Years ago, tried to learn on my own from TH-cam. Hot mess for a year. Finally hired a guide and asked him to fish with me - and below me (so I could see his cast). Gave him first swing on every run. Confused, he asked me why . . . explained because I only learn from others in real time. Within an hour, had all the casts down pat . . . and we both got into some great fish. Today, I'm casting long bellies with 14 and 16 foot rods. The key to learning how to Spey - from skagit to scandi to long belly - is knowing how you learn. I need the cast modelled below me where I can see the movements, then attempt to replicate what I just saw with the immediate feedback of mistakes and successes. That said, this was a great trout skagit spey video! As good a teaching video as there is for learning skagit. Totally get it, but couldn't learn it from video alone.
Outstanding video breaking down the components of the spey cast. Really appreciate Joe and Red's investing the time to put together these informative training tools!
Bought a trout Spey two years ago, very frustrated trying to get the techniques down. Love your teaching style with simplicity and repeating. Thanks so much for the video. You have motivated me to give it another try!
There are no complicated thing in speycasting,the lower hand does the work and if you stop the rod fairly high and make sure the stop is instant you are basicly good. Then you do the same from the other side and you are good anywhere. You dont need 13 different casts if you can cast from both sides. This is basic and simple and it CAN be done in complicated ways but i dont see any reason to do that.Dont need a double spey and dont need a skagitcast. Learn to cast from both sides. It will make your life a LOT easier.
Absolutely, you can single hand spey cast just fine. The line we prefer for that is the OPST Commando system and a 10' 5 weight would typically work well with a 225 grain head and 96 grain OPST tips (Riffle, Run, Bucket) sink rates. If you give us a call we can put together this order for you.
Oh you bet, that would be great. We don't seem to do as well for our fish here with smaller flies but that is likely a "me" issue and I need to get better at this.
That's a good suggestion, I just got back from a steelhead trip and it was 90% Scandi. Good for smaller flies, but very useful skills to learn as many of them can be applied to your Skagit rigs too.
Nice presentation, Joe! Very well dissected and presented. I fish smaller rivers than you enjoy which also have willow and alder brush over hanging the banks. What would you recommend on the cast setup for situations where you cannot form the D loop behind you? Thanks!
Well, I think you are referring to how much line outside the rod tip if I understand correctly. You'll want just about 6" of the thin running line for a "baseline" then as you get dialed into a certain rig, fly, or depth of water you can adjust. If you are wading deep you'll often want the back of the shooting right at the rod tip. If you are ankle deep then you might want up to 2' of the skinny running line hanging out. Play around with it, but start with a consistent overhang.
Hey Reds. That was a lot of really good 2 handed information packed in there and none of which I’ve ever tried. Many years now with the 1 hand stuff for me. Looks pretty cool though and interesting to learn. Thanks for the deep dive.
You're not kidding about getting it down in your head...on the river it becomes a big NOW WHAT situation and you really need to be able to settle down and go through the step.
Ha yes! Love this comment. The "now what"? is exactly right. I see this a lot even when I just finished teaching the casts in person. Having a plan and full understanding is key.
Great video. Been fishing r handed for many years and am picking up two-handed hoping for less stress on my wrist and shoulder, so far so good. I find that when i get a couple of crappy casts, it helps me to think about how this is different than one handed casting. That usually straightens things out.
I am thinking of trying out a Spey rod but for smallmouth bass. The big water near me is more smallmouth territory vs. trout. Much of it is challenging to wade fish because of its size an depth and I think the Spey cast could be a game changer. What wt rod would you recommend for smallies that could be over 20’?
I would get a 5-weight switch rod, max of 11' as a stout rod will allow you to twitch and pop flies and makes casting heavier flies easier. There are lots of options, so it can be very brand dependent based on your loyalty to certain companies. Shooting from the hip, the Beulah G2 in the 5/6 would be my choice. Pair that up with a RIO Mini Max 325 Integrated line.... wooohee... Add some Light MOW tips and you'll really have a hot setup there. redsflyfishing.com/products/beulah-platinum-g2-switch-rods
I have. I did that for summer steelhead enough times to learn that "yes" you can cover a crap ton of water but it's messy, hard to mend, the heads are super think and you get more drag than with a standard setup. Hook sets are like car wreck. Pretty messy. In a pinch (like if you put on a RIO Switch Indicator Line), you can certainly do it if you packed one rod for the day but it wouldn't be my first choice. redsflyfishing.com/products/rio-elite-switch-indicator
I'm just curious as to whether I can use these casts you've demonstrated with my Mystic 11'3" 8wt switch rod ? I currently have a thicker portion shooting head (?) fly line on the front end, about 20'+ long, then the thinner fly line & unfortunately I don't have the box for that shooting head line any longer & don't remember the weight, etc. ( recommended by a local shop for Salmon & Steelhead here in Michigan, but that shops not in business an longer ) For sometime I actually use a cast I found on your TH-cam channel, that you taught I believe, that does a single overhead cast. That overhead cast works fine ( so far ) on the rivers in MI from my Hyde because there's no shoreline, or trees nearby as the river is pretty wide, but I'd like to know if these casts would work better & make my casting easier. I'd like to hear your thoughts & recommendations Thank you, David Fisher-of-Men Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Instruction Ada, MI
Thanks for answering my rather long question !! Once it warms up a bit here & the water levels come down I'd like to go to local spot & give the casts a try. Thanks again !! David Fisher-of-Men Ada, MI
Oh man. This couldn't have been better timed. After an introductory lesson and a trip on the lower Sacramento River, I have decided to go all in on trout spey. Buying a set up at my local fly shop tomorrow. You are such an excellent teacher. I love your videos. Gonna watch this one with my rod butt section in my hands until I have every word and move memorized. I have already caught fish with limited skills. Can't wait to improve upon them. Thank you so much!❤
Hey Joe-- great video. Right up my alley, beginner all the way. I have a nice NOS Redington Hydrogen Trout Spey rod gonna give a go. It's the 11'6 4 wt. The OPST Commando head-- 250 or 275 grain? Thanks.
New to spey, go 275 on that rig. It will force you to go slow and let the flex of that rod send the line. 96 Grain OPST tips will be excellent on that rig. At 11'6" you'll really need to go SLOW and not "blow your anchor". Keep that fly stuck to the water... then send it!
Oh awesome, nice rod. For those reading, this very rod is 33% off at Red's right now! Shop while supplies last. redsflyfishing.com/products/rl-winston-boron-iii-th-micro-spey-trout-rods
Great video. I had a question on what knot you used when connecting your running line to the shooting head? Loop to loop but what was tied at the end of the running line?
Years ago, tried to learn on my own from TH-cam. Hot mess for a year. Finally hired a guide and asked him to fish with me - and below me (so I could see his cast). Gave him first swing on every run. Confused, he asked me why . . . explained because I only learn from others in real time. Within an hour, had all the casts down pat . . . and we both got into some great fish. Today, I'm casting long bellies with 14 and 16 foot rods. The key to learning how to Spey - from skagit to scandi to long belly - is knowing how you learn. I need the cast modelled below me where I can see the movements, then attempt to replicate what I just saw with the immediate feedback of mistakes and successes. That said, this was a great trout skagit spey video! As good a teaching video as there is for learning skagit. Totally get it, but couldn't learn it from video alone.
GREAT testimonial. I do this with clients that trust that my interest is solely in helping them.
Operative word there is trust
Outstanding video breaking down the components of the spey cast. Really appreciate Joe and Red's investing the time to put together these informative training tools!
Our pleasure!
Bought a trout Spey two years ago, very frustrated trying to get the techniques down. Love your teaching style with simplicity and repeating. Thanks so much for the video. You have motivated me to give it another try!
Excellent! This is exactly what motivates me is we all approach a technique with a picture in mind, and so often it eludes us. Keep at it!
There are no complicated thing in speycasting,the lower hand does the work and if you stop the rod fairly high and make sure the stop is instant you are basicly good. Then you do the same from the other side and you are good anywhere. You dont need 13 different casts if you can cast from both sides. This is basic and simple and it CAN be done in complicated ways but i dont see any reason to do that.Dont need a double spey and dont need a skagitcast. Learn to cast from both sides. It will make your life a LOT easier.
Would a 10 ft 5 wt rod be appropriate for this style casting? I am actually in TX and normally bank fish ponds for LMB.
Absolutely, you can single hand spey cast just fine. The line we prefer for that is the OPST Commando system and a 10' 5 weight would typically work well with a 225 grain head and 96 grain OPST tips (Riffle, Run, Bucket) sink rates. If you give us a call we can put together this order for you.
Would love a video on 1 and 2wt trout speys, scandi lines, and swinging wet flies in the summer.
Oh you bet, that would be great. We don't seem to do as well for our fish here with smaller flies but that is likely a "me" issue and I need to get better at this.
Could you do a video on scandi heads and casting?
That's a good suggestion, I just got back from a steelhead trip and it was 90% Scandi. Good for smaller flies, but very useful skills to learn as many of them can be applied to your Skagit rigs too.
good stuff!
Nice presentation, Joe! Very well dissected and presented. I fish smaller rivers than you enjoy which also have willow and alder brush over hanging the banks. What would you recommend on the cast setup for situations where you cannot form the D loop behind you? Thanks!
How much line should I let outside of the tip ring?
Well, I think you are referring to how much line outside the rod tip if I understand correctly. You'll want just about 6" of the thin running line for a "baseline" then as you get dialed into a certain rig, fly, or depth of water you can adjust. If you are wading deep you'll often want the back of the shooting right at the rod tip. If you are ankle deep then you might want up to 2' of the skinny running line hanging out. Play around with it, but start with a consistent overhang.
@@redsflyshop THX!
Hey Reds. That was a lot of really good 2 handed information packed in there and none of which I’ve ever tried. Many years now with the 1 hand stuff for me. Looks pretty cool though and interesting to learn. Thanks for the deep dive.
What size # reel do you have on that rig?
7+
You're not kidding about getting it down in your head...on the river it becomes a big NOW WHAT situation and you really need to be able to settle down and go through the step.
Ha yes! Love this comment. The "now what"? is exactly right. I see this a lot even when I just finished teaching the casts in person. Having a plan and full understanding is key.
As always, an impressive amount of knowledge demonstrated. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching.
Great video. Been fishing r handed for many years and am picking up two-handed hoping for less stress on my wrist and shoulder, so far so good.
I find that when i get a couple of crappy casts, it helps me to think about how this is different than one handed casting. That usually straightens things out.
You can do it! Thanks for the kind feedback.
Thank you for taking the time to produce this.
I am thinking of trying out a Spey rod but for smallmouth bass. The big water near me is more smallmouth territory vs. trout. Much of it is challenging to wade fish because of its size an depth and I think the Spey cast could be a game changer. What wt rod would you recommend for smallies that could be over 20’?
I would get a 5-weight switch rod, max of 11' as a stout rod will allow you to twitch and pop flies and makes casting heavier flies easier. There are lots of options, so it can be very brand dependent based on your loyalty to certain companies. Shooting from the hip, the Beulah G2 in the 5/6 would be my choice. Pair that up with a RIO Mini Max 325 Integrated line.... wooohee... Add some Light MOW tips and you'll really have a hot setup there. redsflyfishing.com/products/beulah-platinum-g2-switch-rods
Second time watching. It reinforced everything that Joe discussed. Anchor, D Loop, Cast. Write it down on the visor of your hat.
I love that, "write it on the bill of your hat" hahah. Thanks for the props Chris. Appreciate it.
Hey Joe, great Spey tutoring! Have you ever used an indicator and nymphs with this Spey rod? Or only single streamers?
I have. I did that for summer steelhead enough times to learn that "yes" you can cover a crap ton of water but it's messy, hard to mend, the heads are super think and you get more drag than with a standard setup. Hook sets are like car wreck. Pretty messy. In a pinch (like if you put on a RIO Switch Indicator Line), you can certainly do it if you packed one rod for the day but it wouldn't be my first choice. redsflyfishing.com/products/rio-elite-switch-indicator
I'm just curious as to whether I can use these casts you've demonstrated with my Mystic 11'3" 8wt switch rod ? I currently have a thicker portion shooting head (?) fly line on the front end, about 20'+ long, then the thinner fly line & unfortunately I don't have the box for that shooting head line any longer & don't remember the weight, etc. ( recommended by a local shop for Salmon & Steelhead here in Michigan, but that shops not in business an longer ) For sometime I actually use a cast I found on your TH-cam channel, that you taught I believe, that does a single overhead cast. That overhead cast works fine ( so far ) on the rivers in MI from my Hyde because there's no shoreline, or trees nearby as the river is pretty wide, but I'd like to know if these casts would work better & make my casting easier. I'd like to hear your thoughts & recommendations
Thank you, David
Fisher-of-Men Fly Tying & Fly Fishing Instruction
Ada, MI
Absolutely.
Thanks for answering my rather long question !! Once it warms up a bit here & the water levels come down I'd like to go to local spot & give the casts a try. Thanks again !!
David
Fisher-of-Men
Ada, MI
Oh man. This couldn't have been better timed. After an introductory lesson and a trip on the lower Sacramento River, I have decided to go all in on trout spey. Buying a set up at my local fly shop tomorrow. You are such an excellent teacher. I love your videos. Gonna watch this one with my rod butt section in my hands until I have every word and move memorized. I have already caught fish with limited skills. Can't wait to improve upon them. Thank you so much!❤
Thanks very much, if you have any trouble locating what you need at the local shop please reach out. We have a huge inventory and ship SAME DAY. 😀
outstanding sir !! and I love your shop when I'm in town.....
Thank you, see ya then!
"in the comfort of your own living room"... come on... we're all in our offices.
hahahah. #truth Good reminder that being employed is a pre-req to buying fishing gear. 😁
Hey Joe-- great video. Right up my alley, beginner all the way. I have a nice NOS Redington Hydrogen Trout Spey rod gonna give a go. It's the 11'6 4 wt. The OPST Commando head-- 250 or 275 grain? Thanks.
New to spey, go 275 on that rig. It will force you to go slow and let the flex of that rod send the line. 96 Grain OPST tips will be excellent on that rig. At 11'6" you'll really need to go SLOW and not "blow your anchor". Keep that fly stuck to the water... then send it!
Great thanks Joe!@@redsflyshop
i have this same rod and really love it.. more smaller spey rods need to be sub 11 feet
Oh awesome, nice rod. For those reading, this very rod is 33% off at Red's right now! Shop while supplies last. redsflyfishing.com/products/rl-winston-boron-iii-th-micro-spey-trout-rods
Great video. I had a question on what knot you used when connecting your running line to the shooting head? Loop to loop but what was tied at the end of the running line?
I use a "Double Surgeon's Loop" from my running line to the shooting head for the loop-to-loop connection. Does this answer your question?
Yes, yes it does. Thank you very much.@@redsflyshop
Great video! Thanks for all the info!
Glad it was helpful!
Wow Best Presentation I have ever seen
Thank you so much, super appreciate that!
U are a master teacher Joe…. Thanks!
Thank you! Really appreciate that. Thanks for watching and I hope some of this material is resonating with you.
Outstanding. Giving Simon a run for his money.
Ha not quite, but thank you. Very kind. I took some lessons from Simon. Really an amazing guy and instructor.
No shit....
Like really it’s roll casting