How to Make DIY Spearfishing Flashers: Cheap, Easy, and Deadly Effective

Flashers are one of the most useful tools in a spearfisher's arsenal for attracting curious fish within shooting range. But commercial flashers can be expensive, and the truth is you can make your own that are just as effective for a fraction of the cost. I used homemade flashers on a Baja trip and brought fish in close enough to shoot with a pole spear. Here's a conversation I had with Jon from Cast and Spear about the setup, plus a complete step-by-step build guide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wu2a-OSZa44

Materials Needed for DIY Spearfishing Flashers

Everything you need is cheap and easy to find. Grab some Mylar emergency blanket material (or even a box wine bag works great), zip ties, scissors, clear packaging tape, and a bullet fishing weight or torpedo weight. Go heavier on the weight than you think you need — it helps the flasher stay at depth and move naturally in the current.

Step-by-Step Flasher Build Process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbC6XkacVww

Cut a 12-inch wide by 12 to 18-inch long rectangle out of the Mylar material, then cover both sides with clear packaging tape to increase durability in and out of the water. Cut half-inch wide strips into the longer side of the Mylar shape, leaving about 4 inches at the top uncut — these strips become your flasher's squid-like tentacles that flutter in the current.

Take your fishing weight and roll the uncut portion of the material around it, making sure the attachment eye is still accessible. Zip tie the material around the forward portion of the weight first, then the rear end. Cut off the excess zip tie tails and sand down any sharp edges with a file — those little plastic nubs are sharp enough to cut your hands or line. Finally, attach the flasher to your float through the weight's eye using cable, line, or monofilament.

Why Flashers Work for Attracting Fish

Flashers mimic the movement and light reflection of baitfish, triggering the predatory instincts of gamefish like yellowtail, wahoo, and tuna. The Mylar strips catch light as they flutter in the current, creating an irresistible flash that draws curious fish in from a distance. Hanging a few of these off your float line at different depths while you wait on the bottom can dramatically increase the number of fish encounters you have on a dive. For the cost of a few dollars in materials and ten minutes of your time, DIY flashers are one of the best investments you can make in your spearfishing toolkit.