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Post by feather on Sept 11, 2007 18:37:30 GMT
Many moons ago I met Dougie Blair when fishing the Dee at Kincardine O'neil. He was a brilliant fly tyer and the inventor of the "Blair Spoon" which he hand crafted on a small anvil in his workshop.
I still have one of his original spoons but have made many copies which I find excellent in high water. In such conditions I find them far more successful than tobies or condoms.
Anyone else with views on the matter?
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Post by rpsalmon on Sept 11, 2007 18:46:26 GMT
I find a Blair spoon cast upstream and across, and drawn back quickly within two feet of the surface, to be effective. I like the Toby on occasion in the Spring when water is 1 centigrade to about 4 centigrade but, I have to state my surprise that anyone thinks they are better than Flying C's in black of weights 5gm, 10gm and 15gm. I'd change your supplier.
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Post by feather on Sept 11, 2007 19:05:01 GMT
The method I find most effective is to cast downstream and just let the bait swim across. The action of the bait can be seen at the rod tip which in heavy water is quite violent. Alas my supplier is long gone!
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Post by rpsalmon on Sept 11, 2007 19:35:19 GMT
Don't Fawcetts still sell a selection of 10 for £20?
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Post by kingfisher on Sept 13, 2007 18:47:07 GMT
bruce and walker used to make blair spoons maybe they still do
I've seen cheaper blair spons on ther market which are rubbish but B+W jobs are good
some times the fluttering action is spot on and they are the biggest bait people tend to use so often when conditions are right they are the only bait to use
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Post by juststartedagain on Sept 13, 2007 19:21:25 GMT
Fawcetts do...also McHardy's have "hand made" Blairs - 10 for £26.....
There are guys on here who make superb flying c's & Devons - Salmnnut being one - far better than what I have seen in the shops...
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Post by minitube on Sept 15, 2007 6:37:17 GMT
I'm sure the original Blair Spoon was an excellent item. However so was the Toby Salmo, the largest wider toby. I personally consider the Toby Salmo to be the best spoon ever made for Spring and Autumn salmon fishing. I honestly could write an "ode to the Toby Salmo" and absolutely love them. I only have a few left and lost one this season that I had used very successfully for about 15 years, an all silver one. Anyone know where any original Toby Salmo's or any good copies are available?
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Post by feather on Sept 16, 2007 11:53:20 GMT
I am sure the Salmo has it's place in history . I can't understand why they stopped making them.I have just the one left so it has to be a snag free enviroment before it comes out of the box. I havent found anyone that does a decent copy and my own efforts at copying them haven't proved too successful
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Post by dazko on Sept 18, 2007 22:16:33 GMT
I couldnt agree more with Mini Tubes post the Toby is legendary.
Throw it down, straight across or upstream never fails to score.
Three salmon have come my way this season and all have been firmly hooked.
I add in an additional split ring and change the treble for a single as I put Salmon back on my local river.
As for the Blair Spoon I have one that i've never got round to using - i'll give it a bash this weekend and let you know.
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Post by feather on Sept 19, 2007 15:54:23 GMT
Blair spoons only really come into their own in heavy water when something with weight is needed to get down to where the fish are. With the low waters we are experiencing at the moment you could well be disappointed with the performance of a spoon
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Post by castelforte on Sept 20, 2007 6:28:45 GMT
Blair spoons only really come into their own in heavy water when something with weight is needed to get down to where the fish are. With the low waters we are experiencing at the moment you could well be disappointed with the performance of a spoon Blair spoons have a unique vibrating action. The principle is copied in the Pixie and later Vibrating Pixie. CF |
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Post by billytheghillie on Sept 20, 2007 18:24:19 GMT
disagree feather, not only for use in heavy water. These are excellent catchers in all heights of water, as for weight , they are not to heavy, ie 16&22 grams. As long as you keep them moving they will never snag.
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Post by feather on Sept 21, 2007 20:48:51 GMT
Point taken Billy although the copies I made from the original "Blair"are a touch over 22gms. The method I have always fished them is a cast slightly down stream and let it flutter it's way round. I have had some very good successes in this way but mainly high water because of their weight. I'll try cranking a bit next time !!
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Post by billytheghillie on Sept 22, 2007 21:09:48 GMT
aah, this is when this forum is so helpfull, me and feather fish these spoons in different ways. Novices take heed!
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Post by kercock on Sept 23, 2007 8:32:07 GMT
I only use the Salmo cast upstream and retrieved fast,They are too precious to be used any other way. They can be found on e-bay sold at crazy prices £30plus ! look at the bidding though,it looks very much like the prices are being raised by the same people who seem to work in the same area of the Tay
as well as Dunkeld!
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Post by kercock on Sept 23, 2007 9:24:08 GMT
I just looked on e-bay and Gows of Dundee have Salmos for sale at a tenner each plus £2 postage. Talk about cashing in ! The same shop was selling them at THREE for a tenner not so long ago. Incidently the Tay Boatman who is selling them on e-bay is a former emloyee of Gows...... Birds of a feather. Beware . Be Aware.
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Post by shocker on Sept 23, 2007 11:48:12 GMT
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