The Traditional Fisherman's Forum

Y
This turned up in my in-laws house. A house
where they have lived since the mid 50's.

Nobody in that time has any link to fishing,
as it was found in a outbuilding. It may have
already been there.
Can anyone offer some ideas on it.
Thank you.

Looks like a poachers version of a Devon minnow used for catching salmon!

Like a Devon but adapted with a Quill Minnow mount

Left abandoned as a failure.The devon minnow bit is to spin by the vanes but would foul the trebabel hook flights. Sink and draw might work but those barbed hooks. ....... Tony

Tonkin Wand wrote: ↑Wed Dec 01, 2021 11:07 pm Left abandoned as a failure.The devon minnow bit is to spin by the vanes but would foul the trebabel hook flights. Sink and draw might work but those barbed hooks. ....... Tony

Don't worry, it will never be used.

There are lots of variations of Devon minnows made using different materials and with various hooking arrangements and up to 4 trebles. I've caught a number of species using them including salmon. They are still sold and probably still account for a number of salmon each year. If think the multi-hook varieties which are often the slotted bodied type are from the days when fish were inevitably taken for the pot and not returned.

Nice selection Phil! I've a couple of Redpath of Kelso that were left to me, interestingly they are in cardboard boxes. I see you have a couple of quill minnows in there too - a very good lure for day time sea trout spinning which like salmon spinning is becoming a lost art these days. If only we had the runs of yesteryear!

There were a couple of salmon taken on Devons this year where I fish.

Just for your interest ... three of the 24 pages of 'Spinners,' 'Minnows,' 'Angel Minnows,' 'Spoons,' etc. for coarse and sea fishing listed in the 1935 Albert Smith and Co. Ltd. Fishing Catalogue No. 17"

I came across this topic while browsing older threads.

As I have a few of the lures listed in Ashbycut's 1935 Albert Smith pages in my collection, I thought I would share them 'in the flesh', so to speak.

The famed 'Composition Salmon Minnow' (manufactured by Hatton of Hereford - gutta percha over brass):



The Aquatic Spider' tied from beautiful iridescent peacock:



The 'Wagtail':



The Swallow Tail (Farlows retailed examples):



Celluloid Sprat or Minnow (Percy Wadham, Isle of Wight):



The 'OK Gudgeon' (Percy Wadham, Isle of Wight):