Learn the Art of the Cack-handed Spey Cast

If you’re an avid two-handed rod fly angler looking to expand your skills and tackle challenging fishing spots, learning cack-handed spey casting could be your next big breakthrough. This technique, while it may sound unusual, is a valuable addition to any angler’s repertoire.

What is Cack-handed Spey Casting?

Cack-handed spey casting refers to making a spey cast with your dominant hand still on top of the rod, but casting over your non-dominant shoulder—essentially, the opposite side from a traditional spey cast. The cack-handed cast is beneficial when wind or obstacles make a standard cast unsafe or impractical. This technique allows you to cast effectively from different positions along a river, particularly when fishing on the opposite side from your dominant hand.

Why Learn This Technique?

1. Versatility: Cack-handed casting enables you to fish effectively on both sides of a river, expanding your fishing opportunities.
2. Physical Relief: It can be beneficial for those with shoulder issues, as it reduces strain on the dominant side.
3. Adapting to the Environment: When obstacles like overhanging trees or high banks are present, this technique enables casting in confined spaces.
4. Efficiency: By mastering cack-handed casting, you can quickly switch between different casting styles without changing your position, maximizing your time on the water.

Steps for a Cack-Handed Spey Cast:

1. Grip: Keep your dominant hand on top of the rod, as you would for a standard spey cast. You do not switch your hands’ positions.
2. Stance: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, facing the target. If you’re right-handed, you’ll be casting over your left (non-dominant) shoulder.
3. Rod Position: Bring the rod across your body so the rod tip points downstream on your non-dominant side.
4. D-Loop Formation: Sweep the rod up and back over your non-dominant shoulder, forming a D-loop on that side. This is the key difference from a standard cast, where the D-loop forms on your dominant side.
5. Anchor Placement: Make sure your fly and line anchor on the water in front of you, on the same side as your D-loop (non-dominant side).
6. Forward Cast: Accelerate the rod forward, casting over your non-dominant shoulder, keeping your dominant hand on top throughout the motion.

Summary Table: Standard vs. Cack-Handed Spey Cast

Feature	Standard Spey Cast	Cack-Handed Spey Cast
D-Loop Side	Dominate shoulder	Non-dominant Shoulder
Hand Position	Dominant Hand on Top	Dominant Hand on Top

The structure and fundamentals of a Cack-Handed are the same as standard Spey Cast. It’s just performed on the “other side.” Just as rhythm, timing, placement, and movement are all a part of a regular Spey cast, so they are with a cack-handed Spey cast.

Tips for Learning

1. This cast can feel awkward at first, as your muscle memory is tuned to casting over your dominant shoulder. Practice helps build comfort and efficiency.
2. Cack-handed casting is especially effective when you have a downstream wind coming from your dominant side, as it keeps the fly and line safely away from your body.
3. Watching slow-motion demonstrations can help visualize the motion and timing needed for a smooth cack-handed cast.
4. Start Slow: Please take your time to understand the mechanics of the cast before you try to increase speed or distance.
5. Focus: Be mindful of your timing and rhythm.
6. Be Patient: Remember, it’s normal to feel awkward at first. With time, your non-dominant hand will become more coordinated.
7. Seek Guidance: Consider taking lessons from an experienced caster to fine-tune your technique, timing, and rhythm.

Learning cack-handed spey casting may seem challenging at first, but the rewards are well worth the effort. Not only will it make you a more versatile angler, but it will also open up new fishing opportunities and help you land that fish of a lifetime in spots you couldn’t reach before. With practice, cack-handed spey casting becomes a valuable tool for safe and effective casting in oddball conditions.

So, next time you’re out on the river, why not give cack-handed casting a try? You’ll discover a whole new dimension to your two-handed fly fishing experience. Shoot, you might find you’re better at a cack-handed cast rather than a standard cast.