Starting in 2003, every October I've installed the exact same poll to watch the trends in differing tackle and methods to catch Salmon.  While the data is weighted towards those who fish meat, never the less, the numbers are very interesting.  I say weighted, because those who have been successful with my products, cut-bait and methodology tend to visit my website more often then the random public.  Still the numbers can show what's been lost and what method has gained ground.

Over the past seasons dodgers/fly/squid have lost the most ground, then stabilized.  Dodgers are deadly for those who know how to crack the right speed with the right lead length.  I learned from the best in the business and dodgers are very speed sensitive with little, or no room for error.  If you can maintain a constant .3 mph speed variation at all times, dodgers will fill your box.  I've taken 1000s of Salmon on dodgers, especially Coho out of the Port of Frankfort during the 1970s and 1980s.  3/10ths of a mph precision speed control beyond a doubt and is generally not within reach of the average fisherman.

2008 Poll data was lost.

Spoons have remained pretty much the same, all be it may, a slight 4% downward swing has occurred.  Spoons are pretty darn easy to pull.  Streaks and Stingers have the widest speed latitude, but the regular Streak can be pulled fastest without spinning out.  NKs, DWs and Pro Kings are a little more touchy from my experience, requiring speeds below 2.5 mph for best results.  2007 seen the spoons lead the pack.

Flasher/Fly? With this approach, plan on hitting the fish hard at and before first light, cause as the sun and light conditions become brighter the bite will can slow.  If the fish are 100' down, or more that bite can last all day.  My BTI 10" Flashers fit into this method.  The BTI 10 inchers combine the spin of the slanted vertical finned flashers with the snap-roll of the fly, or squid.

Cut-bait has had the largest impact, starting in 2003 at 17% share, then climbing to 24% in 2004.  2006 cut-bait swelled to 40%, which in itself is a phenomenal gain.  Let's attribute this fact to: it's by far, ...the easiest to use.  Sight, sound and scent as the herring is does the all the work.  The meat program will also take larger fish and this factoid was evidenced in the August 2005 Frankfort GLPAA tournament.  Where on day 1, five of the top ten vessels were all pulling my flashers, Super Magnum Meat Heads and herring.  As things ended up on day 2, four of the top 10 teams had my stuff in the water and picked up a check.

I won't get too long in the lip about the tackle I offer, but this I say with 1000% confidence. There is not bait head holder on the market presently that will out perform mine and offer the Salmon angler the wide variety of options the my meat head in Magnum and Super Magnum do! Click for Capt. John's meat heads

There is one major heavy-duty draw back to using meat instead of the more traditional artificial lures.  That being your box will be a lot harder to lift off the boat and you're gonna spend a ton more time at the cleaning table.

Note: most of the above text was written in 2005 and might not reflect current trends that change and vary from year to year.  Computers have many uses, storing data like in the above 5 seasons of polls is an excellent example!