Kalama river Adventures: Steelheader.net- Steelhead, Salmon and trout fishing

Where does one start? Hell, we have a 'plastic hatch' every day starting abut 10:30AM ... have I ever been that 'lucky???' Nooooooooooooooooooo.

But back to the casting, and responding not from the river bank, but 350'ish miles away. With minimal exception, all spey casts have THREE common eliments. "The lift" (rod tip down ON THE WATER) to 11 O'clock. All the 'lift' is to do is get as much of your line out of the water as possible.

The "SECOND" common eliment (think of a soft letter 'J' lying in its side,) is the fomulation of the "D loop." As in single hand casting, the line follows the rod tip. So from the top of "the lift" you bring the rod tip around ON A FLAT PLANE and at the end gentley POKE a hole in the sky with your rod tip. DO NOT drop the rod tip, Poke that hole!!
So where'e the 'Poke' supposed to take place? JUST LIKE casting a single hand rod, it ALL takes place between 10 and 2 on the clock face.

Common eliment THREE is (forward cast) is from the 'poke in the sky,' bring the rod tip forward on a level plane to 10 AM and with a 'LIGHT PUNCH' of the upper hand at the end of the forward movement. The most common error here is the caster will PUSH the rod forward, not give it a 'light punch' type action. An additional thing to remember here is your rod is CANTED off to the side at about a 10-15 degree angle AWAY from your body.

If you don't cant' the rod, two things are likely to happen: both not good. First is the fly/fly line is going to follow the plain of the rod tip (see below in the 'anchor' comments). If it's too verticle, the fly, at least, is going to WACK!!! you in the back of the head/butt/where ever.

Second thing that's going to happen is with the line moving forward. Remember the fly is the last thing moving forward out of the D loop. The leader/fly will catch the airilized line and dump it in the water (This is the spey 'version' of the 'tailing loop.') Again, if this happens, the only thing that can cause same is coming forward with the rod too vertical of a plain.

Soooo, how do you know you've 'pushed' vs. the 'light punching action?' Actually very easy, especially if you've got someone else around. With a 'push,' your upper hand will end up well away from your chest AND the rod tip stop is below 10 AM. The second dead giveaway is a "Wooshing sound" from your rod moving through the air. ("A Woosh is a Push" as I describe to folks I'm 'teaching.)

The 'woosh' is actually caused by your rod tip approaching the speed of sound. "Wooshing" is NOT A GOOD THING. Again, caused by pushing out with the upper hand rather than a light punching action AND the rod tip stopping below 10AM.

So, where do you release your shooting line? At the top of the 'stop.'

So a quick review (if you will): As with a single hander cast, you have three parts. AND you have to do ALL THREE PARTS. Typical error for a new caster is trying to do (instead of 'A one and a two') they will do a one and a half. IE: ignore the initial lift and pull the line back into the 'two position.' Think of this as trying to drag a bucket through the water ... it 'tain't going to happen!')

Second error is forgetting to 'poke a hole' in the sky with the rod tip at the end of movement 2.

Third error is 'pushing,' not 'poking' with the upper rod hand at the end of movement 3. (Remember: 'a woosh is a push.')

So you're doing all this and it's still going to hell in a hand-basket. We've yet to mention your 'Anchor/anchor point.' As with a single hander cast, EVERYTHING must in in a 180 degree plain. What makes a 'spey cast a spey cast' is the ability to 'change direction' of the line during the formulation of the cast. This is where the 'anchor' comes into play. To restate, where ever you put your anchor IS where you have to cast. Even if it's not where you want to cast. You have very little choice.

Anchor too high above you and you cast below this point, you get what's called 'the bloody L." Cast above you anchor point and you'll wrap your line up in a knot.

Think of a rifle barrel ... the anchor point is the front site, your rod action is the rear site. With little choice in the matter you must cast 'pretty much' over the connection of your line/leader.

More later if you want .. the above is already a bit of over-kill.
Fred

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Fred A. Evans