Comments on: Part 1: Spey Kung Fu : Because regular fly fishing just isn’t mysterious enough

By: mike nutto

mike nutto — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:26:25 +0000

very interesting post ,yes the spey world is a bear to figure out .The biggest problem is this that each rod you try might have a different action ,so now you are left to find an action you like ,then you have to find a line that works with the rod . You also have to learn how to cast which is a learning curve if you are going to learn yourself .I did and it took me three years to get good at it .Im still learning mind you which is the fun part .Wading thru the lines is another ordeal and one that cant simply be solved .The fact of the matter is you need to go with what the manufacturer suggests as a grain window .Which usually comes in three weights .So you are confused from the start and the money is coming out of your pocket .I will say this about sink tips try to keep them the same length as your rod it helps with casting. You have to look at the size of the rivers you will be fishing to determine what you will need as far as a rod goes .If you have been able to fish comfortably with a single hand on the river you fish you probably dont need a 13 foot spey rod .You might want to look into a switch rod .If you are fishing alot of big rivers then you will want to look into a spey rod .It is alot to get into when you get started but remeber these are tools to help you and it takes time to get good with any tool good luck .

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:34:21 +0000

As you won’t have a feel for a good pairing, I can’t stress enough finding someone who knows and ensuring the line and rod are well matched.

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.

By: bvc

bvc — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:06:39 +0000

Your right about the confusion on lines versus rods and then the style of casting.I’m trying to outfit a reddington 14′rs3 weight 8 rod. I also bought a reddington 11/12 reel. I’m leaning toward the airflow 9 weight or the skagit 9 weight rio. Any advice the salesman are throwing out too many variables. I’m just trying to get started with something decent that I won’t be totally frustrated with.

By: Spey Kung Fu at upstream

Spey Kung Fu at upstream — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:07:54 +0000

[...] Singlebarbed goes to the spey side “Because regular fly fishing just isn’t mysterious enough” Make sure you read Part 2 as well. [...]

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:32:15 +0000

Thanks for the tip Curly, I’m thinking the Windcutter or an Airflo might just be what’s needed. Rajeff (Echo) apparently swears by the Airflo, and the Windcutter is much talked about – appears to be extremely popular.

By: Curly

Curly — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 04:16:20 +0000

Not sure I’m comfortable with the ‘spey’ or ‘switch’ tags. Might be less confusing to do as the Europeans do and just call a two-handed rod a ‘two-handed rod’.

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.

By: Jean-Paul Lipton

Jean-Paul Lipton — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:50:16 +0000

I’ll be working with a Beulah switch 7/8 in 2009. I’ll be posting the progress of how it goes on my blog.

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: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 00:21:46 +0000

Switch rods would work peachy, it’s merely a matter of what kind of budget you’re blessed with … I’ve got multiple seasons; Steelhead, Shad, normal brownwater stuff – figured I’d start with the Shad rod – as they show in May.

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

By: Fat Guy Alex

Fat Guy Alex — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 23:00:25 +0000

“MyDickInTrout”, doesn’t he post over at The Drake?

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?

By: KBarton10

KBarton10 — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:52:31 +0000

That’s exactly my goal, skilled enough to perform a “weak” spey with a traditional 9 foot singlehand rod and a DT or WF.

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.