I are a Spey caster!

[SHigSpeed]

Or not...

I hit Upper Sunrise today after work to hopefully get shad-stinky for the first time this year (and ever on a fly rod). Didn't have a friend with a boat, didn't feel like airing up the 'toon, so I figured I'd try to wade it and try out my Spey combo for the first time in anger.

Boy do I suck!! Saw another guy Spey casting upstream catch one so I sidled up to him to see if his mojo would rub off on me. Watched him effortlessly sling for a while while I frothed and flogged and failed overall. He was kind enough to let my fling his setup for a while while he tried what I had. Turns out I have a PERFECTLY unfishable combo. Need some line therapy it seems.

At any rate, he gave me some pointers that allowed me to get out beyond spittin' distance, and lo and behold fish on! Unbelievable! That thing they say about blind squirrels is true.

Here's stinky #1 and a grinnin' fool:

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t177/shigspeed/Fishing/Lakes/American%20River/2009%206%204/DSCF9726-1.jpg

I just got the kit to build a 10' 8" 5 wt switch so I'm hoping this 6-7ish mid-Spey line will load that better than my current 7-8 12'6" rod.

Anyway, bustin' cherry on shad on a fly and fish on a Spey rod (or I guess more correctly Spey casting - however poorly) was a nice way to spend time after work.

_SHig

[Scott V]

I can't wait to see you try that new rod out on your flaot tube.

Good going buddy.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

That is an excellent photo......................I would level the horizon and print that in an 8 x 10 and frame it.

Thanks SH

[bonneville54]

Congrats! Great shot, great story.....

[SHigSpeed]

Thanks for the comments guys. Of course I can't take credit for the shot and unfortunately the camera got reset when I changed the battery so I think it was set at minimum resolution. :^(

Gotta thank a fellow board member (Gary?) for talking me off the Spey frustration ledge and snapping the photo for me.

_SHig

[SFMike]

Hey SHig,
What rod and line combo were you using that was causing you so much trouble? If you post it up here, I'm sure there will be some comments that could help you out a lot too. If you had a 6/7 midspey on a 7/8 spey rod, I'd bet it was way too light to load the rod - but that's just a guess.

Nice fish too - congrats!
mike

[SHigSpeed]

Thanks for the offer to help troubleshoot the line.

The rod is a Redington Redfly 12'6" 7/8.

I know the Rio Speypages actally lists this rod but I'll take any suggestions you have.

_SHig

[Jeff C.]

Call or go see Jason Hartwick at the shop. He'll help you dial in the right line for your rod.

[double ipa]

500 gr. skagit line should match up well with that rod. Get a floating tip and some T-14 also. Nice fish for first day with the spey.

[Ed Wahl]

Nice shad Scott. I wouldn't change a thing in that pic. Frame it as is. The best fishing pics since the advent of the camera have been the amateur, on the fly type shots. Just look at any old album and see which pics just grab your imagination.
Ed

[SHigSpeed]

500 gr. skagit line should match up well with that rod. Get a floating tip and some T-14 also. Nice fish for first day with the spey.

I gotta thank you again for letting me give your backup setup a second life. It's really doing a fine job of easing me into the Spey scene.

A Skagit line is on my Father's Day/Birthday/Xmas list, but I need to try some lines before I decide. Maybe at the next shad Spey/Switch day at Watt. I'll also have my switch done by then. :)

_SHig