New to spey - basic cast recommendations?

[sidewinder]

Guys, I recently got my first spey rod, an 11’7” 6/7 capable of handling 400-600 grains paired with a “Scandit” shooting head system similar to Airflo’s tactical steelhead line.

I plan to practice for an hour or so several times a week on a local stream using a floating Scandi tip attached to a lighter Skagit head and l0’ Rio Versileaders.

Keeping things simple is critical for me as details quickly become overwhelming.

Can you recommend a few basic, easy-to-learn casts for a beginner to practice in preparation for next fall’s steelhead run?

Thanks for your help.

[Frank Swarner]

A double spey off both shoulders is always useful. Some of the other members have more experience with these lines than I. They should chime in soon.

Frank

[davedobrzynski]

I started this past spring and quickly learned the double spey and snap T. They let me fish most situations. They are water-born anchor casts so timing is easy( easier!!). Also they are useful when fishing a sinle handed rod in some situations--also great practice. Next up for me at least are the single spey and snake roll.

[sidewinder]

Thanks, guys. I am going to work on the double spey and snap-t for now. The efficiency of the switch cast or single spey is appealing to me, but first things first.

[Frank Swarner]

Once you learn the single spey the other casts seem to fall in place. It's not the easiest to learn but more than worth it in the long run.

I'm not sure how well airborne anchor casts work with the skagit or scandi systems. I tried at speynation, but didn't do to well. Then again I'm used to using mid bellies with polyleaders in the 50-65 ft range.

Practice makes perfect......you'll be ahead of the game when "the season" rolls around.

Frank

[doublenickel]

Sidewider,

Is your 11'7" by any chance a xxxxxx?

[sidewinder]

Yes, that's the one. It's my first double-handed rod. Are you familiar with it?

[doublenickel]

I love the 11'7"! Nick paired it up with a Nautilus NV for me and it is perfectly balanced. I would recommend the following (Assuming you're going the Skagit route):

Line: Airflo 450 grain Compact Skagit head. (As you get better, you may prefer the 420 Compact Skagit ).

Tips: Rio's 15' Intermediate, type 3, 6 & 8 tips cut back to 10'.

AND/OR

Rio MOW Tips in T11 or T8 (T8 is not available yet so I constructed my own). These tips are also 10' long (With the exception of the full sinking tip which is 12').

Attached to the tip you can use between 4' - 6' of level tippet or even a tapered leader/tippet. I use clear Maxima.

Start out with the Circle Spey (off both shoulders) and the Double Spey (both shoulders) and you are ready to fish most situations.

Hope this helps. The 11'7" is a killer rod for this area.

[JoeSperanza]

I second the double off both shoulders, a good book to pick up is Simon Gawesworth's "Spey Casting" it has helped me a lot, I read the book after I get home from casting and re-read the cast I was practicing and it helps, kinda like reflecting what I did right AND what I did wrong and now when I go casting I can tell exactly what I did wrong when I have a bad cast. Remember to watch you're line cause I've blown many an anchor with the scandi cause I was using a 5 or 8 ft sink tip and forgot it was so short. A Single or Switch cast wouldn't be too hard to do with a scandi cause the head is short and once you get the timing down, you can move to a mid or full if you choose. Start with the hook cut off, cause it's very dangerous to blow an air born cast, actually any cast. One helpful tip I've learned is to keep the rod traveling parallel which loads the rod in the middle. Good luck, have fun and practice, practice, practice