TBS are back in,Hertzog recommends them as a searching lure in medium coloured water.
I had several of the old Gibbs silver and gold models however when I checked the current prices I shuddered and looked for another solution.
With a little trial and some errors I found that I could fashion a good TBS from a size 7 Colorado blade purchased in bulk from Cabelas.
Simply put a golf ball in your bench vise take your rubber hammer and rest the front half of the colorado on the golf ball and start tapping the edgesof the blade. In about two minutes you will have a TBS that flutters as well as anything you can buy. Put a split ring on the front end ,drill a hole at the back end and install a ring to hold the hook eye and your in business with as good a searching lure as you can buy.
If you want to dress it up with colour a couple of narrow diagonal strips of prismatic tape gives it good colour to go with the flashing action.
Coot

Coot great subject.....it's one that's been on my mind the past several weeks. A thin fluttering bladed spoon that will work even in minimal flows.
Used to have several in my vest always but as I check now...none except some Dick Nites. Time to stock up.

Gooose

Hi Goose: I guess its obvious but I should have added that the bend you put in at the front of the blade is opposite to the original bend of the Colorado.
I fish them with a cross current cast ,let them sink and swing. Dropping the rod tip allows the TBS to flutter down and lifting the tip causes it to rise and wobble. These two actions together with the swing usually work well.
coot

Coot thanks...already knew that but is good info for the beginners who want to get seriously into spoons. Amazing how some of us leave behind old tried and true methods behind with all of the fads that are occurring.

Gooose

Thanks for the good idea Coot. You are right about the 'price tag shock' for hardware these days. Same for some plastic plugs. Oouch! Your productive idea that saves dollars is valuable.

And I agree a lot with what you said Gooose. I too have gotten away from using spinners and spoons in the regular 'rotation' as I used to. I always carry a few with me but don't often get them out anymore. It's because I use jigs or worms or plugs as followups to drifting eggs, when I used to follow that with the hardware. I have been planning to get back to this more, so when we got off the Nestucca R. yesterday I stopped in at Kimmels Sporting Goods in Tillamook and bought some Lil Cleo spoons in different colors for steelheading. They are great spoons but I wince at the price I paid for them.

RT