Chris Crawley used a Swing Blade dodger to attract this rainbow trout. Photo by Chris Shaffer

Flashers and dodgers have been a standard item on pegs in tackle shops for decades. In fact, they're some of the most common tools used to catch trout throughout the United States.

However, even hardcore anglers commonly misuse flashers and dodgers. In fact, most anglers who employ these tools aren't aware of their purpose. They just know that everybody else uses them. Knowing the ins and outs of how to fish flashers and dodgers and what they were designed for is a sure way to boost your success.

Enter Buzz Ramsey, formerly a lure designer for Luhr-Jensen. Ramsey compares flashers and dodgers to birds preying on bait.

Consider this: A seagull flying across a lake sees a school of shad or minnows near the surface and dives down to ambush the bait. Other gulls see the bird's activity and move in closer to investigate. Soon, a feeding frenzy begins.

This is similar to what occurs with flashers and dodgers, although these metals draw in trout and kokanee, rather than birds.

"When trout feed, their silver bodies tend to send out a different flash, and flashers are designed to mimic that," Ramsey said. "Trout feeding attract other trout. The flash makes trout want to come investigate, because it means an easy meal."

While flashers and dodgers are both attractors, they do differ. A flasher is simply an attractor, while a dodger attracts fish and also imparts action to your lure. Each is effective in several ways.

But many anglers ask a fair question, "Do I really need a flasher or dodger, or can I just fish with a bare lure?"

"You cannot use a flasher or a dodger just anytime," Ramsey said. "Normally it's a good idea to use one, because fish are attracted to that flash in the water. I suppose people hesitate to use one only because by doing so, they're adding weight to line between them and the fish. Some anglers don't like that because it takes a little bit of the fight out of the fish."

This is the downside. Many anglers aren't fond of the added tension on the line. The use of flashers and dodgers take away from the fight, although there are alternatives. Micro mini and ultra-light flashers have become standard products for many tackle manufacturers.

"It's true: They take away from the fight. Many anglers like to use small dodgers and flashers," Ramsey added. "Small ones work fine on small lakes. But on bigger lakes, where you may have to draw in fish from farther away, you might do much better with a large flasher."

There's no wrong time to fish with a dodger or flasher. However, you'll need to experiment to find out which is the most effective on that particular day.

"The reason people use them is because they are so effective," Ramsey said. "Although one trick I use is, I'll use two attracters to draw fish into my gear, and then have other setups that don't have them. Then I'll hook fish on the lines without the flashers and I can get the sportier catch."

There are dozens of sizes of dodgers in the market, but for trout, you'll want to stick to a 4/0 or 5/0 for most waters. These are standard trout sizes. "A dodger not only attracts, but it has the added advantage of lending a pulsating action to the lure," Ramsey said.

Try fishing with a flasher on one line and dodger on the other, and when you get a bite, you'll know which the fish prefer -- at least on that particular day. Dodgers and flashers come in dozens of sizes and colors. Deciding which to use can make the difference between a successful day and a sour one.

A flasher is a pure attractor and has the ability to draw trout in from a large area. Virtually a string of blades on a wire, flashers spin in the water and emit a flash that trout are drawn to. When fish are scattered and not confined to a small area of the lake, flashers can increase your catch rates. The thumping sound of the blades churning in the water also brings trout near.