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Sign-ups at Big R Fly Shop Presented by: Bruce Berry, Beulah Fly Rods/ The Staff at Big R Fly Shop WHY SPEY: Spey fishing is an effective and fun way to present flies to anadromous as well as fresh water species. Spey fishing will benefit any angler in the ability to keep your fly on the water effectively increasing fishing time and potential hook ups! Spey techniques will benefit anglers in the ability to fish short, medium and long distance presentations on pieces of water that feature scarce back-casting room. Spey fishing is also a directly transferable skill to almost all single hand fishing situations! GOALS: Today, I will introduce spey fishing techniques and challenges! The main goal for the day is to learn casts from both sides of the river. Effectively, this will allow any angler to spey fish both banks of a system with any prevailing wind or obstacle. There are both air-born and water-born casts in spey fishing. We will be working with air-born and water-born casts including the Switch, Double Spey and Snap “C”. At the end of the day we should have a basic understanding of these casts and be able to perform them off both left and right shoulders. SWITCH CAST: Popularized by Simon Gawesworth as a teaching tool. This cast will be utilized during our class to understand rod path, timing, when and how much power to apply, and allow all involved a fundamental understanding of how the two handed rod works. Though not a useful “fishing” cast, knowing the Switch cast proficiently is akin to receiving a key that will unlock all other useful “fishing” cast’. DOUBLE SPEY: This cast is best performed from river right (river current moving from the anglers’ left to right shoulder) for a right hand caster. River left for a left handed caster. This will be explained and demonstrated, then performed by each participant. Pitfalls: Aggressive upstream wind, obstacles making any type of back-cast (D-Loop) impossible. SNAP “C”: This cast is best performed from river left (river current moving from the anglers’ right shoulder) for a right hand caster. River right for a left handed caster. Pitfalls: Heavy wind both upstream and downstream may present problems, and obstacles making any type of back-cast or D-Loop impossible. Both Double Spey and the Snap “C” may be performed from the angler’s off shoulder which will also be explained and demonstrated, then practiced by all in the day’s group. SPEY DAY: ~We will start by getting a feel for the two-handed rods and going through a quick “Switch Cast”. This will familiarize the anglers with the general feel of rods from 10’6” to 13’6”. This exercise will teach rod path, timing, and forward delivery. ~Depending on the class majority as right or left hand dominant casters, we will move into the Snap “C” from River left. ~Move to the Double Spey from river right. ~Go to the Snap “C” off shoulder followed by the Double Spey off Shoulder. Congratulations: You can now effectively fish spey techniques from both sides of any given river with most any prevailing obstacle. Now, with a little practice on your own to set these techniques to muscle memory you will be ready to tackle splash and go casts and start making enjoyable and memorable trips with a two-handed spey rod. To maximize our time on the water I will provide matched Beulah spey rod and Elixir line systems in a multitude of length and line weight options. We will gladly field any questions concerning the correct equipment and matched systems for you at the conclusion of our day on the water. What You Should Expect: ~You should expect to start early as local waters crowd quickly on most warm days late spring through summer. ~Anglers should come fully prepared with waders, boots, wading staff if applicable, hat, sunglasses (always worn spey fishing for safety), and sunscreen. Again, there will be a full armada of two-handed rods for class participants completed with matched spey lines and reels to use during our session. ~Come ready to go with coffee in you and whatever else you need to get the day started off on the right foot. This is a fairly intense course that will feature 3-31/2 hour session in the morning, a lunch break with lunch provided by yours truly, followed by a couple more hours of casting after lunch. ~All Spey participants will cast yarn as your fly throughout the day. This will keep folks from fishing their casts through, paying attention to the task at hand which is effective delivery techniques. Yarn also adds an element of safety for those starting out on their spey journey. ~At the end of the day feel free to stay back for a question and answer session. I will be happy to work with and trouble-shoot folks individually, talk about fishing presentations once the cast is delivered pertaining to different water types, different line types or rod/ line combinations, etc. ~Cost: The Cost of the Spey Day will be $90.00 which includes provided rod/reel combinations for the day, lunch, refreshments and casting instruction. Classes are limited to six-eight anglers maximum. Coordinating classes that meets everyone’s busy schedules can be tough. If you are interested, feel free to sign up and remit payment as class dates will schedule accordingly. Happy Fishing from Bruce Berry 503.807.3221 mainstreamod@yahoo.com