Choosing a salmon fly rod

The larger and heavier flies we use for salmon need heavier fly lines to cast them. Heavier lines, in turn, require stronger rods. Moreover, we use longer rods because they are more efficient at performing the special casts that have been developed for salmon fly fishing. Such rods are too long, strong and heavy to be used single-handed and so they are designed to be cast using both hands. The long salmon fly rod also gives you extra height above the water when you are wading deep and extra reach whilst actually fishing (as opposed to casting).

Why a double-hander?

Well, not always. On smaller rivers and in summertime (with small flies and floating lines), a single-handed fly rod is often more than adequate. For most situations, however, a double-handed fly rod is the best choice for year-round salmon fly fishing. As when choosing a single-handed fly rod, a double-handed fly rod is selected on the basis of the line weights you intend to cast, but with due regard to the strength and ability of the caster. Here are some guidelines.

Salmon fly rod action

To make Spey casting easy, the rod should load easily, bending through most of its length, and yet recover very quickly in order to throw tight loops. Salmon fly rods should not be designed as an over-sized single hander -stiff in the butt and flicky at the tip- or cumbersome and slow, like the old-fashioned cane rods. Provided the desired rod action can be achieved, the slimmer the rod blank, the less air resistance it offers.

Do I need a different rod for floating and sinking lines?

No! You don’t need a special rod to cast sinking lines. A number 10 line weighs the same whether its a fast sinker or a floater. Casting a sinking line should not involve brute force and an extra-strong rod. It does, however, require the correct technique to bring the sunk line up to the surface, prior to casting. A stronger rod is not the answer and will merely make casting harder work.

Salmon fly rod handles

A double-handed fly rod should be gripped in a manner that allows the rod to be flexed with maximum efficiency (minimum effort). Hands should be far enough apart to achieve the necessary leverage, but not so far spread that crisp movement is hampered. In practise, one’s hands should be about shoulder-width apart. ArrowHead salmon rods have unique separated upper and lower handles that encourage correct hand position. A smooth cork butt is preferable to the traditional rubber end button, which tends to cause blisters.

ArrowHead Salmon Fly Rods

I am probably best known for my unique style of Spey casting and my development of the first specialist speycasting fly lines back in 1991.

The development of the original Speycaster salmon rods became the benchmark for most modern double-handed rods.

The ArrowHead Speycaster range is the ultimate development of this original concept produced on the latest lightweight carbon technology.

ArrowHead Salmon Twin-Lines

A full fly-line, tapered like an aerodynamic shooting-head and running line, designed specifically for speycasting.

Twin-lines allow you to adjust the amount of line used in the loop of your spey cast. This in turn allows you to adjust the overall casting weight to suit you and your rod without the need dfor any different line sizes. The colour change between the running line and casting section means that you will be able to pull in to the ideal length of line every time.

On the sinkers only the head section sinks. This gives you much better depth control and scope for mending a sinking line, something of which a conventional line is incapable.

Now available in 2 head lengths. The original which has the best all round head length for most salmon fishing situations and a min-twin version with a much sshorter head length suitable for speycasting on small rivers and pools where you have very little room for a loop.

With a super strong, low-stretch braided core and made exclusively for me in the UK, these lines are truly remarkable.

Salmon fly reels

Salmon reels should be of rugged construction with ample spool capacity for the fly lines you intend using, plus sufficient backing. A good drag is essential. There are occasions when the reel has to cope alone, perhaps while you have both hands occupied with rod and wading staff.