The Figure 8 Cast

"Opus"
Presently, I can't even grip a rod, or a pen for that matter. Tomorrow
will change that, I hope!

Op


good luck, best wishes...

john

Tom Nakashima wrote:
On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:40:18 GMT, rw
wrote:


Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone
would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.

You can do all of the spey casts with a single-handed rod. It's like
roll casting on steroids. I recommend Simon Gawesworth's video.


I'm not sure you can do "all" the spey cast with a single handed rod, but
you can do the majority of them.
Yes, I've met Gawesworth at the Golden Gate Casting Club, and seen his spey
videos, he is indeed outstanding.
The guy who was also fantastic was Hiro Tanaka from Japan who uses a shorter
spey rod. It's actually a 10' lightweight two handed rod. He was very
impressive with a quicker shorter rod.

I have no intentions of ever purchasing a two-handed fly rod, but I do enjoy
employing some of the useful spey techniques to the single handed rod, and
testing them on the river in a real fishing application.
fwiw,
-tom


Tom,

It's obvious you're interested in fly casting techniques and improving
your skills. Just curious as to why you don't think you'll ever buy a
spey rod. FWIW, I doubted i'd ever be interested in spey rods too. With
Sage producing 11' "switch" rods in the lighter weights, it has me
rethinking my position..... I guess once a gearwhore always a gearwhore. ;-)

http://www.sageflyfish.com/default.asp?p=79

brians

"asadi" wrote in message
t...

"Opus"
Presently, I can't even grip a rod, or a pen for that matter. Tomorrow
will change that, I hope!

Op


good luck, best wishes...

john

Thank you sir.

Hope to get on the water as soon as I remove the neck brace.

Op

briansfly wrote:

Tom Nakashima wrote:

On Thu, 07 Dec 2006 17:40:18 GMT, rw
wrote:


Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If
anyone would
like to share casting techniques, please do so.


You can do all of the spey casts with a single-handed rod. It's like
roll casting on steroids. I recommend Simon Gawesworth's video.



I'm not sure you can do "all" the spey cast with a single handed rod,
but you can do the majority of them.
Yes, I've met Gawesworth at the Golden Gate Casting Club, and seen
his spey videos, he is indeed outstanding.
The guy who was also fantastic was Hiro Tanaka from Japan who uses a
shorter spey rod. It's actually a 10' lightweight two handed rod. He
was very impressive with a quicker shorter rod.

I have no intentions of ever purchasing a two-handed fly rod, but I do
enjoy employing some of the useful spey techniques to the single
handed rod, and testing them on the river in a real fishing application.
fwiw,
-tom



Tom,

It's obvious you're interested in fly casting techniques and improving
your skills. Just curious as to why you don't think you'll ever buy a
spey rod. FWIW, I doubted i'd ever be interested in spey rods too. With
Sage producing 11' "switch" rods in the lighter weights, it has me
rethinking my position..... I guess once a gearwhore always a gearwhore.
;-)

http://www.sageflyfish.com/default.asp?p=79

brians

Opps. This link will show you a Switch Rod

http://masl.to/?T57F4525E

brians

Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm not sure you can do "all" the spey cast with a single handed rod, but
you can do the majority of them.

It's just a rod and a line and a force. One hand or two makes no
fundamental difference. Sure, you can spey cast a lot of heavy line with
two hands and a long rod, but the principle is the same with a light
line, one hand, and a relatively short rod.

Some of the most challenging flycasting I've experienced has been
floating the Middle Fork of the Salmon. It's mostly dry-fly fishing for
cutthroat. The highly structured river typically flows fast and the good
spots are sparse. You have to be able, in a moment, to pick up your fly
and cast to the right spot (usually downstream and toward the bank) with
the right mend. Meanwhile, another fisherman may be casting from the
other end of the raft, so you have to coordinate your backcasts. The
rower has to set everything up. You get one shot per spot, and then it's
on to the next one. Single-handed spey-like casts are really handy in
that situation.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"briansfly" wrote in message
news:FWZdh.622$qh.124@trnddc06...
Tom,

It's obvious you're interested in fly casting techniques and improving
your skills. Just curious as to why you don't think you'll ever buy a spey
rod. FWIW, I doubted i'd ever be interested in spey rods too. With Sage
producing 11' "switch" rods in the lighter weights, it has me rethinking
my position..... I guess once a gearwhore always a gearwhore. ;-)

http://www.sageflyfish.com/default.asp?p=79

brians


Brians,
Sage makes beautiful spey rods, we got to see them in action in San Mateo,
hosting the Sportsman show early this year. Don't get me wrong, I have
nothing against spey rods and in awe when I see a master performing spey
techniques. Last year I hooked and landed a good size steelhead with a
borrowed spey rod, and decided "this isn't for me!" Although I had the
steelie in control, I've felt very awkward probably due to the long length.
I'd much rather land one with a single handed rod.

Steve Rajeff (champion distance caster) designed a 11'6" 8wt. two handed rod
for G-loomis a few years ago. It's very lightweight and can be cast with
one hand, but it still didn't feel as good as a single handed rod, just my
personal preference. Orvis also makes a 107-7 10' 4pc 7wt with an extended
3" butt for $350.oo. I tend to like the fly-rods 9' and under.

Yes I do love casting techniques, but only the ones I could apply in a real
fishing application. My friend however can cast circles around me as
casting comes easy for him. I have to really have to work at it.
fwiw,
-tom

"rw" wrote in message
ink.net...
Tom Nakashima wrote:

I'm not sure you can do "all" the spey cast with a single handed rod,
but you can do the majority of them.

It's just a rod and a line and a force. One hand or two makes no
fundamental difference. Sure, you can spey cast a lot of heavy line with
two hands and a long rod, but the principle is the same with a light line,
one hand, and a relatively short rod.

The principle is not the same, however the motion of the rod is the same.
If you cast right handed for a two handed rod or spey rod, the right hand is
just a guide,
while your left hand is your power. A famous Gawesworth saying; "Bring the
cast to the heart laddy!"
Which means bring the bottom hand to the heart to generate the power...just
the opposite principle of the
single handed rod for a right hander, your right hand is the power. You also
need to anchor the line in the water when casting spey.

Some of the most challenging flycasting I've experienced has been floating
the Middle Fork of the Salmon. It's mostly dry-fly fishing for cutthroat.
The highly structured river typically flows fast and the good spots are
sparse. You have to be able, in a moment, to pick up your fly and cast to
the right spot (usually downstream and toward the bank) with the right
mend. Meanwhile, another fisherman may be casting from the other end of
the raft, so you have to coordinate your backcasts. The rower has to set
everything up. You get one shot per spot, and then it's on to the next
one. Single-handed spey-like casts are really handy in that situation.

Agree with the bottom line, particularly executing the snake roll to change
directions.
Another very easy cast I've learned, is let the line drift downstream to
load the rod, and
in one motion shoot it back up stream. I tried to avoid the backcast when
casting
from a raft as we sometimes did in Alaska...the two cast I've mentioned
above works fine.
fwiw,
-tom

Tom Nakashima wrote:

Another very easy cast I've learned, is let the line drift downstream to
load the rod, and
in one motion shoot it back up stream.

I use that technique quite a bit, especially when casting a heavy fly
with a too-light rod and also when nymphing with a complicated, weighted
rig (to avoid foul-ups when false casting).

It isn't pretty but it works.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"Larry L" wrote in message
...

"Tom Nakashima" wrote


I'm always game to try new cast with a single handed rod. If anyone
would like to share casting techniques, please do so.

fwiw,



The two I use most often are the Big Splat Cast and the Tangled Mess Cast
.... I don't have the writing skill to clearly explain the intricate
movements of each, but thankfully, the cast names themselves do a good job
of conveying the results.


I use those casts quite often myself

Jeremy Moe

rw wrote:
Tom Nakashima wrote:

Another very easy cast I've learned, is let the line drift downstream
to load the rod, and
in one motion shoot it back up stream.


I use that technique quite a bit, especially when casting a heavy fly
with a too-light rod and also when nymphing with a complicated, weighted
rig (to avoid foul-ups when false casting).

It isn't pretty but it works.

BTW, another similar way to avoid false casting is to let your backcast
fall behind you into the water, and then use drag of the water to load
the rod on the forward cast. Again, not pretty, but effective.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.