HomeSpey Casting Instruction

Spey Casting Instruction

Spey, or two-handed casting is a great method for swinging flies for steelhead, salmon, shad and even trout. This technique, which dates back to the mid 1800s when Scottish fishermen fished for huge Atlantic salmon returning to the River Spey to spawn. It has become extremely popular now globally because modern technologies have advanced what used to be 18 to 20 heavy, wooden spey rods to today’s lightweight, 11 to 14 foot switch and spey rods.

It is extremely useful in situations with limited backcast options, and spey casters of all ages can throw long casts with minimal effort. Many older casters appreciate that it is much easier on the shoulders, elbows and wrists than trying to make long, repeated casts with heavy shooting head lines on single-handed rods.

PFF’s spey casting instruction is comprised of two levels of skills, with the first level a prerequisite for the second. Classes will be taught at the casting ponds on Sundays for two hours at the Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club in Golden Gate Park.

BEGINNER LEVEL (4 separate, 2-hour sessions)

Skill set 1:

Basic casting stroke using Scandi lines
Understanding difference between Skagit and Scandi lines
Proper rigging of Skagit and Scandi spey lines, leaders and flies
The Switch cast

Skill set 2 — “Water anchor” casts

Double Spey cast
Snap-T cast

INTERMEDIATE/ADVANCED LEVEL

This class will review the above and then learn the following casts:

“Splash and Go” casts

Snake Roll
Single Spey

If you are interested in taking either of these classes please contact Allen Cary, PFF Past President (login to display Allen’s profile) and email him the following information:

Do you have any experience with Spey casting?
Do you have your own Spey rod? What type?
Is there a specific cast you want to work on?

For PFF members who do not own their own spey casting gear, PFF has fully-rigged spey rods that students can use during the above classes.