Posted by Great Lakes Fishing Podcast on 8th Apr 2026

Inside Hammerhead Cowbells with Casey Prisco & Elaine Supp

Lake trout fishing on the Great Lakes has always rewarded anglers who pay attention to detail. From presentation speed to lure placement near bottom structure, success often comes down to precision. One of the most effective attractor systems in modern lake trout trolling is cowbell rigs, and few anglers understand it better than Captain Casey Prisco of Dirty Goose Sportfishing and Captain Elaine Supp of Pura Vida Charters. Prisco and Supp are also co-owners of Hammerhead Cowbells.

On a recent episode of the Great Lakes Fishing Podcast presented by Fish Hawk Electronics, the two captains shared the story behind their purchase of the Hammerhead Cowbells brand, how the attractors are built, and—most importantly—how anglers can use them to consistently catch more lake trout.

If you’re serious about improving your lake trout success rate, their insights offer a roadmap you can apply immediately on your next trip.

The Story Behind Hammerhead Cowbells

Hammerhead Cowbells aren’t just another trolling accessory—they’re a long-standing part of Great Lakes fishing tradition.

When the previous owner suggested Casey consider purchasing the company after years of placing large charter-season orders, the idea quickly became reality. Casey and Elaine stepped in to continue production with a commitment to maintaining quality and preserving the original design philosophy.

Today, every set of Hammerhead Cowbells is still assembled using high-quality U.S.-sourced components. That matters—especially when you’re targeting trophy-class lake trout that can expose weaknesses in tackle systems.

As Casey explained during the podcast, the goal isn’t simply producing attractors. It’s producing dependable equipment anglers can trust when a once-in-a-season fish hits the line.

Why Cowbells Work So Well for Lake Trout

Lake trout are bottom-oriented predators that rely heavily on vibration, sound, and visibility when feeding. Cowbells take advantage of all three triggers.

Each Hammerhead Cowbell rig includes multiple spinning blades that create:

Flash
Vibration
Noise
Water displacement

Together, those elements draw fish in from a distance.

According to Casey and Elaine, the noise signature alone is one of the biggest advantages.

When trolling close to bottom structure—where lake trout spend much of their time—the rotating blades create a distinct disturbance that fish can detect even before they see the trailing bait presentation.

This makes cowbells especially effective when targeting slower-moving, mature lake trout.

Handmade Construction Makes a Difference

One of the most interesting aspects of Hammerhead Cowbells is how they’re made.

Unlike many offshore-produced attractors, these are still assembled using a hands-on process that involves:

Cutting stainless steel sheets
Applying tape or UV finishes
Pressing the hammered texture
Punching holes
Attaching clevises, beads, and split rings

Each component contributes to durability and performance.

The hammered finish isn’t cosmetic—it increases rigidity and improves blade action in the water. That unique texture is part of what makes the Hammerhead design effective at slower trolling speeds.

Choosing the Right Size Cowbells

Hammerhead Cowbells are available in three primary sizes:

Size 5

Standard Great Lakes lake trout size
Maximum vibration and attraction
Best for deep structure and trophy fish

Size 4

Slightly smaller profile
Ideal for moderate depths
Popular on Lake Erie and inland fisheries

Size 3

Light presentation option
Excellent for landlocked salmon and kokanee
Less drag, easier to fish on lighter tackle

While the larger size dominates Lake Ontario lake trout programs, the smaller models allow anglers to adapt presentations to different fisheries and conditions.

Rigging Cowbells the Right Way

One of the most common questions anglers ask is how to rig cowbells effectively.

Casey recommends a simple but proven setup:

Leader setup behind cowbells:

20-pound fluorocarbon leader
22–24 inches long
Spin N Glo attractor
Fly or peanut trailer

This trailing presentation provides a secondary target after the cowbells attract fish into the strike zone.

Spin N Glos add additional vibration and color contrast, increasing visibility in deep water where light penetration drops quickly.

Why Downspeed Matters More Than Most Anglers Realize

Speed control is the difference between a productive lake trout program and a frustrating day on the water.

Cowbells are specifically designed to operate at slower trolling speeds—but without accurate downspeed data, anglers often unknowingly fish too fast.

According to Elaine, the ideal downspeed range when running Size 5 cowbells typically falls between:

1.6 and 1.8 mph

However, current conditions can dramatically affect actual lure speed at depth.

That’s where Fish Hawk Systems become essential.

Surface speed rarely reflects what’s happening at depth. On some days, anglers may need to troll close to 3.0 mph at the surface just to achieve 1.6 mph at depth.

Without reliable downspeed readings, it’s easy to assume lake trout aren’t present or tight-lipped—when in reality, presentations simply aren’t running correctly.

Matching Speed to Fish Behavior

Cowbells excel at targeting large, mature lake trout because they allow anglers to fish slower.

And slower presentations often produce bigger fish.

As Casey explained, large lake trout don’t typically chase fast-moving bait. Instead, they respond better to presentations that stay in their strike zone longer.

This is one reason cowbells consistently outperform faster trolling presentations when targeting deep structure fish.

Slower speeds mean:

Longer strike window
Stronger vibration signature
More consistent bottom tracking
Better attraction of inactive fish

With accurate Data at Depth from Fish Hawk Electronics, anglers can duplicate productive speeds throughout changing current conditions.

Color Selection Tips from Charter Captains

One of the advantages of Hammerhead Cowbells is the wide variety of available color patterns.

Some consistent producers include:

Blue and silver
Crystal finishes
UV patterns
Lake Trout Killer patterns

Interestingly, Casey noted that anglers often discover success with colors they wouldn’t normally choose themselves.

Regional differences also play a role.

Certain finishes perform better depending on:

Water clarity
Light penetration
Depth
Local forage species

Experimentation remains important—even for experienced captains.

Where Cowbells Work Beyond Lake Ontario

While cowbells are widely associated with Lake Ontario lake trout fishing, their effectiveness extends far beyond a single fishery.

Anglers across North America are using them successfully for:

Lake trout in the Great Lakes
Trout & salmon on western reservoirs
Landlocked salmon in the Adirondacks

Because they rely on vibration and flash rather than species-specific action alone, cowbells translate well to multiple trolling applications.

Why Noise Is One of the Most Overlooked Strike Triggers

Many anglers focus primarily on lure color and depth.

But vibration and noise often play a larger role—especially in deep water.

Cowbells create a consistent rotating disturbance that signals feeding activity to nearby fish.

That signal helps trout locate the trailing bait presentation quickly.

For lake trout hugging bottom structure in low-light environments, that advantage can dramatically increase catch rates.

Why Cowbells Remain a Charter Boat Favorite

Charter captains prioritize reliability and efficiency.

They need presentations that consistently produce fish for clients—and cowbells deliver exactly that.

When targeting lake trout, Casey and Elaine often run multiple cowbell setups and rely on them as primary rods during peak action windows.

For anglers introducing kids or new fishermen to trolling, the steady action cowbells provide also keeps excitement high throughout the trip.

That combination of effectiveness and consistency explains why cowbells remain one of the most trusted attractor systems on the Great Lakes.

Precision Speed Control Unlocks Their Full Potential

At the end of the day, success with cowbells depends on one key factor:

Fishing the right speed at the right depth.

That’s why accurate downspeed data from Fish Hawk Electronics plays such a critical role in modern lake trout programs.

When anglers can match productive speeds consistently—even in changing currents—they dramatically increase their odds of success.

Combine that precision with a proven attractor system like Hammerhead Cowbells, and you have one of the most reliable lake trout presentations available anywhere on the Great Lakes today.