Spey Casting the Zpey Competition Line

Casting the long belly line at the free "Day on the River" Saturday morning Spey and Fly Casting gathering.  Day on the River is held at the bridge in downtown Fall City every Sat from 9 to noon.  Directions and map to location can be found here.  Rod used in this video is the mighty CND I-Spey 15' 10wt.  The line in the video is a custom cut Zpey competition line at 73 feet and 1040 grains.  This excellent Zpey line can be ordered from Aaron Reimer (425-333-4446 or speybum@comcast.net).

The Advantages of the Zpey Rod Lower Grip

First thing first. The speycast is a flyfishing cast whether you use a single handed fly rod or a two handed fly rod: the cast remains the same. All fly casts are initiated and executed with the butt of the rod.

If we look at a two handed fly rod we see that there are two parts to the handle. The reel is the axis which we build the cast around.  The top part of the rod we consider is "north" of the reel, and the bottom portion of the rod is the butt or lower grip.

The straight line path of the rod tip (is what all good casts are built around) is governed by the rod butt.  The longer the straight line path of the tip, the more efficient the cast. Remember, it is the rod butt that determines the straight line path of the tip.  

What Zpey has done with their proprietary lower handle on the rod butt is provide the caster with 10 to 15 degrees of longer of tip path with the offset handle.  

If we ask the simple question ... ”What is the underhand doing?” ... when we first start the two handed journey, we will be much more prepared for successful two handed casting.

"Zpey Zero" Spey Package - Everything Included!

I just got back from my first lesson with a student using the Zpey Zero 12ft 8/9 combo.

All you need to do is add water, and it does the rest!  I like the idea of a well calibrated and balanced rod/reel/line/leader/running line combo for the new and intermediate caster.  

The kit includes the 12ft Zpey rod rated at a European 8/9 wt, a well designed large arbor disc drag reel with a large "Z" machined as part of the frame, a matching scandinavian shooting head, running line, and leader.  Add a fly and you are ready to go.  No need for trial and error with this combo.  Everything is calibrated by the folks at Zpey (including Henrik Mortensen).  Here is a link to the Zpey website for more info on this combo.

In the coming weeks, I will be posting videos of the Zpey Zero in action.  I will also have this combination available for purchase through my ebay store (link below top banner).  

Mark Your Calendar: Day on the River with Orvis - Saturday, Dec. 11th!

Leland with an Orvis Switch rod!

Come down to the bridge at Fall City and check out the new Orvis line up at the Day on the River on December 11.  We will have the new Helios Spey rods, and the new Access switch rods available for casting.  Leland Miyawaki (manager of the Orvis shop in Bellevue) will be bringing down the rods and lines for this special Day on the River.



We did get a preview today, and got to try out the new Access 8wt 11' Switch. Very nice action and fun to cast!

Hope to see you there on the Saturday, December 11th!

Photos from the Oct. 9th "Day on the River"

We had a great "Day on the River" with special guests Brian Styskal, Whitney Gould, and Dan McCrimmon.  We got to play with new rods and lines from Burkheimer, Guideline and Nextcast lines (including the the new Fall Favorite lines!!).
 

Some participants needed a nap! Willa the new puppy!





Whitney getting ready to show us how to cast!



Brian rigging up a line for a student!















 








Saturday DOTR in Fall City at the bridge on the Snoqualmie River!

 

Day on the River - Oct 2, 2010

The philosphy of the "Day on the River" has always been about helping each other.  Come join us on every Saturday morning 9am-12pm underneath the bridge in Fall City.

Whitney Gould & Brian Styskal - Nextcast lines and CF Burkheimer Rods

Join us this Saturday (10/9) for a special "Day on the River."  Guests Whitney Gould and Brian Styskal will be joining us from 9:00am to whenever the crew stops casting.

Brian Styskal is one of the best Internationally known Competition Casters and Speycasting Instructors. He's on the pro team for both CF Burkheimer Rods and Nextcast Lines and has just finished a season of summer guiding in Alaska ... so he should be in fine form. 

Whitney Gould is another renown Competition Caster and a top Spey Instructor.  She has taught and conducted numerous spey education activities including the Women's Day for the Sandy River Conclave.

Ladies, if you are interested in fly fishing do not miss a chance to talk with Whitney; she tells it like it is.