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Spey FAQ
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SpeyZone

Spey Zone was created to provide spey casting and fishing information for spey enthusiasts involved in
single and two-handed casting and fishing techniques. The goal is to help provide important and
sometime critical information that can make various elements of spey fishing easier to understand and
implement. Some of the information shared is from many years of experience and or helpful tips
provided by other spey enthusiasts. As the topics of spey evolve or new ones are discovered, we will be
sure to add new insights that are relevant to the spey fishing community. In the end I hope to provide
information to help make your time on the water more enjoyable. -JP

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Spey FAQ

  • 1.) What is Spey? Spey refers to a casting style in which the water’s surface tension is used to load the rod.
  • Where did Spey come from? The River Spey in Scotland is where Spey casting originated from in the late 1800’s. High, steep banks made single handed overhead casting impossible.
  • 3.) What is the dfference between single & two-handed Spey fly fishing? The primary difference between Spey casting and overhead casting is that Spey casting utilizes the water’s surface to load the rod rather than the weight of fly line in the air behind the caster.
  • 4. Why Spey? How to Use Online Reviews to Boost Your Business. . Spey casting not only allows for limited or no back casting room, it’s a much faster way to change directions when casting, generates less fatigue, more control during the presentation, allows for more presentation time while covering water faster and doesn’t require deep wading positions. Two handed rods are longer than single handed rods making Spey casting easier, especially at longer distances and deeper wading positions.
  • 5.) What are the differences between a Spey rod, switch rod, two-handed trout rod and Euro nymphing rod. Spey rods (generally longer than switch rods) are best used during “swinging” presentations. During this presentation the fish grabs the fly and hook themselves. Spey rods are not designed for removing slack in the fly line when setting the hook. Switch rods are used for swinging presentations, dead drifting presentations and overhead casting techniques. Two handed trout rods are lighter sized Spey rods generally 2 to 5 weights. Euro Nymphing rods are single handed fly rods that are used to present a sinking fly under direct contact to the angler’s rod without any slack.
  • 6.) What Rod Size for What Fish? Spey rods weights are matched to fish size. 2-5 weights are designed for trout, 6-7 weights are for steelhead fishing and 8 - 9 weights are for large steelhead and salmon.
  • 7.) What's the Most Important Cast Setup for a Spey Cast? Spey casting features two different casts including sustained anchors as in a Snap-t or Double Spey and touch and go casts like the Single Spey or Snake Roll. Sustained anchor casts are better when there’s absolutely no back casting room. Touch and go casts are used when there’s some room behind the caster.
  • 8.)What are the Key Line and Leader Setups for Spey? Spey lines are balanced to the rod and are measured by their physical grain weight and length. The most common designs have three sections including a running or shooting line, the head and a tip. A leader is then attached to the tip section. This allows for quick changing of various heads and tips. Skagit heads are designed to deliver larger, heavier flies. Scandi heads are used for medium to smaller flies.
  • 9.) What Are the Spey Fly Casting Casting Presentation? Spey fishing presentations are limited to swinging flies. A stripping presentation can also be used during the swing. Overhead casting presentations can be swinging, dead drifting and stripping.
  • 10.) What is Mending ,and How Important is it? Mending line is a technique that can alter the speed of the fly during the presentation by changing the angle and or location of the fly line on the water. Longer rods make the technique easier to execute.