Start Shallow, My Friend: The Spey Casting Gospel You Keep Ignoring

Let’s start with a confession. Too many anglers wade into the river like they’re auditioning for Aquaman 3. Waist deep before the first cast, chest deep before lunch, and wondering why the fish (and your dry socks) have all but vanished. It’s a common error. Many anglers associate “deeper” with “better” because “that’s where the fish are.” When it comes to swinging flies with a two-hander, that mindset can cost you fish and dignity. Here it is…when you start fishing, always start shallow first!

Why The Shallow Start Advantage

1. The fish are closer than you think. The first ten feet from the bank often act like a fish freeway on both sides of the river. That softer inside water? It’s prime real estate, especially in colder temps. Wade too deep and you’re literally standing where the fish were supposed to be and pushing them further into the river.
2. You’ll cast better (and drier). Staying shallow keeps you planted on solid ground. No swirling current stealing your anchor, no rogue wave reminding you who’s boss. Plus, your D-loop has more breathing room. Everything feels cleaner, smoother—like the difference between a perfect drift and knitting circles with your running line.

It’s the smart play. By starting in tight, you can systematically work your way out, covering every lane instead of skipping the best ones. Fish methodically, not heroically. This is chess, not CrossFit.

The Wader Depth Trap

Wading too deep early is like starting your coffee with four pumps of espresso. You’ve got nowhere good left to go. Those first few high casts feel great until you realize you’ve got no more space to adjust, your swing angle is shot, and the fish you wanted is now upstream, screaming past you in two feet of water.

A Final Word for the Proud and Soaked

The “start shallow” rule isn’t about fear or laziness. It’s about discipline. It’s the quiet confidence to whisper, “I’ll step deeper if I have to,” rather than blundering in like a caffeinated moose. Most of the best anglers I know fish from surprisingly shallow positions, and they catch fish that everyone else wades past.

Have you ever hooked a fish on the “hang down” and lost a fish due to a missed strike? If so, you might be too much in the deep. So back it up.

Next time, resist the urge to march into mid-river glory. Ease in. Start shallow. And remember, style points don’t count for much when you’re wringing out your waders on the bank, and the drying tent will now have an extended stay resident.