Spey / Quiz answers / Netting

Jerry makes the comment that there is no separation between Spey casting and other casts and of course casting is casting and the names are somewhat irrelevant, there is no difference. When I was young we would cast with our greenheart rods in any way that worked to get the fly where we wanted it. One day I was complemented on my Spey casting and in some puzzlement I asked what the guy meant, then he explained that I was Spey casting.

To my contemporaries casting was just casting and it was not until some instructors of the time (1960’s) started preaching about Spey casting that I became more aware of the differences, the casts themselves were commonplace on many rivers. There are only two Spey casts, the Single and Double and as I’ve pointed out previously all similar casts are just variations of roll casts and they can be made with any type of rod. Here in Scotland a Roll cast would seldom be done in a practical situation with a stationary line and the theoretical line between a Roll and what is now called a Switch cast is grey.

The traditional Switch cast was often done without an effective anchor and you would have called it an elliptical cast that sometimes displayed some water contact. The terms “Spey Rod”, “traditional action” and European action” originate from the USA I believe, they certainly did not come from Scotland or Europe. Rods have always been developed to achieve the best possible performance from the materials available, greenheart (especially) and cane rods are softer than glass or carbon rods but that is simply a consequence of the material and not because we wanted them to be soft. To make a carbon rod soft “traditional” (as understand the USA definition) is madness. Here a double handed rod was traditionally called a salmon rod and a single handed rod, a trout rod.

Two handed is a much better description than “Spey” rod and Al Bhur was very wise to name our test as THCI rather than Spey “something”.

The nice thing about the evolution of the roll cast is that it produces a fantastic array of versatile casts and presentations, most of the curves, wiggles etc that we can do with a straight line cast can also be achieved with a roll cast with less effort. Perhaps the most surprising thing is that it has taken lots of fishers a long time to “discover” what others have been doing for ages. Little of what we do is new but progress with better lines and rods makes much of what we do much easier.

Best wishes,

Ally Gowans

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QUIZ ANSWERS

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From Tony Loader. My comments in his text in bold red italics. G.

Hi Gordy

A quiz on two hand casting instruction. Those preparing for the Master's exam should be able to answer these questions.

Kirk

1. What is an ideal location for a two hour beginning two hand casting class with four students? Why?

A. Running water

B. A pond

C. Large grass area

B. Students can practice casts off either shoulder with equal facility and real "line stick".

Tony.... I'd have answered "A" ........ however you read the question better than I did. I guess the key word here is "beginning". With new casters, in the first two hours one might not complicate things by adding running water. Once the basic moves have been learned, however, then I think running water is a must for best results. G.

2. What do you tell students about grip?

Grip the rod lightly until the squeeze at the forward cast stop. For two handed rods, place the top hand near the longitudinal balance point for easiest fulcrum effect. Bottom hand at the end of the butt. Hands wider apart for long bellied lines, closer together for shorter bellied lines.

Yes. Not being a "dyed in the wool" Spey caster, I find myself sometimes haveing to be corrected as I get my hands too close together ! G.

3. What do you tell students about stance?

Optional, but an open stance facilitates body turn and incorporation of larger trunk muscles thus can be less fatiguing.

Sometimes stance is "style". Sometimes it's survival. I'll insert Rick Whorwood's statement on stance G.:

Hi Gordy

Stance is an interesting topic (#3) I teach an open stance so my students can see their D-Loop, anchor land, which helps with timing (less likely to rotate the shoulders etc). When I went to Spey-o-rama a number of years ago, the casters from Scotland (Ian Gordon, Bill Durry) used a closed stance, They won the comp. It might be interesting to here the pro's and con's on the different stances, and why we would teach them.

Rick

4. What is your definition of a spey cast?

A fly delivery method incorporating a back cast made under the rod tip, a water anchor and a change of direction.

OK. Might even consider: A member of the family of roll casts with change of direction .... or

A live line aereolized change of direction roll type cast.

Several ways of defining............................... G.

5. Define "river right".

The side of the river on the right of a person facing downstream. Also "Right Bank"

Yes

6. Define "river left".

The side of the river on the left of a person facing downstream. Also "Left Bank"

Yes

7. Define "Left bank".

The bank of the river on the left of a person facing downstream. Also "River Left"

Yes

8. Define "Right bank".

The bank of the river on the left of a person facing downstream. Also "River Right"

Yes

9.. Define "upstream wind" What casts would you teach ?

Wind blowing against the direction of the flowing water. Single Spey. Snap T.

Agree

10. Define "downstream wind" What casts would you teach ?

Wind blowing in the same direction as the flowing water. Double Spey. Snake Roll.

Agree

11,. A body building, testosterone poisoned fellow insists on applying excess power and speed to the cast. Any suggestions on how to slow him down?

Give him a limber rod fitted with a heavy line and tell him that each tailing loop will cost him a dollar.

Raise the ante to $5.00 ! Many other ways of doing this. We'll see what others have to say. G.

12. What is "spey waltz" timing ?

Single Spey - "Lift 2 3, Loop 2 3, Cast 2 3, Drop."

Double Spey - "Lift 2 3, Sweep 2 3, Loop 2 3, Cast 2 3, Drop."

That'll work. G.

13. What is the difference between a SINGLE SPEY CAST and a SWITCH CAST ?

The Single Spey incorporates a change of direction.

Yes.

14. In as few words as possible, describe the main differences between a Spey cast and a "Straight line overhead cast" using a two handed rod.

The Spey Cast incorporates a back cast made under the rod tip, a water anchor and a change of direction.

Yes.

15. We hear the term BALANCED TACKLE . What is usually meant by this :

a. When talking about single handed straight line casting tackle?

A line of the rod manufacturer's suggested weight, on the lightest reel practicable.

Yes. Another way to put it: Proper match between line and rod. G.

b. When discussing two handed Spey tackle ?

A line of the rod manufacturer's suggested weight and a reel of such weight as will balance the rod longitudinally at about the preferred top hand position.

Yes.

16. What is a "white mouse" ?

The characteristic spray from the line as it tears off the water surface during the "sweep" of a cast having a waterborne anchor.

Yes ..... especially on the double spey. G.

17. What is meant by the term, "anchor" ?

The friction provided by the leader and any of the flyline in contact with the water surface immediately prior to the forward stroke of any Spey Cast.

Yes. Some use the terms, "splashdown" and some say "line stick". G.

18. What is a "D-loop" ?

That portion of the line bellying behind the rod immediately prior to the forward stroke of any Spey Cast.

Yes.

19. Tell us one advantage of using the Spey casts to fish a river ?

Less unobstructed space required behind the caster.

Yes.

20. Which is the best angle of alignment between the target and the D-loop when making a single Spey cast ?

a. 90 degrees.

b. 45 degrees.

c. 180 degrees.

d. No particular angle of alignment.

c. 180 degrees.

Agree.

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NETTING

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