Old and new Salmon Gear

CLeaning out the shed, came across some "vintage" gear.  First, the "Cutter" by Big AL's tackle, a company that is probably defunct, but was popular in the 1980's.  THe hype for the Cutter was that it was more fish-shaped, and being translucent, was more visible----to the 30# kings, of course!! DOwnside was the non-ball bearing swivels.  I think HotSpot was the first company to put BB swivels on both ends of their flashers.  Abe-n-Al flashers are still good fish catchers, but have old-time swivels.  for years, a big chrome and flashtape #1 Abe-n-Al with a red Point Defiance spoon was my "can't fail" combo.  Once hooked a big king at the mouth of the Puyallup that straightened out a 6/0 Mustad 62553 SS hook!! Had a tight drag on it (seals) and it pulled my sister to the rail and nearly over...





  Also popular, and responsible for my first decent size king, was the dodger-herring combo.  Dodgers still catch fish, but most fishers have switched to the flasher.  But a plug-cut herring behind a dodger will still bring them in, and no worries about line twist.



There was a tackle company named Kingston Tackle, when I fished Point no Point in the 1990's I used to stop and drop a chunk of change.  Dick Johnson was the owner, an old Norskie commercial troller who was very inventive.  He came out with this variation of the flasher, he called it  a Slasher.  Wasn't patented, so they are still being made by other companies.  It works, really looks like a rolling salmon.  Dick also was fond of wiring mini-hoochies end-to-end and attaching a little spinner blade behind, called them the "spoon-fed" hoochie. Wish I had some of that gear, all lost to time and big kings on weak line and poor knots....Oki tackle makes the slasher now, calls it the Kingfisher.  Big  upside is that it works whether trolled fast or slow.

http://www.okitackle.com/kf_index.shtml



Something new, is the Franko bullet Rotator----a herring head that spins the herring like a bullet, no tail flop.  Have only used it once, only caught a dogfish about the size of Red October....here's the link:
http://www.histackleboxshop.com/Franko-Bullet-Rotator-FBR-p/fbr-sheltonprod.htm



and from the top, you can see the brass pin that hold the herring in the gear.  Wonder how long it will take for that to get lost over the side?  Toothpicks from then on...



Lastly, my favorite big spoon, a 6 inch 1/2 and 1/2 made by Diamond, now defunct.  Needs to be brasso's after every use, tarnishes in a heartbeat, but pulls in the kings.  Probably the 2 dissimiliar metals---brass and chrome---set up a weak galvanic current in the salt water...

Great gear-- I grew up using some of that stuff--long gone now however.  Have really enjoyed your gear posts- thank you very much

Rob.

I'm really enjoying your gear posts too KT!

Keep it up!

Those FBRs (Franko Bullet Rotators) are pretty standard gear down in the California recreational salmon fishery.  Nobody down there seems to know how to cut a decent plug herring.

I'm enjoying these informative posts as well.

Great pics and post KT... we'll let that last salmon report w/o the pics to slide... 

That gear definitely has some great designs. I'm liking that Point Defiance spoon the most. Is that lure still produced?

Z

POint Defiance spoon no longer being made, AFAIK----I asked at the Point Defiance boathouse, where they were always on sale, Skip said he thinks they're history.  But I'll be happy to send you a red one still in the plastic, if you PM me your address, or if we meet up at the Elliot Bay derby, or over here, or......

POint Defiance spoon no longer being made, AFAIK----I asked at the Point Defiance boathouse, where they were always on sale, Skip said he thinks they're history.  But I'll be happy to send you a red one still in the plastic, if you PM me your address, or if we meet up at the Elliot Bay derby, or over here, or......

Wow! Way too cool. I'm thinking of heading out to Vashon next week. I'll PM you some ideas I have.

Z