speyghillie

Hi Guys, I am thinking of setting up a weeks fishing in the Scottish Highlands and on the Famous river Spey, i know its coming up to Xmas and not the best time to put such a thought forward at this time of year but just wanted to see if anybody liked the sound of a week on the Spey in July 08, the down side is i will be your Ghillie. I ask here first because i am going to advertise these trips at the Calagry fly show, so thought i would give you the guys a heads up first. I will not be doing anything apart from checking out prices over the next week or so, so there is no panic but you can fly from Calgary and Vancouver direct to Glasgow for around $800 bucks return, i will do the rest and if you want a day off you can always go on the only Malt whisky trail in the world, i will be able to price the whole cost accomodation, airport transfer, meals ect after new Year. Like i say there is no hurry, just think it would be good fun and a chance for you to fish the Spey. Gordon.

Hi Guys, I have done a fair bit of Speycasting in the Salt, but not in the heat( never seems to get that hot in Tofino), and in the cold water , ihave ne need to worry about my Speylines, i just give them a quick wash with warm water after. Speycasting out of a Jetboat can be very usefull and much safer, i have no need to worry about the structue of the boat or anybody on it, my buddy casts one side at the back right handed i'm on the other left handed, this works really well as casting the long line keeps a good distance between me and the fish so less disturbance with the jetboat, and i don't scare everyone on board, when i fish wether it be single or double -handed, quiet is king, i learnt this fishing the Spey as a kid for Sea-trout at night (not easy casting in the pitch dark). Speycasting has so many applications, but you can get caught up in thinking you need to much stuff, for the tropic's you will need a line to suit , Scierra used to make one, but it seems they have stopped making them. Gordon. Al, there is still no sign of my tickets.

Hi Al, Looked at some lines in the UK, but from some reason the companies i knew had them don't do them anymore, guess they just did'nt sell as a Speyline, such a small market i guess. I would try and sort someting out with Islandguy or the nearest i could find today was a Hardy Zane, never cast one so i'm useless on that one. I have a few lines none Saltwater, but i can bring them over to the Bahamas if you pay for my ticket, getting sick of this cold weather, it was -10 here last night, guess it will be ok as i'm in sunny Calgary next month and i know it will be cookin hot. Gordon.

Hi Al, There are a couple of companies in the UK that make Spey lines for fishing in the tropic's, , line rating in the UK is about one wt lighter than lines made in the US, will check them out tomorrow and if they are any good i can bring one or two over in January if thats any good. Will check them out tomorrow and let you know the detail. Gordon.

Hi Al, Should have a couple of different reels, got to pack some stuff into a suitcase, i will have enough room left for a t shirt or two, still they tell me Calgary is cooking hot in January. Gordon.

Hi Al, I will be taking a wee stand of my own, will have some stuff from the UK that will be available in Canada for the first time, with a full back up service in Canada, which up until now has not been available, not all Spey stuff, found a couple of new trout rods that i can't put down, come along and try some stuff out, even the Speyside stuff is not available in Canada. Thanks Gordon.

Spoke to courtney a couple of days ago, and i'm sure he is taking loads of spey stuff, so there should be loads of spey rods to try out , we can have a wee speyclave, just need some one to look after my stuff and i'm off to the casting pond for a couple of hours or so. Gordon.

Hi Al, Casting tips and big weighted flies can be horrible, not a style you see very often in the UK for a couple of reasons, having done a fair bit of Steelhead fishing in BC and spring fishing on the Spey, there is really not much difference in depth fished. If you really want to fish tips and big flies, keeping it short and shooting line is the key, the lift must be really slow keeping tension on the line all the way through the sweep round. If the fly has worked its way through the pool, point the rod tip straight at the fly with the tip almost touching the wate, lift th e rod slowly with constant tension on the line, try not to bend the rod to much as this will load the rod at the wrong time, just a nice slow lift and constant tension all the way through the sweep round, try not to dip the rod on the sweep round, keep it high. In the UK the normal way to fish deep is to fish a full sunk line, this is much easier to cast and still gives you lots of depth and no need for weighted flies, and remember years ago they fished flies we would think were for sharks. On a full sunk line its the same slow lift with the rod pointing at the fly and almost touching the water, but you just start with a roll casts straight down the wading line or directly below you to set the cast up, this brings the line onto the surface before going into a normal single spey, this way you only disturb the water close to the bank, and there is no hinge in the casting stroke like you sometimes get with heavy flies. Hope this helps, and if you are going to the Calgary show give me a shout, or come by for a wee drop real Speyside. Gordon.

Hi Headscan, A stiffer rod will not cast further or give you tighter loops, look at what the best speycasters use in competition and design, they are all full flexing rods, rods that flex to the butt but with a lot of backbone. In the UK the speycasting market is at least 50 times the market of Canada and the US, all that really means is the guys here have access to lots of different rods and some of the companies that have been making them for at least 50yrs sometimes i have to say i worry about companies jumping on the Spey bandwagon in the last few years. In the last year i have cast around 20 rods ( perks of the job), some i like, some i don't, thats why my advice would be to meet up with some of the guys, and try a few rods, see what suits you. I will be at the Calgary show with some rods from differet UK companies, so drop by if you get the chance, even for a chat. Thanks Gordon

Can you be cool Speycasting, never really thought of it, but if you want to look really cool, put down the Ladies rod and get a proper Double-Hander , what about Speycasting Downtown with the Kilt on, or maybe i should just stay in the Bar with the Kilt on, seem to work alright. Been really busy since i got home, but good to see you guys are becoming SPEY MAD. Gordon.

Hey Toolman, Good to see your still getting out fishing, the Spey is finished for the season now, but i,ve been out Troot fishin and trying a couple of short spey rods ,(Bow Style). Here is a link to the rod carriers that you have, www.vac-rac.com . I will be over in January i hope , so any members of the forum that wants a set can get them from me duty and shipping free, as they will be in the suitcase. Hope we can meet up in January Toolman, i was told it's nice ,sunny and warm in Calgary in January. Thanks Gordon.

Hi Rocknbugs, The guys are all giving you good advice, and ask any questions everybody will try and help out. My advice would be to try and get out casting with some of the Spey nutters on the forum if you can, it can cut down your learning time and be great fun. Maybe post where you normally fish, there might be a Speycaster near you that you can learn from, when you get the basic's down its not that complicated otherwise i would'nt be able to do it. Good luck Gordon.

Hi Guys, I hear on the grapevine that Scott Mackenzie has his DVD coming out later this week. Scott is three times wold distance caster, APGAI qualified, and a full time Ghillie on the River Ness in Scotland, and i would say the best speycaster in the world right now. I think having seen some of the footage that this will be one of the best. Anyway, you heard it here first as it has not been posted on any other forum anywhere. I will find out the details, when i get home on Sunday and post them here. Cheers Gordon.

Hi Alhuger, I think most of the guys have given you good advice while i have been fishing before heading home, i think the double is the one you are looking for, start short and slow, most people tend to rush all the casts and try to force the rod, and thats the last thing to do. Go as slow as you can, feel the line and start short, its just practice, and if its practice dont bother with a fly, but always wear eye protection. Hope this helps, and hope to see you cast across the Bow with easy by the time i get back. Cheers Gordon.

Great report and pics Toolman, sounds like i will head that way next year as the fishing on the Island was not very good (lots of chum and no Coho) in fact it was Crap, anyway glad you had a blast and the rod carriers where put to good use, the time saved and no broken rods, unlike me on the Island, Glad you had a good time buddy. Gordon.

Hey Glenbow, You Spey guru's are all the same, beer , women, swinging flies, catching loads of fish, and havin fun. give it up i tell ya. oh bad stuff, never do you good

Nice fish Glenbow, My tip is to stop while your ahead put that double-hander away and don't look at it again, now lets see if you take my advice or if you can't wait to get out speycasting again, its a terrible thing you've started, STOP NOW. Gordon.

Hi Al, Like all sports start short, and distance will come with practice, like Mykiss states big distance is not needed on the Bow, also the 5 times rule is a good basis, in other words, the maxamim line will be 5 times the rod length, but that the max not min. My best advice would be to meet up if you can with some of the guys that speycast the Bow, mykiss, Toolman, Silverdoctor and some of the other guys will help out i,m sure. Practice single, double and any other casts with a short line, you are right about the longer the head length being harder to change position, long line on a 12ft 6in rod has its limits, a fishing rod is a spring and lever thats all, they all have there limits, start short and practice all the rest will fall into place. Gordon.

Hi Mykiss, Glad you like the short set up on the Bow, there are so many short lines, skagit , scandi, short Spey You are absolutely right about throwing a long line with 15-20 ft of t-14, but if you want to fish a long or short line and deep, a full sink line is easier than tips. Tips or weighted flies can be horrible to fish with on a floating line, a full sunk line, long or short is much easier, but i find Skagit lines just to short and there are so many choices out there, i agree that 90ft of line would be over kill on the Bow, but if like to fish 50 to 60ft there are plenty of lines in then range that will turn over big flies ans save the fingers with the cold and all that thin line nearly cutting you fingers off, or getting caught on you clothing or any little twig around. Cheeler. Good to see you havin some fun with your new rod, take it easy with the TFO and heavy tips, hopefully i will get back to COO TOON , before i go home to the Spey, right now i am fishing small lakes in the Vernon area, off to fish the Island rivers next week, so far so good i had 11 rainbows in a small lake a couple of days ago on a hears ear gold head. Cheers Gordon.

Hi Al, The Spey bug has taken another victim, it really is an obsession that will only get worse STOP NOW , i feel bad for being involved in your addiction but it will get better with time. You are among other Spey users so its all good, i know Toolman and Silver doctor will help you as best they can with that rod and line set up, i dont fish one so i cant help you with that set up. As Most of the guys know i am not a Skagit fan, ok for learning but to much work for me, if you can cast a long belly you can cast a skagit, but its not always the other way. Polyleaders come in different sink rates, when i fish them i add around 10 ft of mono fishing line just to keep the fly at a good distance from the line, as you would with a single handed rod.also it you get stuck on the bottom it is easier to break off some polyleaders have a 25-30lb core i never cut them just add a piece of fishing line to the end then your fly. I cant help with the lines for that rod, but fishing sink tip with heavy fly, just slow the cast down and you will feel the weight of the line/fly, makes it easier to judge the amout of effort needed, let the rod do its thing. Hopefully you will manage a days fishing with other Spey users, its becoming quite the habit in coo toon. Speak to you later. Gordon.

Guys the river clean-up was good fun, and i got a couple of pairs of new shoes for a night out in Calgary they dont quite match but hey thats ok, some nice Lucky beer and a coconut, thinking of doing my own clean up and beating you guys to all the goodies just lying around.

Hi Glenbow Been thinking about making another trip out that way for a weekend before I go back to Scotland Hopefully we'll get to have a pint, I'll stay in touch regardless Gordon

Hi Chad, Good to meet you and help with the clean up, the Bow is a special river and compared to Rivers here, not alot of pressure. Toolman tells me my waders are now at his work, and now i need them sent back to BC, hope to come back to coo toon soon, and fish it for the first time. Thanks Gordon.

Hi Guy's I would like to thank all the guys that came to the Sunday Speycasting School, hope it was as much fun for the guy's as it was for me, i hope to do another Speyschool in the spring, and hope to get back to fish the Bow before i head back to the Spey. Thanks Guy's Gordon.

Hi Guy's Was really good to meet everybody at the river clean up, a special thanks to Toolman not only did he drive me round, pick me up at the Airport and let me crash at his place but i also learned so much about the Bow and the fishing, a real education, thanks Toolman for everything. So thanks guy's for making it a great weekend for me, having done a couple of Speycasting and a river clean up, the next thing is to fish the Bow, hope to make it back over soon for a cast on such a special river. Special thanks to Greyhound for losing my waders, fly reels and rod carriers but finding my fly rods after Toolman kicked up *hit, again thanks for chasing around at all hours for my gear Toolman, got to go to Greyhuond depot and have a word . Thanks Guy's. Gordon .