Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: IronNoggin on May 22, 2012, 01:33:25 PM
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HiYa Folk! Most here are likely aware of my fascination with chasing salmon along the WCVI. These days there is quite the selection of weapons to deploy in that pursuit, some might even suggest perhaps a little too much to choose from! LOL! But amongst that arsenal, the one thing I've always found lacking has been a spoon designed to successfully imitate Needlefish. This little prey item represents a rather large component of the diet for most salmon species, and especially so for those huge springs we encounter out there.
(http://akr-mapping.fakr.noaa.gov/FishAtlasData/FishPhotos/PacificSandLanceAdult_1.jpg)
While there are some decent hootchies that do the job, I greatly prefer to engage the fish without a flasher between us. So, over the years, I've experimented with a LOT of the various spoons out there, and found that while some do work, they simply were not consistent enough for me. What I've been seeking is something that will get a response pretty much every time I send it down, in a word, DEADLY.
About 4 years ago I decided that if the market didn't have what I wanted in this regard, perhaps I'd just have to Cowboy Up and design it myself. So, I sat down at the drawing board, and began to fiddle with a few ideas I thought might do the job. Over the next few years, I took my idea to several manufacturers, both here and offshore. To a one their responses were: Cost prohibitive to produce, too many bends to be practical, too complicated a design and finish... I really didn't agree, and surmised that this was likely their way of simply brushing me off. Jaded by their responses, I thought the idea would simply never wither and die a quiet death...
But the thing was something I wanted, and wanted BAD. Then this spring I casually mentioned the idea on one of the Forums, and to my pleasant surprise, one of the Members responded suggesting he might be willing to take the task on of getting the idea to the next step! So, I partnered up with him, fired off the specs, and anxiously awaited the first of the blanks that he ran off for testing...
Then a package arrived in the mail! Kinda surprising that something as simple as a handful of oval brass blanks could get me so pumped, but that it did! I immediately set out applying varying bends, concaves and more to the blanks, so many varying types it was tough to keep track! Afternoons found me standing in one of the local flows, dressed for the chase of steel, but instead staring wide eyed at the varying actions of the spoon the different combinations created! Standing mid-stream with that spoon dangling 5 feet off my rod must have been comical to those that wandered by methinks! After trying many variations of bends, hook sizes, flipper tails etc, I finally found the action I was looking for: a few flips like many spoons do, graduating to the distinct snake-like swimming action of a mature needlefish! Walla! The time for a REAL test was now at hand...
Late April found me working springs off the troller along the "Highway" out of Nootka. Nary a needlefish to be found in their tummies or on the sounder - krill and the odd herring were the items of choice. But I decided to give the prototype a whirl, and sent it down. Immediate reaction! Good Spring ON! Over the course of the afternoon, the little bugger outperformed our best hootchies, as the springs bypassed them from below to get at the spoon! After a dozen or so of the Large variety, I was satisfied. Even without needlefish around, the fish were convinced!!
A little better than a week later, we found ourselves off Solander Island / Cape Cook:
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa386/IronNoggin/Solander.jpg)
The nearshore areas there are comprised of huge needlefish beds, and the springs were working them. Down went the spoon again - time for the best test I could come up with. Let the fish decide I mumbled as the spoon slid beneath the waves...
And again the reaction was nearly instant! A rather large spring let me know he liked the little offering, and that was shortly followed by many many more!! Approaching the number 30, my Partner finally demanded I pull the spoon and tuck it away. HUH? Lose that one what the hell will you send to the plant he queried. That one there is a KILLER. Reproduce it, and it alone. Don't risk losing it...
Kinda hurt to take it off the gear, but I realized he was right. Couldn't help but Grin though - a long time in the making being realized!!
I did take a good handful of pictures, but the damn memory card in the camera failed - lost them all. Dammit!
For testing purposes, I had simply taken one of the brass blanks, shot a coat of aluminum Tremclad over it, and painted it up with permanent Sharpies. Not an overly tough finish by any means, and it didn't take the fish long to beat most of that, and the holographic eye right off the blank. Still caught them quickly though, so I surmised the action was as much or even more key than the finish.
Here's a shot of what the spoon looked like when I pulled it - Ravaged!
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa386/IronNoggin/NeedleRavaged.jpg)
The eventual product will be much more refined obviously! Nickle/Silver plating on top of the brass, and quality airbrush paint jobs to finish it off. Loads of work remain to be done, but we're finally on the way, and I couldn't be much happier!!
Here's the design template:
(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa386/IronNoggin/NeedleFinal.jpg)
Kinda wrestled with myself whether to put that one up or not. Hate to have someone snitch the idea this far into the game! Ah, but if they did, they'd soon understand why it took four bloody years of finicky fiddling to get the action just right!! So, that concern has been somewhat alleviated!!
Hopefully we'll have them up and ready for this year's impending offshore season! Already have so damn many orders I don't know when I'll find the time to get out there and use them myself, but you can bet your bottom dollar I WILL!! ;D
Cheers,
Nog
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Nice one Matt. I'm surprised that we have not seen more of this type of lures for Vancouver Island saltwater fisheries. When I fish in Denmark, it's pretty much all people use when casting lures for sea trout and Atlantic salmon.
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/081215-04.jpg)
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Good Stuff Nog!
I remember fishing offshore in the early 90's on a charter where the guide trolled needlefish that he had jigged up from the bottom. They were placed in a teaserhead but the problem was keeping them on the hook because they were so fragile. Was very productive but a PITA to rig. I wondered at that time why someone wouldn't invent a needlefish spoon.
Glad you decided take this up. I think this lure of yours would do well on Halibut also.
Maybe Luhr Jensen will give you a call soon!
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Nice one Matt. I'm surprised that we have not seen more of this type of lures for Vancouver Island saltwater fisheries. When I fish in Denmark, it's pretty much all people use when casting lures for sea trout and Atlantic salmon.
(http://i217.photobucket.com/albums/cc90/fishingwithrod/2008/081215-04.jpg)
Those look great as well but I think they are more for jigging?
Deadly Dicks and Dungeness Stingers are also made to imitate Needlefish but they are jigging lures as well. The Canadian Princess boats use them.
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Those look great as well but I think they are more for jigging?
Deadly Dicks and Dungeness Stingers are also made to imitate Needlefish but they are jigging lures as well. The Canadian Princess boats use them.
These ones are used for cast and retrieve over there. The retrieve is actually done a lot faster than how we would do for salmon in streams. Fast surface movement and fish always chase right to the beach. ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTyAdiEn7yc
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... Maybe Luhr Jensen will give you a call soon!
Thanks for the kind words! Appreciated!!
The production will be entirely "In-House" - right here in good ol' BC!
The rest of the manufacturers can eat their hearts out! LOL!
Cool Vid Rod!! I'll shoot you a couple of mine before your next trip over. Although designed as a trolling spoon, I made them heavy enough to resist distortion from fighting fish. Methinks you'll be able to toss them a good distance with the set-up you use, and I'd like to know how they perform "over there" ;)
Cheers,
Nog
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Necessity is the mother of inventions. Well done
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Matt! So pumped for you!
Glad all that testing I saw ya do on the flow worked out well!
Best of luck to ya, me thinks you have a big time winner! Anyone with as much experience as yourself would do well in this regard any ways.
Btw I also need to fire ya a few of my beach I was talking with ya about flies for you to test out. I believe you have my email... Lemme know and I'll shoot ya a few in the mail.
Cheers
Dan
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Glad all that testing I saw ya do on the flow worked out well!
Must have looked rather funny eh?? LOL!
BTW, your inbox if FULL. Shoot me a pm with your E addy...
The response to the posts I ran up yesterday have been nothing short of overwhelming! Interest is high, and folks from a wide geographic range are seeking orders. Perhaps I should have waited until the shop was running them off, but I was so pleased and excited with the progress to date I very much wanted to share! With orders now pushing the 1,000 piece mark, the shop is frantically gearing up for production. Hopefully that goes smooth, and we'll see the first run in the not-to-distant future!
Patience is a virtue they say, although I must be damn near void of "virtues" as I can hardly contain my excitement! That said, methinks the little wait will be well worth it! In the meantime, I'll be whiling away the time working on developing the next in this series - a slightly smaller version to imitate immature needlefish...
Thanks to all for the interest! Will of course letcha know when they are ready to swim...
Cheers,
Matt
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Hey Matt
email me or phone me
I have super industrial cutting machine that might be able to cut / stamp out the shapes you want.
I punch out leather shapes but maybe I could cut out thin metal shapes ?
Painting is not what we do. That is up to you but I can give you some ideas.
Jeff 778 772 8348 jeffjoe@shaw.ca
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Forget me.
Contact Gibbs tackle in Delta b.c
604 940 3474
Their minimum is only 120 lures
and they have a paint facility which is excellent
I could not do any of that.
good luck
Jeff
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Thanks Jeff, Appreciate your suggestions.
Had a shop in place before I started, and they are working with the project as we speak. Methinks they are more than capable...
Will be finishing the first thousand myself, then farming the painting out as I don't want that to entirely consume my life!
Already in discussions with a major on that one, but will keep Gibbs in mind should that fall through...
Cheers,
Nog
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Gibbs minimum for custom order is only 120 they said
That should be confirmed by talking with them directly.
I am amazed they would make so few per order.
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Gibbs minimum for custom order is only 120 they said
Perhaps as far as painting goes...
But the development of the dies (this project will require 2 or 3) is Very Much cost prohibitive for that small a run.
And the Folks I am discussing the eventual farm-out of the painting with, we are discussing thousands...
Thanks again anyways... :)
Nog
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... sundenly ye done found the magic trick to catch them?
LOL! LOVE the writing style! Magic Trick? Nope, just another Fine Weapon - the one I was missing - in the arsenal to help me do what I already do ;)
I do sense a bit of balderdash me hearty, so a grain of salt be comin' with yer claims.
Another giggle ;D Do let me know if you happen to fish anywhere near where there happen to be sand lance. If so, I'll gladly send you a couple of these to test for yourself once they are ready. I sincerely don't mind being questioned, as I've found the greatest of supporters to be amongst the converted ;)
And thanks for the "some kind of salute"! Rather weird wording, but I'll take that as something of a compliment... :D
Cheers,
Nog
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Matt... don't have PM option on here.
steelheadfishing@hotmail.com is the addy you can catch me at.
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Very nice looking spoon!!Solander hey love that area popes nose,old glory hole :D