Novice Spey Caster hits an early season Steelhead

For years I chased these silver slabs with every stick known to man, but I had no idea that the tactic of Spey fishing was going to be so much fun and rekindle my fire for Steelhead. The whole adventure started when the buzz that started over switch rods. I just had to have one! The possibilities of using this rod in salt for surf perch and fresh water for a Steelhead got my juices flowing. After purchasing a this set-up I started thinking about Spey rods, bought Lani Waller’s latest book A Steelheader Way, and found myself fantasizing about hooking Steelhead on the long rod. After reading, researching, and drool frequently I settled on a set-up. A Sage Z-Axis 7136, Bauer Rogue 6, Rio floating running line, Skagit 500 grain head, and Rio 15ft. sink tip in a no. 3, 6, and 8 to cover different depths and flows. Then I had the realization that I had no idea how to use this tool. I purchased RIO’s DVD, Modern Spey Casting. This was the best thing I could do as a novice Spey Caster. This DVD lays out all the casts and allows you to review the casts you will need to get the job done on the river.

What’s next—hit the water. Well, let’s just say that my first day on the water was interesting. I made a few good casts but quickly realized that I was going to need some guidance and a lot of practice. My next practice session I invited a veteran Spey Caster, Matt Siegmund, to come along and provide some guidance—what a help this was! He had me shooting line after a couple fine adjustments. All I can say is get your bottom hand in the game. Casting these rods is not like your single hand rod and your instinct is to use your traditional single hand stroke; the ache in your wrist will quickly let you know that you are doing something wrong. The top hand is the fulcrum and the bottom hand is firmly pulled toward you in the casting stroke to provide the power.

After a few practice sessions I felt like I had my Snap-T down for the river-left bank, so it was on to the Double-Spey for the river-right bank. Now maybe at this point you are thinking this is just too involved to bother with. No way! When you make a good cast you can feel it all the way to your toes. It’s like striking a baseball in the sweet spot and sailing it over the wall. I was able to present the fly fine during the process and had the possibility of hooking a fish at any time during the learning process. That is exactly what happened last night.

At the last minute yesterday we headed up to Dexter to get a little “casting practice” as there are only a thousand summer Steelhead over the falls. After about 10 cast the line came time with a strobing surge. After the second surge my brain kicked in, “hey dummy that’s a fish!” I set the hook and we were off to the races. The long rod is a blast to fight fish on and my Bauer Rogue 6 was so smooooth I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. I could only think to myself, “Why didn’t I start Spey fishing sooner and why isn’t everyone doing this.” I’ve become a Spey-addict…it’s a twelve step program.–Tony Torrence