standard bucktail flies)
3” Apex 48”-60” (55”)

Coho

Bait 36”-48” (37”)
3” Hootchy 29”-35” (32”)
4” Hootchy 30”-36” (34”)
2”-3” Spoon 32”-38” (34”)
4” Spoon 34”-40” (38”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 30”-34” (32”)
Apex 45”-55” (50”)

Small Plastic Flashers (8”)

King (returning adult)

Bait (strip) 30”- 36” (34”)
3” Hootchy 26”- 33” (27”)
4” Hootchy 26”- 34” (29”)
2”-3” Spoon 26”- 40” (31”)
Coho Killer 26”- 40” (30”)
B2 Mini Squid 25”- 35” (28”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 24”- 27” (26”)
(or standard bucktail flies)

Blackmouth

Bait (or strip) 30”- 36” (34”)
3” Hootchy 20”- 24” (22”)
4” Hootchy 21”- 24” (23”)
2”-3” Spoon 22”- 26” (24”)
Coho Killer 20”- 24” (21”)
B2 Mini Squid 19”- 24” (20”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 18”- 22” (19”)
(or standard bucktail flies)

Coho All leader lengths should be same as Blackmouth. Increase trolling speeds.

Pinks 2” Pink Hootchy 15”-18” (16”) Use all white flasher.
Troll slow.

Sockeye 3/0 or 4/0 Hooks 17”-22” (18”) Use bare red hooks.


Small Metal Flashers (8”)

King (returning adult)

Bait (strip) 30”- 36” (34”)
3” Hootchy 26”- 33” (27”)
4” Hootchy 26”- 34” (29”)
2”-3” Spoon 26”- 40” (31”)
Coho Killer 26”- 40” (30”)
B2 Mini Squid 25”- 35” (28”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 24”- 27” (26”)
(or standard bucktail flies)

Blackmouth

Bait 30”- 36” (34”)
3” Hootchy 20”- 24” (22”)
4” Hootchy 21”- 24” (23”)
2”-3” Spoon 22”- 26” (24”)
Coho Killer 20”- 24” (21”)
B2 Mini Squid 18”- 24” (19”)
Grand Slam Bucktail 18”- 22” (19”)
(or standard bucktail flies)

Coho All leader lengths should be same as

Blackmouth. Increase trolling speeds.

Pinks 2” Pink Hootchy 15”-18” (16”) Use all white flasher.
Troll slow.
(White Dodger) 2” Pink Hootchy 12”-15” (14”)

Sockeye 2” Pink Hootchy 17”-22” (18”) Use bare red hooks.

(Dodger) 3/0 or 4/0 Hooks 8”-12” (9’) Use bare red hooks