Mike McCune at Watt Av

[akfishgyd]

Mike had a good audience this morning (sat 1-31-09) listening to his presentation on the latest developments in the Skagit form of two handed casting. The new Rio Skagit SHORT has "triggered" some new casting moves-modifications of the traditional double spey-that really gets the line out there in a motion that appears effortless. Seems that the 5 and 6 wt 12 1/2 footers are his "go to" rods now ... dang! and i just got the 7136 last year ...

[Rick J]

The event was truly amazing and I saw two new casts I have not seen before and got first hand instruction in using them from Mike. Bill - thanks so much for putting this together and a huge thank you to Mike for his efforts!

Here are some film clips

The typical skagit cast for river left, downstream wind is the snap T (or circle cast) demonstrated here:

URL=http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/?action=view&current=DSCN2743.flv]http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/th_DSCN2743.jpg[/URL]

Another good cast for this situation is the perry poke:

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/th_DSCN2740.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/?action=view&current=DSCN2740.flv)

With an upstream wind, you want the set on your downstream shoulder - here is a truly easy cast that takes no effort at all -an off-shoulder vertical double spey that I saw for the first time yesterday

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/th_DSCN2738.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/?action=view&current=DSCN2738.flv)

And finally and off shoulder perry poke

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/th_DSCN2747.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/?action=view&current=DSCN2747.flv)

Look how little effort is being expended with these casts and think of the possibilities - it makes it possible for someone approaching 60 to continue fishing under winter conditions all day for several days and not beat myself up!!

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Mike showed us about the new 'ultra short Skagit heads' which are about 2.5 x rod length.

They have changed the Skagit head length to 2.5 to 3.5 times rod length now.

Mike, Scott O'Donnell and Ed Ward are way into short heads on small two handed rods.

Their focus is effortless casting with the smallest two handed rods what will deliver the flies.

Mike and his team worked closely with Rio in the development of the new Skagit Short lines.

Mike also likes around 10' tips on the short heads. Factory sink-tips are 15' so we will have to do some shortening.

It was a beautiful day and lots of new hot info......Thanks Mike

**Mike's favorite rod right now is the 12'6" #5 Sage Z-Axis.

[Don Powell]

Every time Bill posts that Mike is going to share info on what he, Scott O'Donnell and Ed Ward are doing along the lines of the search for steelhead with spey technique, I get very excited.
Credit to Mike for his allegiance to the community he grew up in and to Bill for asking Mike to share what is truly "cutting edge" in our sport.
It was refreshing to hear Mike talk about covering "spey water" that is, easily fishable water with this technique. Fishing truly is a sport and should be enjoyed regardless of the manner with which an angler chooses to pursue it. Mike, Scott and Ed target the aggressive fish that are willing to move to a swung fly, not a high percentage endeavor if you're looking for numbers, but the most exciting way I have yet to experience when it comes to what happens after the hook-up!

Thanks, Mike for all you bring to us, and Bill, for instilling passion and supporting a man who is truly a "home-grown" local talent we can all be proud of...

Don

[Fats]

Well... I've got to say it was a very educational day for me as well! I saw a bunch of stuff first hand that I've only been reading about. It's beginning to make sense to me.

I'd like to give a big thanks to Rick and Terry who were gracious enough to spend sometime with me helping me with my casting and getting my rod setup tweaked.

It was very nice putting a face and a voice with the names on this forum.

[Rick J]

Something happened to the first clip showing the circle cast so here it is again. Sorry for the grainyness - a good video camera would be nice to have

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/th_DSCN2743.jpg (http://s15.photobucket.com/albums/a395/RickJ/?action=view&current=DSCN2743.flv)

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Anyone who is new to two handed casting could drive any morning to the Watt Avenue access on the Lower American River and find someone who might help them almost 365 days a year.

It's $5.00 per car per day to enter the river access. Yearly passes are available - $50.00?

This water just under and down stream of the bridge on the south side is a special "testing grounds" for new Spey equipment for many Sacramento locals.

No matter what two handed rod you have it is so important that you have someone who knows help get the right line combination on there first.

Then by all means get a lesson on two handed casting for our local Spey instructor, Jeff Putnam. Jeff can help you get your rod lined up properly too.

http://jpflyfishing.com/groupclasses/castingclasses/speycasting.htm

[FLGator]

Rick,
Thanks for posting the videos!

Any idea what Mike is lining the 5wt with?

Take care,
Chris

[Rick J]

pretty sure he was using a 375 grain short skagit with 10' of maybe T-11. It can easily handle T-14 but Mike rarely uses tips longer than 10 anymore and will add weight to the fly to get down.

[Grampa Spey]

Rick, thanks for the photos of Mike.

His first two casts are my two main casts (way less style) at that same spot.

I will try the off shoulder Perry Poke with yarn and no fly at first. It looks easy and potentially left ear piercing at the same time.

Thanks,
Dave

[Grampa Spey]

Mike showed us about the new 'ultra short Skagit heads' which are about 2.5 x rod length.

They have changed the Skagit head length to 2.5 to 3.5 times rod length now.

Mike, Scott O'Donnell and Ed Ward are way into short heads on small two handed rods.

Their focus is effortless casting with the smallest two handed rods what will deliver the flies.

Mike and his team worked closely with Rio in the development of the new Skagit Short lines.

Mike also likes around 10' tips on the short heads. Factory sink-tips are 15' so we will have to do some shortening.

It was a beautiful day and lots of new hot info......Thanks Mike


**Mike's favorite rod right now is the 12'6" #5 Sage Z-Axis.

Sorry, I had other commitments and couldn't make it.

A couple of comments.

Rio's new 10' Sinking Spey Versi Leaders work great with these shorter rods and Skagit lines, right out of the package. There is no need for slicing/dicing and hoping your new loop will work. Just tie a loop on the mono tip fishing end and attach your tippet and fly. With our low water situation, the Rio's Older Trout Versi 7' Intermediate leader works very well, and again there is no need for cutting/slicing and dicing.

For those of us in the mere/sub mortal casting class, the 6 wt ZAxis 12' 6" works very well with the regular Rio Skagit 450 or 550 (550 for higher wind and bigger flies). With Rio's AFS heads, the 6/7 Floating head and in this case the 15' Floating Spey Leader is a superb match.