Casting Mojo and little steelhead...

[SHigSpeed]

So I've been dabbling with the longer and longest (switch/spey) rod for a bit and really never got the timing/motions down. I've been frothing up the American of late trying for steelhead, and finally today I think I'm getting somewhere with my Spey casting! :)

I keep hearing how the cast should be effortless and finally it's getting there. I think my main problems were overpowering the forward stroke (can you say tailing loop?) and having a crummy anchor (Skagit casting). I've been placing it too far away from me making the 180 degree rule hard to maintain and causing some nasty "bloody l's".

Watching lots of videos has helped as well. Can't beat one-on-one instruction, and Jeff's helped me in the past, but I'm a stubborn SOB who thinks that I can learn while expecting to catch fish! <lol>

Managed four quarterpounders today, and hooked into something that I would have loved to see or at least had run, but it was a quickie on-off.

Hopefully the spring run continues to improve. Need more two-hand practice before shad season!

_SHig

[speyfool]

There are so many things you have to remember (until it is burned into your muscle memory) with spey casts. Especially when trying to cast more than 60 feet. It can be brain overload, but eventually it becomes second nature.

However, speaking from my own experience. There will continue to be those days or hours or minutes where it just falls apart. Time to reel in some line and take it easy for a bit.

:)

[SFMike]

Hey SHig,
You should come down to the spey-o-rama in Golden Gate park for some great one on one instruction. I've had mini lessons there with Simon Gawesworth, Mike Kinney, Bob Meiser and a few others. It's all free, plus you can watch local hero Simon try to win the casting competition again.

It's the weekend of the 9th, 10th and 11th.
mike

[Rick J]

until the casting stroke becomes ingrained and even then it is important that you watch what you are doing - watch where and how your setup lands - make sure your d-loop formation is rising slightly and watch the line as you are coming forward - on the d-loop formation and as you are moving forward you generally want to see at least the back end of your tip off the water - if not you are likely getting too much stick and may be dropping the rod tip as you come back - just a few things to consider

[SHigSpeed]

until the casting stroke becomes ingrained and even then it is important that you watch what you are doing - watch where and how your setup lands - make sure your d-loop formation is rising slightly and watch the line as you are coming forward - on the d-loop formation and as you are moving forward you generally want to see at least the back end of your tip off the water - if not you are likely getting too much stick and may be dropping the rod tip as you come back - just a few things to consider

Thanks for the tips. Any and all will be welcomed! I think the hardest part for me right now is understanding the cause for the loop form breakdowns I see. Once I know that "that squiggly pile of doom" is caused by the distortion of Earth's gravity due to too much top hand paired with too little dietary fiber, I'll be on my way to success! :)

_SHig