The new byelaws equally apply to the fishing lures described as “minnow, golden sprat, phantom, swallowtail”
They are covered by the definition in the byelaws: –
“artificial lure” means any device, including spoons, spinners, wobblers and plugs, or artificial imitation fish baits made of any material which is designed to attract fish and which incorporates a fishing hook.
further to this: –
“No person shall use more than one hook with a bait; artificial lure; or artificial fly on the Cross Border Rivers unless:
On artificial lures, the use is restricted to one single hook only to a maximum gape of 13 millimetres measured from the shank to the point PROVIDED that this restriction to one single hook shall not apply to wobblers, plugs or artificial imitation fish baits which are allowed up to a maximum of 3 single hooks
and in no case shall any bait; artificial lure; or artificial fly be furnished with more than 3 hooks and no weight or sinker shall be attached below the bait; artificial lure; or artificial fly.”
There is no restriction to overall size or length of the lure you may use.
In summary minnows of the ‘Devon’ type can be fished with one barbless, single hook of less than 13mm gape (no treble or double hooks are allowed are allowed).
The byelaws make the use of the older (less popular now) lures you mention illegal unless they are modified with the size and type of hook described above. The reason for this is that it can no longer be appropriate to catch salmon on the type of lures you name, shown below, furnished with multiple hooks where catch and release is mandatory.
