I've never felt the need to use a spey rod, although as I look back there were certainly times when a spey rod would have been a better choice than a conventional setup.
I've developed some shoulder issues. In talking to someone at a recent event, he suggested using a spey rod on certain portions of my Alaska trips to reach fish that otherwise would require a lot of wear and tear on my shoulder and a lot of Ibuprofen. He suggested picking up a reasonably priced 13-foot rod and an Outbound line.
I'm one who likes to do things right, so I'm looking to take a lesson or two before heading out on my own and hoping for the best. I live in the East Bay. Looking for recommendations for a good teacher who is patient with old farts.