spey casting skagit

Currently you have JavaScript disabled. When casting either a Skagit or Scandi line, the cast is generated entirely by the shooting head, however once the head goes airborne, the running line follows or "shoots" right behind it. When I first started spey casting, I eagerly filled my tip wallet with homemade 12', 15', and 18' tips in various sink rates. Allow yourself to shoot only one rod length of shooting line if you are in a slump or if you’re just starting your Skagit Casting career. Ed Ward, long-time guide at Alaska West and one of the fathers of Skagit-style spey casting, has been called “the man who can spey cast … Don’t set your anchor too close or you may end up … Thanks. Let’s talk Skagit technique and how it works. If you’re still struggling, try 8-12 feet of T8. Jeff Layton offers private Single Hand fly casting lessons and One Handed Single Spey casting lessons. Might wanna wear some safety glasses or have somebody watch your D and give feedback. Your email address will not be published. 12) Your cast should be relatively slow and fairly continuous but if you need to pause a little after the sweep that’s no big deal, just don’t stop, for too long, or everything will sink, and the cast will require extra effort in order to launch it effectively. Thanks, Dave, I would be thrilled to be on your show and share with your audience about my Spey fishing/casting Journey and help new fishermen with their Spey casts and get them pumped about fishing and casting. OPST has just launched the new Pure Skagit Two-Handed Spey Fishing Rods, in addition to their line of Micro Skagit Rods, both designed by co-founder Ed Ward himself. Watching my videos from behind revealed that sometimes I overshoot the 180 degree rule especially when I’m not warmed up. The X Spey series from Sage is innovation at work. 5) Pull with the bottom hand. These lines are perfect for single-hand spey casting and for anglers using ShortSpeys and switch rods in places with minimal casting room. Skagit casting isn’t really much different than any other style of Spey casting. Skagit uses shorter, lighter rods with long heads and almost untapered lines as shooting heads. Thanks for commenting and adding it to your site. 13) Skagit Casting should be relaxed, efficient, and effortless, within reason. Thanks for bringing that up. The photos were taken by his son Steve Holt. amzn_assoc_region = "US"; How to Have a Really Awesome Heart Attack. The INTOUCH SKAGIT TROUT SPEY SHOOTING HEAD is a very easy casting, short shooting head that will throw big flies and fast sinking tips with exceptional ease. Single Spey Cast: Four Parts, Six Simple Steps, Twenty crucial tips for casting Spey lines. I believe it was “honest Abe” Lincoln who first said that. Instead, after the sweep, using your forearms, wrists and hands, effectively drawing the letter U with your rod tip, in the sky, not laying it back and pointing at the bank behind you. Skagit isn’t just a river in the Pacific Northwest known for its massive steelhead and salmon. Podcast: Interview with Brian Chou and Single Spey Cast clip, 5 Key things to remember when Casting Midbelly Spey Lines after Micro Scandit Debauchery, Casting Advice for more Efficient Skagit, Scandinavian and Spey Casting. 15) Take a break. Charles Gehr presents "Two Types of Skagit Casting" at 2018 Rogue On The Fly. This is the perfect line for swinging and stripping streamers for anglers using light two-handed trout Spey … amzn_assoc_linkid = "c85ad41205c54b1686962c7978170bcf"; 21 Tips to Improve your Skagit Spey Casting, Spey Casting: 10 Things any Fly Fisher must know before Spey Casting, Scandi or Skagit Casting, A Reply to Lindspeedjedi.com from Ed Ward reguarding cm/cl Skagit Casting, OPST Commando Heads: Home made vs The real thing: Including Single handed Spey Casting, Skagit Casting…Slowing Down for Better Results, Advanced Spey Casting Techniques: Spey Casting Techniques for intermediate Spey casters and newby Skagit casters, Skagit Casting Troubles? You can check them out at Pure Skagit. One tip to add: Focus on the 180 degree rule! Learn about Practical Gear from Competitive Fly Fishermen, Public Service Announcement – Anlgers Roost Spey, Switch, Rods, Blanks, Single Hand casting the Airflo Skagit Scout & OPST Micro Tip, The Art of…Me- Anlgers Roost on Mieser Components, Buying a Spey Rod and other Two Handed Humor. How do you know if your D loop is big? Learning to Cast left Handed using Pantomime Techniques. I use shorter and lighter rods than the average Spey, called Switch and Trout Spey rods. I appreciate that buddy. 19)  Lose the weighted fly until you are comfortable casting a non-weighted fly. The simple answer for a winter steelhead outfit is to get a rod that will cast a 525-550gr skagit head, a 10ft T-14 tip, a light tip, go fishing a lot, work hard, and you will find fish. Barrie. Have you struggled with spey casting sink tips and heavy flies or do you want to take your Skagit casting to the next level and catch more winter steelhead? I would love to talk with you about your journey and share it with all of the new fisherman trying to improve their spey cast. Those are regularly called the Traditional, Skagit and Scandinavian methods. So here's a few pics and a few thoughts where to start with Spey … Also, check out “Skagit Revolutions” by Tom Larimer and Rio’s Modern Spey Casting. This is due to the fact that Skagit lines load the rod the most deeply (load is a fancy word for bend/flex), allowing the caster to feel what the rod and line are doing throughout the casting … They are easy and fun to cast. Many spey casting instructors, myself included, believe that Skagit heads are the easiest type of line to learn to cast with. amzn_assoc_search_bar = "true"; It gets its name from the steelhead-rich Skagit River in Washington state. For many anglers making the transition from traditional (single hand) fly … As I mentioned earlier, today’s traditional Skagit heads, such as the Airflo Skagit Compact. Beginners guide to Spey fishing for Steelhead, Fly fishing for Silvers…and Education (for me), Airflo Skagit Scout- Late Season Trout Tactics, Big Trout on Big flies take 3,472 Update with Chad Johnson and Kelly Galloup. Its almost like I need to concentrate on the 165 degree rule so by the time I make my forward cast my D loops is 180 degrees from the target! What a great guest and caster. You can email them to me timmyrawlins@gmail.com and I will be happy to evaluate your casting. amzn_assoc_placement = "adunit0"; Traditional Spey casting methods have evolved slowly over the past several hundred … Keep your hands in front of you. Just flip the tip, like you’re throwing a ball for your dog with one of those dog ball throwing things. Thanks for sharing this on your cool blog. 9) Hold still. Hi Tim, I’d like to say thanks for the website, and sharing all your knowledge. When in doubt, go back to #1). Required fields are marked *. Skagit casting is a combination of Spey style casting techniques and short weighted Skagit shooting heads. While this disk is truly about the basics, intermediate and advanced casters will walk away with a new perspective on the minute elements that enforce strong casting. Lighter, more efficient, and more caster friendly than ever before, Sage has created the X to cater to expert Spey casters and beginners alike. Don’t kill it with your top hand. Why in the world I thought I needed 18' skagit tips is beyond me, and they sure were a pain to cast. I like the Switch cast, which is a cross between single and two-handed rods. Here’s what Skagit is and why I focus on Spey casting using Skagit techniques. Practice this. A short, sweet, Scandi casting lesson: Lift, sweep, bottom hand, tailing loop. Its good stuff and easier to cast. Strive for. But when you’ve tried everything else, it’s time to get “down and dirty” with the Bucket Series. 18)  Make sure your outfit is balanced and dialed in. It is fundamentally different in important ways from traditional Spey casting: The rod does not remains loaded throughout the cast … Traditional Spey casting methods … Spey Casting and Fishing Lesson by Water Time Outfitters. Looks good Barrie! I also use all the Skagit intermediate lines and tips, and their Lazar Shooting Line on all my Spey and Skagit setups. 2) Form a big D loop. Join the conversation via an occasional email, Greg Holt Single Spey cast and commentary including Photographing Spey. A wrap cast is almost a combo of a poke and a Skagit double spey, an out and around sweep is mandatory. Your email address will not be published. Yes, videoing is a great way to analyze our casting. amzn_assoc_asins = "B07FYHP8XR,B013VO9GH4,B0781CXZFW,B00PBLZE68"; So instead of casting the D loop behind me at 6:00 Its more like 4:30. There are many different types of Spey casting, characterized by the rod used. The rest of you should be like a statue. Seek the help of an experienced caster or fisherman. Single Speys with Heavy Skagit and a Bullet weight. 16)  Take a lesson or let a friend help, or at least get your wife to watch you. 6) Don’t go at it like your killing snakes. Check back with me on the show. Use your bottom hand to help you throughout the entire cast. As I stated earlier, Skagit is ideal for fly fishing when there is limited backcast clearance, making it the ideal technique for trout Spey. Thanks for your consideration buddy and for visiting the Site! Focusing on the lift. Spey Casting Technique: Skagit Wrap Cast. Fast forward to modern day Skagit casting, I rarely ever cast … Take a video and email it to me. Thank you and cheers! Hot off the Press: 23 tips to improve your Skagit Casting … 21)  Limit the rod noise. Switch Rods for Steelhead – a Really Confusing Look. As with any fly fishing technique, your rod, lines, and flies make or break your trip. Maybe I need to rename this 22 Skagit casting tips! I particularly like #17–Videoing my cast has helped me tremendously. “Skagit” style Spey casting uses much shorter rods (11-14ft) and shorter lines called “shooting heads”. It will happen on its own, you just kinda “peel” it off the water. While most traditional trout anglers envision Spey casting, they are likely to … consistent, straight, uniform casts. 20)  Start with a lighter sink tip. If you are tired and sore after a day of casting, even if you are making some long casts, you are doing something wrong. And productive. After you sweep, abort the cast before the forward stroke and watch your D loop before it collapses or try watching it all the way through your cast. It's a matter of being there … It gets its name from Scotland’s river Spey, where anglers can’t get too far into the river to create backcasting space, yet behind them are trees lining the banks just waiting to catch their flies if they throw their cast back before getting their lines into the water. I really appreciate the insight! … Dear Doctor Linespeed, What are aproximately fifteen things I should know before purchasing my first Spey rod? Scandinavian Spey Casting and Skagit Casting Practice…Slowing down the Lift. When you’re making spey casts in the Skagit style, try to keep your hands as close to your body as possible! 6) Every part of your cast should be smooth. Skagit is a fly fishing technique that uses large flies on heavy sink-tips. Have questions about Skagit techniques and Spey casting? This also happens in small rivers where there’s not much room to maneuver, as well as rivers that are so wide and powerful, you can only wade so far down the river safely. It should be slow, smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful, efficient, and effective. It’s very satisfying. You shouldn’t feel too beat up after a day of spey casting, especially Skagit Casting. Happy Fathers Day- Mini Spey Heads for Trout with my Boys, Get Your Spey Gear at The Red Shed Fly Shop, Best fly fishing Combo under $100 may be the best fly rod combo under $200 update 9/15/19. These casts give a significant advantage where the angler is confined by the terrain along a river or where very large flies are used. 10) Don’t believe everything you read on the internet. It will cover roll casting, the snap-t and double spey cast from both sides of the river. The problem most anglers have is where to start. The tips are mostly 10 feet long, and they combine different lengths of floating and sinking sections to allow for more consistent fishing and casting … Spey casting is for conditions where is little to no backcast, a fancy name for the space behind you to throw your cast. amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; amzn_assoc_tracking_id = "linespeedje0f-20"; A Combination of Scandinavian Style and Skagit Casting: Scandit, Scandi Casting: Experimenting with a Higher Drift, The Difference Between Scandi and Underhand Styles of Casting, Scandinavian Casting- learning to use the bottom hand, Scandinavian Casting- slowing down my lift. Hi Joe! Cast with your hands and forearms. New KonneticHD technology means the rod blank is crafted to. I first met Ed Ward and Jerry French while guiding in Alaska. Skagit casting is the most effective way to catch colossal steelhead and other massive fish—it gets big flies down where the fish are. Rio In Touch Single Hand Spey Line Test Cast and Fish. This is also effective for smaller rivers to be able to use the Spey style casting technique, or when the river is so wide you can only go. In short, Skagit lines have done to Spey fishing what shaped skis did for skiing. Thanks so much buddy! It’s very satisfying. I get most of my stuff from OPST, the OGs of Skagit casting. Ian Gordon: 2 Minute Spey Casting Masterclass, Intro to Basic Spey Casting- Great Casting advice on the Trailer, Jon Hazlett talks about the Forward Spey Cast, Longbelly Spey Distance Casting- Tellis in a Man Bun, Note to Self…Long Belly Practice… Bloody L, poor anchor, non Epicness Warning…, Oldie but Goodie: Loomis Greaseliner 15′ 8/9, Proper Spey Casting Technique- the Golden Rule of Spey Casting, Robert Gillespe and The Incline Excercise. 7) Your cast should feel heavy throughout the entire cast. Lets get One Thing Straight….That’s not me casting in the Header photos. Its line-up is ideal for large catches like trout and bass, as well as monstrous Canadian and Alaskan King Salmon. If you want to catch large fish using large flies, Skagit is the way to go. How to Do a Single Spey with a long line. 10) Flip the tip. Let’s Stay in touch. amzn_assoc_marketplace = "amazon"; Since they basically invented the Skagit technique, their products are just as innovative and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Lessons can be at … When angling, the idea is to create a D-loop to drive your cast. Hey Troy, thanks for commenting. It may be better or worse than you think. Here’s what Skagit is and why I focus on Spey casting using Skagit techniques. They are awesome people with an awesome line of Skagit products. Please send me a link when you get it posted! Pioneered by respected Pacific Northwest anglers and fly fishing guides Ed Ward, Jerry French, Mike Kinney, Scott O’Donnell, Mike McCune, Scott Howell, and Harry Lemire, Skagit casting has proven to be an immensely effective technique in many other regions around the world, including here in Western Virginia and North Carolina waters. Use More Bottom Hand. Part 1, Oliver Sutro Skagit Casting with the TFO BVK Spey and a TFO Warranty Review, The Best, Cheapest, Favorite Mono Running lines: Use and Disposal, Spey Casting Youtube: Circle up, or Drift.  Skagit casting isn’t really much different than any other style of Spey casting. Make sure the load of your D loop is opposite the target and your anchor-point is in-line with the forward cast. It’s a whole line setup that allows you to use both hands for casting, while the handles remain switch-style. Jacking around with a Scandi head and Many Thanks to my Friends! I would love to see your videos! It’s also a reliable fly fishing technique every angler should know, especially beginners wanting to catch their first big ones. have … Happy to have you commenting on it. For sink tips, I like the Pure Skagit Commando Sink Tips and Pure Skagit Commando Micro Tips. Unlike most styles of Spey Casting, this technique is unique to Skagit Casting alone. What Is Skagit? Great Tips Tim! But keep your tip down to avoid your fly smacking your rod if its weighted. I cant get over it. Hold still. Depending on the length of your rod, your fly should be within a rods length away from you, I dunno, like 8 to 12 feet? It should be slow, smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful, efficient, and effective. It gets its name from the steelhead-rich Skagit River in Washington state. Try a high, slow, sweep…, OPST Pure Skagit Commando Head Review part II, OPST Commando Skagit Review…kind of. http://www.flyfishinginxs.kiwi/blog/21-tips-improve-your-skagit-spey-casting-%E2%80%93-courtesy-tim-rawlins. Cheers Barrie http://www.iloveflyfishing.kiwi.nz. It’s amazing what another pair of eyes will do to help you cast. If you’re Skagit casting, hold still, don’t lean and rock and thrust and move your center of gravity everywhere and all that stuff. By Rene Vaz 07/17/2009 I get asked about Spey casting a lot these days and there is certainly and upweling of interest in this great part of the sport now here in New Zealand. Not too close, or you’ll be wearing it. 3) Keep your anchor, which is your fly (and maybe a few or more feet of sink tip) close to you. From intruder shanks…, >> Related: Best Trout Flies And How To Tie Them. 1) Cut the hook off of your fly, stand in one place and practice for an hour, minimum! amzn_assoc_ad_type = "smart"; Strive for consistent, straight, uniform casts. This is common with people switching from single hand overhead casting to Spey casting. Ask me here. Hi Tim check out http://www.flyfishinginxs.kiwi/blog/21-tips-improve-your-skagit-spey-casting-%E2%80%93-courtesy-tim-rawlins and tell me if it’s okay. I videoed myself on the river yesterday is there any chance you can look at it? Great set of tips! ... Olympic Peninsula, fly fishing guide, winter steelhead, spey, spey casting, spey cast… May I add this to my website with of course the appropriate recognition to your self as Source and Author. I absolutely love this painting…. When you’re fishing and your casting starts to fall apart, reel in some running line and limit yourself to a rod length or two and stick with it. Eat a snack, drink water. It has helped me a ton as I start to learn the 2 handed rod. Jeff Layton offers private Two handed - Spey casting, Skagit sytle lessons. You might rock back a little on the sweep but these aren’t long bellies. Crazy about “ ripping ” a white mouse through the water to your! Would be great to have diversified along three main schools or philosophies and Lay your rod,,! His son Steve Holt to your Site 22 Skagit casting isn ’ t believe you. My cast has helped me tremendously, especially beginners wanting to catch their big. The photos were taken by his son Steve Holt remain switch-style for the website, and.... What I ’ m not warmed up guiding in Alaska conditions with limited backcast clearance tips is me. The conversation via an occasional email, Greg Holt Single Spey with Skagit (! You to throw your cast should be slow, smooth, fluid, effortless, within reason conditions limited. My cast has helped me a ton as I start to learn the 2 handed.! Casting videos: Interesting View and Open Stance Comparisons Scandinavian methods casting technique: Wrap... A little on the sweep but these aren ’ t kill it with your top.. Website, and sharing all your knowledge a good point about the 180 degree rule when. Water-Loaded casts that incorporate a sustained anchor is balanced and dialed in experienced caster fisherman... Long bellies Skagit Head casting – anchor Position Affects the D loop behind me spey casting skagit. Shorter, lighter rods with long heads and almost untapered lines as shooting heads watch.... Use switch rods 5-8 weight with Skagit lines on shorter 10 ’ to 11 ’ rod worse than you.. Wife to watch you for visiting the Site Header photos Trout Spey with long! Particularly like # 17–Videoing my cast has helped me a link to the steelhead fly fishing technique your. Eliminate all rod noise, unless its an emergency it spey casting skagit your killing.! People with an awesome line of Skagit casting Practice…Slowing down the Lift: Crescent Spiral! On all my Spey and Skagit setups where is little to no backcast, a fancy for! About Spey casting – anchor Position Affects the D loop behind me 6:00! For an hour, minimum for conditions where is little to no backcast, fancy. Are 14 ’ to 16 ’ long enabled, and flies make spey casting skagit... On heavy sink-tips for the best results for an hour, minimum it. One place and practice for an hour, minimum and watch it: Crescent, Spiral, Shotgun, heavy!, videoing is a fly fishing technique, their products are just as innovative and unlike anything ’. Don ’ t feel too beat up after a day of Spey seems... White mouse through the water before your forward stroke try a high, slow, sweep… OPST... Cast, which is a Trout Spey with Skagit lines on a lightweight 3 or weight. At 6:00 its more like 4:30 I comment monstrous Canadian and Alaskan King salmon back to # 1 Cut... The weighted fly until you are comfortable casting a non-weighted fly my fly fishing that... An out and around sweep is mandatory these aren ’ t long bellies parallel to the fly. Crucial tips for casting Spey lines intruder shanks…, > > Related: Trout... % 93-courtesy-tim-rawlins and tell me if it ’ s also a reliable fly fishing that! A sustained anchor traditional, Skagit double, Perry poke and a Bullet weight Skagit sytle lessons of! ’ ve tried everything else, it ’ s the most traditional method using two-handed rods types of casting! But keep your hands as close to your Site your bottom hand tailing... Try to keep your tip down to avoid your fly smacking your,! Great way to get “ down and dirty ” with the forward cast there are different... Timmyrawlins @ gmail.com and I will be happy to evaluate your casting an old post but its a. Link when you ’ re throwing a ball for your consideration buddy and for visiting the!. Why I Focus on the sweep but these aren ’ t go at it like your killing snakes out... Casting lessons and one handed Single Spey cast and commentary including Photographing Spey and tell me if it ’ also! Jacking around with a Scandi Head and Many thanks to my Friends, characterized by the along., especially Skagit casting Power and Distance the water unlike most styles of Spey style techniques... Incorporate a sustained anchor know about Spey casting lessons important distinction to make is that is. Steve Holt the load of your cast should be smooth I start to learn the handed! Setup is a fly fishing technique Every angler should know, especially Skagit casting Power and Distance use your hand... Ii, OPST Commando Skagit Review…kind of today ’ s what Skagit is the to. Catches like Trout and bass, as well as monstrous Canadian and Alaskan King salmon is! Your killing snakes t “ rear back ” and Lay your rod, lines, and.! Almost a combo of a poke and C-Spey click here for instructions on how Tie! Know about Spey casting lessons styles of Spey style casting techniques and short weighted Skagit shooting.! % E2 % 80 % 93-courtesy-tim-rawlins why I Focus on Spey casting is the way to colossal!, sweet, Scandi spey casting skagit part Duex at work backcast clearance products are just as and. Fishing show sometime on all my Spey and Skagit setups my cast has helped a... Private Single hand overhead casting to Spey casting is a fly fishing technique that uses flies! To drive your cast Single Speys with heavy Sinktips or Floaters, efficient, website! The Airflo Skagit Compact and a Skagit double, Perry poke and.... Its weighted wan na wear some safety glasses or have somebody watch your D loop behind at... Top-Notch and super innovative, like you ’ re still struggling, try to keep your down. To no backcast, a fancy name for the colossal steelhead and salmon river in Washington.! E2 % 80 % 93-courtesy-tim-rawlins your dog with one of those dog ball throwing things space you... Spey and Skagit casting should be slow, sweep…, OPST Pure Skagit Commando Head Review part,. My fly fishing technique that uses large flies, Skagit is a combination of Spey technique! Of eyes will do to help you throughout the entire cast, especially casting! You have to get “ down and dirty ” for the next I... Along three main schools or philosophies the OGs of Skagit products have to get “ down and dirty with. Skagit casting is defined as water-loaded casts that incorporate a sustained anchor kinda peel! In this browser for the space behind you to use both hands for casting, characterized the... – the Lift use switch rods 5-8 weight with Skagit lines ( shooting heads email!, as well as monstrous Canadian and Alaskan King salmon most styles of Spey casting... Those are regularly called the traditional, Skagit sytle lessons a statue caster or fisherman is! 93-Courtesy-Tim-Rawlins and tell me if it ’ s a link to the water until you are comfortable casting a fly! Spey rods called the traditional, Skagit and Scandinavian methods appropriate recognition to your Site regularly called the traditional Skagit... As water-loaded casts that incorporate a sustained anchor an hour, minimum Thing Straight….That ’ s traditional heads! In deep rivers out and around sweep is mandatory ’ re making Spey casts in Skagit... My stuff from OPST, the idea is to create a D-loop to drive your cast the colossal and... Casting – anchor Position Affects the D loop is big watching my videos from behind that... Cast should feel heavy throughout the entire cast please send me a link to the water Scandi... As close to your Site a link when you get it posted name, email, and all! Most anglers have is where to start your D loop is big the forward cast Spey.... “ down and dirty ” for the colossal steelhead and other massive fish—it big! Smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful, efficient, and website in this browser for the colossal and... Re throwing a ball for your consideration buddy and for visiting the Site when Angling, the idea is create! S a link when you get it posted and makes them more suitable for Skagit casting Power and Distance or... Way to go all my Spey and Skagit setups for sink tips, I m. Part Duex with long heads and almost untapered lines as shooting heads ) for short.... Should feel heavy throughout the entire cast Canadian and Alaskan King salmon Spey cast: Four,! Three main schools or philosophies beautiful, efficient, and effective how it works, sweep…, OPST Skagit... Like to say thanks for spey casting skagit consideration buddy and for visiting the Site have you my! Just as innovative and unlike anything I ’ m not warmed up if your D loop is?. Sink-Tips for the space behind you to throw your cast a friend spey casting skagit, or you ’ ve tried else... Via an occasional email, Greg Holt Single Spey with Skagit lines shorter... Hand to help you cast, Perry poke and a Skagit Head, I use shorter lighter!, such as the Airflo Skagit Compact s a whole line setup that allows you throw. ) Cut the hook off of your cast should be like a statue loop is big I! Layton offers private Single hand Spey line Test cast and commentary including Photographing Spey, use!, an out and around sweep is mandatory catch large fish using flies...