Why We Like Spey Casting

When it comes to fishing for kings on the Kanektok, or fishing for steelhead on the Dean, we really like Spey casting.

Spey rods are getting a lot more popular these days.  That being said, we hear from a lot of people who say things like…

• “You’re making a bigger deal out of casting than you should.”
• “Spey rods are all about casting far, and you don’t have to cast far to catch fish.”
• “Spey gear is really fidgety, and you just like to stand around talking about gear.”
• “I don’t fish for steelhead, so why should I care?”

We like fishing with Spey rods.  Accuse us of being Spey geeks, and you’re right.  We run Spey instruction programs at Alaska West and BC West, and we’re not shy about the fact that we think two-handed casting is one of the coolest things around.

Here’s why.

• It’s easier to cover the water with a Spey rod. If you need to cast more than 20 feet to get your fly to the fish, you can do it with a Spey rod, with less effort than with a single-handed rod.
• Spey rods give better line control. Mending with a 13′ rod allows you to move more line than mending with a 9′ rod.  It just does.
• Spey casting is easier on your body – especially your shoulders. You can keep your arms close to your body and still get the line out with a Spey rod.  If you’re like us and have made one too many double-hauls with 12 weight, your body will thank you for giving the two-hander a try.
• During those occasional stretches where you’re not catching fish, the casting itself is fun. Much like making a great golf swing, hitting a cast right with a spey rod is fun, in and of itself.
• All the gear is really fidgety and we like to stand around talking about gear. Guilty as charged.  Spey fishing tackle and techniques are changing constantly, and it’s interesting to keep up with the cutting edge.
• Sometimes you really do need to cast long. There are times when an 80′ cast just won’t reach where the fish are holding, and when you need to throw it far, the Spey rod is your friend.
• It’s not just for steelhead. Spey rods were made for swinging flies, so…any time you need to swing, you should think about a two-hander.  Hoppers for trout on big rivers?  Smolt patterns for giant rainbows?  Striper fishing when you’ve got current?  Yeah, try a Spey rod.
• You don’t need to make a backcast. The River Spey in Scotland is lined with bushes, and it’s hard to make a backcast when you’ve got bushes behind you.  Those wise Scots developed Spey casting to enable you to present a fly in front of you when you’ve got bushes behind you.  This happens a lot on rivers located very near to Anytown, USA.

We like Spey fishing, and we think you should too.

More on Spey Fishing

• Steelhead Rig Roundup
• King Rig Roundup
• 10 Tips – Swinging Flies for Kings