Salmon Spinning Rods
It is rare now to see a spinning rod of any material other than carbon on a salmon river. While these are generally very light and efficient, some seem very stiff and poker-like, not really an improvement on the more supple cane and fibreglass they have replaced, a misjudgement on the part of the manufacturers, I am sure, rather than an inherent unsuitability in the material itself. The preferred length of spinning rod will depend on the nature of the river. A small overgrown stream might demand a rod as short as seven feet, used to cast a small Mepps spoon between the overhanging branches, while the major rivers will require a more powerful rod of nine, ten or eleven feet, able to cast the heavier lures distances of fifty yards or more across the wide streams and pools of the Tay or Tweed, always assuming, of course, that spinning is permitted as a legitimate angling method. An ever increasing number of beats on Scottish salmon rivers are now designated "fly only", irrespective of conditions or season.
Salmon Spinning Reels
Before the invention of the modern fixed spool spinning reel and nylon monofilament line, salmon spinning was done with silk lines on centrepin reels like the Hardy Silex or Alcock's Aerial and casting a bait or spinner on these old centrepins was a practised art. Today, life is much simpler for the newcomer to salmon spinning. Using a modern multi-ball-bearing fixed spool reel, he can quickly master the rudiments of casting and spin fishing. Some salmon anglers, however, particularly those fishing in the spring on the larger rivers, where long casting with heavy nylon and large spoons is the norm, prefer the multiplier, something like an Abu 6000, which allows more direct contact and better control over a hooked fish than the fixed spool.
Salmon Spinning Lures
The salmon spinning enthusiast has a great array of spinning lures at his disposal. As with salmon flies, his choice might be dictated, to an extent, by the fashion of the times. At one time, there seemed nothing to beat the good old Devon Minnow, which has accounted for thousands of salmon, as has the Abu Toby. These lures still have there devotees and they still, in the right hands, catch their share of fish but the preferred options, for the moment at least, on most salmon rivers would appear to be the Rapala plug or the Flying C, available in a wide range of weights, sizes and colours. Other options, all very effective on their day, might include the Kynoch Killer, Blair Spoon, Canadian Wiggler, Tadpole, Mepps spoons in various shapes, sizes and colours...... the list of possibilities is endless.
http://www.gosalmonfishing.com
http://www.rifles-n-rods.com
It is rare now to see a spinning rod of any material other than carbon on a salmon river. While these are generally very light and efficient, some seem very stiff and poker-like, not really an improvement on the more supple cane and fibreglass they have replaced, a misjudgement on the part of the manufacturers, I am sure, rather than an inherent unsuitability in the material itself. The preferred length of spinning rod will depend on the nature of the river. A small overgrown stream might demand a rod as short as seven feet, used to cast a small Mepps spoon between the overhanging branches, while the major rivers will require a more powerful rod of nine, ten or eleven feet, able to cast the heavier lures distances of fifty yards or more across the wide streams and pools of the Tay or Tweed, always assuming, of course, that spinning is permitted as a legitimate angling method. An ever increasing number of beats on Scottish salmon rivers are now designated "fly only", irrespective of conditions or season.
Salmon Spinning Reels
Before the invention of the modern fixed spool spinning reel and nylon monofilament line, salmon spinning was done with silk lines on centrepin reels like the Hardy Silex or Alcock's Aerial and casting a bait or spinner on these old centrepins was a practised art. Today, life is much simpler for the newcomer to salmon spinning. Using a modern multi-ball-bearing fixed spool reel, he can quickly master the rudiments of casting and spin fishing. Some salmon anglers, however, particularly those fishing in the spring on the larger rivers, where long casting with heavy nylon and large spoons is the norm, prefer the multiplier, something like an Abu 6000, which allows more direct contact and better control over a hooked fish than the fixed spool.
Salmon Spinning Lures
The salmon spinning enthusiast has a great array of spinning lures at his disposal. As with salmon flies, his choice might be dictated, to an extent, by the fashion of the times. At one time, there seemed nothing to beat the good old Devon Minnow, which has accounted for thousands of salmon, as has the Abu Toby. These lures still have there devotees and they still, in the right hands, catch their share of fish but the preferred options, for the moment at least, on most salmon rivers would appear to be the Rapala plug or the Flying C, available in a wide range of weights, sizes and colours. Other options, all very effective on their day, might include the Kynoch Killer, Blair Spoon, Canadian Wiggler, Tadpole, Mepps spoons in various shapes, sizes and colours...... the list of possibilities is endless.
http://www.gosalmonfishing.com
http://www.rifles-n-rods.com