Culling the herd

[LunkerFish]

This is a roll call of sorts. I'm curious how many of the ifish members here use a spey rod/two hander. In addition, for those that do, how long?

Thanks.

[LunkerFish]

Here's a follow up question for those who want to answer. What was it that caused you to take up this method (be it skagit, underhand, or traditional long belly)?

[HazMatt]

I went out on a guided trip to the Deschutes last October with a well known spey caster. I was a little aprehensive at first as I was with my father in law and he doesn't really like change. I picked it up rather fast and was fishing more water than I ever could imagine with my single hander. A little over a month later I was the proud owner of a new spey set up. Probably spent way more than I should have, but will have the reel for the rest of my life and will have the rod for a long time. I am now thinking of getting a smaller weight spey rod for trout fishing. It is very graceful and fun to feel the rod load and the line go flying the distance it does. I'm still learning and only throwing about 70 feet of line right now. Can't say enough good things about spey casing! I thought I was hooked to flyfishing single handers, but this style really is addicting. I find myself practicing casting as I'm walking down the hall at work now. Every so often I get down to the North Santiam Spey Casters club in Salem for some practice - GREAT group of guys and they have at least two or three certified two handed instructors in the bunch. I would recommend it to anyone thinking of purchasing a set up. Klem (ifisher) is the pres., one of the instructors I spoke of, and one he** of a nice guy BTW.

[Old Coot]

I haven't taken it up yet, but am considering it because osteoarthritis has turned my shoulders to rot. A day with a 4-wt now is a ticket for 10 ensuing days in hell.

Chucking an 8-10 wt, I'm now limited to an hour or so per month.

[Stew]

I recently got a Skagit head line and talk about shortening the learning curve!!!
Thing is you are miles ahead in taking lessons.
I am self taught therefore not an accomplished spey caster :hoboy: A friend took a lesson from an FFF certified spey casting instructor and is well ahead of me although he has been spey casting a shorter period of time.
He has hooked six steelhead in his last three trips to the Deschutes and I have hooked two :shrug: He handles his line better and just seems to have it figured out better than me.
I've decided to prepare for this winter by taking a few lessons myself.
On many areas of the Deschutes your back casting is limited by vegetation if you are casting a single hand rod. With a spey rod it's no problem in nearly every area I like to fish.
Also if your line doesn't match well with your rod then you are in for some frustrating days on the river.
I got into spey casting because of the limitations of a single handed rod for the reason(s) listed above and also for the ability to cast larger flies.
I have several instructional DVD's on spey casting and the best one seems to be the one featuring Dec Hogan :cheers:
BTW - Ifisher Rob Allen is an excellent spey caster and works for CF Burkheimer who builds what might be the best spey rods on the market

[SilverFly]

After watching PTS today I'm convinced that there is something to all this Spey hub-bub after all. To heck with throwing a 100' of line and swinging a half acre of river in one cast. Spey rods are the best thing since strike indicators for nymphing! (blasphemy, I know :wink:).

-----------------------

[Two Fister]

Plus they're just really fun to cast!

Like Stew said, there's a lot of the Deschutes that you just can't reach with a single hand rod.

I also have a damaged shoulder and back. The spey is much easier on both.

And like I said, they are just really fun to cast!!!

I'm by no means a skilled or delicate spey caster hence the moniker Two Fister

Cheers!
TF

[BroCam]

I am self taught as well. I am still learning. Some days are okay and other are not so okay. I have watched a few videos and alot of time hitting the water. Picked it up because of getting frustrated with hanging up on me back cast. Saw someone in same area spey casting and it was love at first sight.

[Steelie Mike]

I use both still single and double handed rods :cool:. I prefer to swing flies in big rivers with the spey and play with the single on smaller rivers. I have only got two steelies on the double hander this year though. I gotta practice more I guess.
Silverfly drop me a line if you want to do some shopping! :>

[paulie]

I just bought an inexpensive spey rod- Cabela's 14' er, $99.

It was on sale, and I could'nt resist the price.

I have been interested in spey casting for a couple of years, but the the cost of the rod/reel/line was too much for me.

Now I have to save for the reel and line.

I have a video on casting from the library, but I'm sure it would be better to take a lesson.

[drbfish]

I am way beyond an addiction. I have four rods and now I feel the need for a 15'er, maybe a 7/8.

What ever happened to the ifish spey get together? I go down to the willimette and practice all the time (just got back) and would love some company. Even if you don't have a rod just want to find out what its all about.

Dave

[Stew]

Dave let me know when you go and I'll join you. Picked up a used T&T recently

[HazMatt]

Let me know when you go down there. I live in Brooklyn neighborhood and take my stuff down when I run our dog sometimes. Would love to fling some yarn around a little with someone else.

[LunkerFish]

I wouldn't mind meeting up as well, but I've found that my current schedule is at odds with a lot of the activities and get-together's.:shrug: Either way let me know and if I can swing it I will.

[Stew]

What works best for everyone?

[PTS]

I can tell you that drbfish has put in a lot of time improving his casting and is a really excellent spey caster. He has helped a lot of people with their casting, and a rondi with him would be very beneficial. He keeps trying to help me, but I have too many "hitches in my getalong." A lot of it is the result of extensive use of my spey rod for nymphing. The big bobber on my line is a hazard! I would go to the rondi if for no other reason than to meet some new ifishers.

[float2ber]

I plan on attending the Sandy spey clave next May. That will most likely be the beginning of yet another addiction. I hope.

[rob allen]

what caused me to buy a spey rod? my firsnd Gordon bought one and it looked like a fun and productive tool, plus there is all the history behind them so i bought one..

the dirty truth that most people hate to admit is that all the forms of spey casting are the same just with different lengths of casting stroke.. skagit, traditional, underhanded it's really all the same.. just variations on a theme

[drbfish]

I am going to take my rods with me to work monday and tuesday and head down to Willamette Park after work. Unless it is raining hard. I usually get there around 5 and cast for an hour or so. I have been casting right around the boat launch, sometimes slightly down stream of the launch.

Dave

[rob allen]

dave walk upstream of the boat ramp. do your casting off the rocks if it's safe and use a wolley bugger to practice:)
that's a major smallmouth spot...