Spey casting

The Spey casts are derivatives of the roll cast and have several important advantages over the overhead cast:

1. They are more efficient for wide angle direction changes.
2. They can be executed in places with little or no room for a back cast.
3. They are also inherently much safer because the fly never goes behind the caster.

N.B. You only need to be clouted in the back of the head once by a two-inch brass tube at full speed to understand how dangerous it is to attempt to cast such lures with an overhead cast.

There are three types of Spey cast (Single Spey; Double Spey and Snake Roll) The choice of which to use is dictated solely by the direction of the wind in relation to the direction of river flow and is to do with safety. In all cases, the preparatory phase of the cast is set up downwind of the angler, so that when the delivery stroke is made, any sudden gust will always blow the hook away from the angler.

Downstream wind - use a Double Spey or Snake Roll cast.

Upstream wind - use a Single Spey cast.

We refer to the ‘right’ or ‘left’ bank of a river as if we were standing in midstream and facing downstream. The bank you are fishing from dictates which hand is uppermost on the rod handle when using a double-handed rod (or which hand casts the rod, using a single-hander). You need to be able to cast with either hand up the handle (i.e., off both shoulders). This is not difficult as long as you remember to use equal force from both hands. Spey casting is a product of technique, not brute force!

The single spey cast

Left bank - right hand up. Right bank - left and up.

1. Stand facing square-on to the target. Leave the rod pointing downstream to where the current has taken the line; rod tip at the water surface. To do this, your hands will be rather awkwardly crossed with the rod across your tummy. The cast is made in waltz time.

2. Lift - the rod by bending your upper (right) forearm at the elbow and slightly towards the near bank, raising the rod to the 10 o’clock position. Pause for the 2, 3

3. Sweep - your rod right round to the right, with your right hand extended at shoulder level, as if tracking round the rim of an imaginary horizontal plate. As this sweep is completed, bring your right hand inwards and slightly upwards so your thumb finishes beside and level with your right ear. Pause again for the waltz count 2, 3

This movement should have swept the line and fly upstream so that the last three yards of line and the leader splashed down approximately a rod-and-a-half’s length upstream of you. The line should be hanging from the rod tip in a D-loop (you should still be facing your intended target).

4. Hit - Punch the rod smartly forward, stopping sharply at 10 o’clock in front. This should project the loop of the fly line out and over the water. Remember, it is a crisp wrist and forearm snap (push with the upper hand; pull in with the lower) in order to flex the rod. It should not be a heave with the shoulder rolling forwards.