Imagine trying to learn how to cast with a 8 weight rod paired with a 3 weight line. It’s possible, just neither instinctive or pleasant.

Been using these for U.C. trout fishing for about the last ten years and also went through a confusing period with lines. I don’t like the cost of multi-tip systems, and I particularly don’t like loop connections. As I’m fishing my homewater 90% of the time, and half of that is spent delivering #14-#16 nymphs and emergers on long casts to visible trout, I want the gear to fish clean as possible. I’m using an 11′6″ Cabela’s Traditional 6wt (sweet-slow action)(around 100-bucks and no longer available)and a 12′6″ Deer Creek 5/6wt (medium-fast). The Echo and the Cabela’s Fish Eagle (moderate actions) are also popular with locals, and I’ve casted these as well. We’ve found that the Rio Windcutter and the Wolff Triangle Taper, in the heaviest line designation given for the rod, work well with these.

My guess is it won’t be much different than what I’m already doing on my 10′ 8wt, except the bottom handle will be a couple of inches longer than the fighting butt. Where the difference will lie will be in the line. I picked up an Elixir 380; we’ll see how that casts.

..by then I’ll be more danger to them than to myself.

The last time I felt the terrifying noob-tactular sensation was over thanksgiving when my cousin talked me into playing golf and we got paired up with 2 club pros. Two shanks and a worm-burner later I was ready to stuff my head in the ball washer.

What about switch rods? Aaron and I have been thinking about these cause they seem a little more universal, thoughts?

I see that as the “bang for the buck” – spey casting by itself may be less useful, unless you frequent the hallowed Steelhead and Salmon rivers.

Basic spey casts such as the single, double and circle aren’t all that hard to do once you’ve got the jest of it. One thing I discovered was that once you know the casting mechanics, the casts easily translate over to my 9′ rods. You just don’t get the same distance. Which for most guys isn’t a big deal since most rivers, or stretches of water, that don’t give you room for a backcast aren’t the mississippi. I’m no casting yoda, and I can get about 50′-60′ with the three casts mentioned above, with a 9′ rod and a WF-F line fairly consistently.