speyghillie

Hey guys. Good to see the speycasters of Calgary are still at it, and debating the ins and outs of the needs for the Bow river, a couple of points come to mind, don't need a huge rod for the Bow, but sometimes workin hard with a short rod is more tiring, i remember the airflow 40 plus fly line which was a line rated all wrong by the manufacture to make it seem like it just flew out the rod tip, designed like a heavy shooting head, but to fish all day was tiring, hard work on the rod and me. Gordo.

Got to be 18ft 10/11wt...... for my switch rod G.

Hey SilverDoctor, I was looking at all the New Hardy reels this morning, including the New Perfect Salmon reel not so keen on the greenie colour, saw the price tag............and woke up on the Tackle shop floor. Gordon.

Hi Guys, Hope the weather cheers up for Sunday. Landed in Calgary yesterday........saw the Snow........and flew out again . Gordo... back in Sunny Speyside.

Hi Guys, I will be in Calgary running a morning Speycasting Class on Saturday the 19th September, the morning class will be limited to 6 students and will cover a number of different Speycasts for Single and Double handed rods. I will have the Award winning Trout rods from Sharpe's of Aberdeen and Double handed rods from the Mackenzie range, designed by three times world champion Scott Mackenzie, for the guys to try, as well as a number of products from Scierra. The cost for the morning Spey class is $100.00 per person. My class will be sponsored by a new company in Canada, www.canadianflyfisher.net One Spot left for the morning. Thanks Gordon.

Hi Guys, Thats what happens when you get up and start on the computer without having a coffee, i think i fixed it, but if not just read Scandi's post and forget i was even here. Its been a long long couple of weeks, but will be over to empty the Bow soooooooon. Gordon.

Hi Scandi Great description of constant tension casting, this was the stlye of casting used by Alexander Grant in the 1890's and you discribe it perfectly, i am trying to find time to write the Alexander Grant story, and hope to have time to do it this winter, a man 100 yrs ahead of his time. He used drop down rings on his Vibration rods, so as to not loose any energy bewteen the rings and not loose constant tension. On another note, I found an article on Underhand casting in one of my old book, describing Underhand casting style in the 1890's, and found a new twist on Speycasting, something really old but new to me. Great work Scandi. Gordon.

Hi Lethfisher, I know Eoin very well (he organises the Tweed Show ever year for Trout and Salmon) and is a member of the Scottish world championship winning Speycasting team. The Helicopter cast is like alot of casts just for fun, but there is nothing wrong with messing about with different casts, and it will help with the feel of the rod, anchor position ect. Many people may not know Eion runs Tweed Start which is a proggramme for under privilege kids and kids with special needs, and over the last 3 years has taught over 3000, yes thats 3000 ... kids to fish in his own time. One of the nicest guys you would ever meet, great Speycasting Instructor and super nice guy..... but will tease him about helicopters when i see him. On another note, i got back from a crazy weekend at the CLA gamefair at 4 am this morning after a night drive of 9 hrs, and have to say it was great fun, i was working on Scott Mackenzie's stand and it was busy as anything, watched some of the demo speycasters, distance and fun stuff. New long line on the market, new Hardy Perfect in Salmon size....ect. And new speycasting champion from Norway, will post details soon. Anyway, back to where this thing started, hope everybody gets out with the Spey on the Bow.... catches some cracking fish......... and tells me where they are. Will be back in town in September for a weekend, no dates as yet... but just a weekend with some of the latest toys on the market. Gordo.

Hey Silver Doctor, That sound a great wee rod, Bob makes some of the nicest rods anywhere, post some pic's when she's done and ready for the Bow troot. I am just finished designing another Chalk stream for a highland estate , just stocked it with some nice big rainbows, so see how that goes, good fun but nothing like the fishing i want to do. Hopefully i will get sometime to spend on the Bow this year.... going to make time. Gordo.

Hey Toolman, Good to hear your out swinging the 2 hander, sounds great fun, and you been using the guideline shooting (heids) scottish word. Sounds like the Bow is fishing good, and i am going to spend sometime later this year fishing it for sure. Met Bob Meiser in Oregon last April, what beautiful rods he makes and what a really nice guy, a true gent. I am working at the CLA gamefair this weekend, see all the new toys, the Queens Hubby came last year and watched Scott and Way Yin's Speycasting demo, see if he fancies a week on da Bow. Al, You doing some Speycasting in BC this year, i am heading to the Island for a week and later heading up to Terrace for a week fishin. Anyway, post if you are swinging on da Bow or trying some new stuff out, or practicing new ways of casting the 2 hander or Speycasting the ladies rod. Gordo.

Hey Headscan, Tried swinging skaters with the 2 hander, or you fishing smaller stuff ? sounds like its a single handed time of year with wee stuff. Gordo.

Sounds good Cheeler, ALways good to learn different styles, constant motion casting is a great way to get distance with little effort on you and a little more from the rod, and on a low swing you can catapault a shooting head from right under tree branches, works great on a single hander and shooting head too. Should be good fun trying out the different styles , and doing some of your own stuff. Hope your catching a few fish too. Hey Mr Bhurt, no fishing the 2 hander, but the Crow sounds good, never fished it but one day i hope, will be fishing Spey Broonies next month, here in August small Dries and trad wets are da thing. Will post some pic's of Spey Broonies and the evening hatches when i get a chance. Get out swinging the 2 hander before the Calgary snow comes. ::ice fish:: Gordo.

Hi Guy Been busy with fishin the River Spey, and i notice there seems to be not much happing with the Calgary Speycasters, too busy fishin i guess. I know there has been some great Speycasters in Calgary doing classes over the last while, so what's shaking... changed your style, swinging different rods, lines ...........flies. Post some detail as to how the 2 handers working out and how you fish it in your own style, and what your catching. I will be back in coo toon in September for a while if anybody wants to know how to catch big browns on the Bow. No thats right...........i aint never caught one, might need to break out the ladies rod. Anyway, what ya swinging and how's in workin out for ya. Gordo fae Scotland and Vernon.

Just Got back in from fishing a lake at Falkland BC, used my 11ft 2 hander (6wt), these rods have been used for loch/lake fishing for a long time, mostly from a sitting position in a boat, using a rod longer helps give more leverage while sitting. Works great from the shore, a nice pike line will turn over big flies at close quarters, Scierra make a really cool 6 wt pike line that turns over big stuff if that what your casting. The Double-handed rod can be used in lots of location, and for lots of stylie fishin. Gordo.

Hey Toolman, Just got back from the Show.............and what a show, we had a great time, we were reallly well looked after and wanted for nothing, there was lots of rods and lines for everybody to try as well as great demo's in all styles of Speycasting. Scott's DTX rods were more than well received and the demand for the 12 and 13ft was crazy, i hardly saw them the whole weekend they were getting tested so much. It was a great drive down to Oregon, i even managed to pick up a speeding ticket. as the sign said welcome to Oregon. Got to get some more rods shipped over from Scotland in the next couple of weeks and start getting them out for people to try. Speak to ya later. Gordon.

Hi Guys, Just wanted to say a big thanks to all the guys that came to the demo at night and Clinic on the following day, looks like the 12 ft and 13ft rods are going to be in great demand for the Bow river troots. Heading of to Oregon in the morning but will send some photo's and give everybody all the details on Scott's DTX range of rods, they went down a storm at the demo last night in Vernon, 1 hr turned into 4 hrs, details to follow. Gordo.

Hi Guys, Just a quick update on the free demo and clinic myself and Scott Mackenzie are doing, both the Free demo and Clinic the following day will be at southland dog park, the demo at 5pm which will go on for a couple of hrs and same spot at 9am for the full day clinic, for the guys at the clinic please bring some lunch and suitable clothing. I am also very happy to be doing a clinic on Sunday the 10th for Country Pleasures, really looking forward to meeting everyone and having, as always a great time in Calgary, i am looking forward to meeting everyone at the store for 8.30 on Sunday the 10th, and will be at the same spot........sounds like i should pitch a tent at the dog park, but if anybody is in the area please drop by for a chat, and a big thank you to Mike for letting me do a class for his fine store. May is looking like a great month for all Calgary speycasters, and anyone interested in Speycasting, so please try to make it to one of the great demo's or Clinic's , i know Brian , Ed Ward, Myself and Scott are looking forward to meeting everyone, hopefully we can make the Spey community in Calgary get bigger every year. Thanks and see you soon. Gordon.

Hi Guys, Just getting packed for the trip over, so not able to get the waders in time to send, or to bring with me, i think they are still a good deal at the website at $250.00 plus shipping but have know knowledge of the company. seen ya soon. Gordo.

Hi Guys, Just a quick update on the Free Monday night demo on Monday the 11th of MAY, the demo with Scott and myself will be at Southland dog park, for 5.30pm that way we can do a bit of Left and Right Bank, everyone is more than welcome to come along and watch and ask questions , try out a rod ect. We will be going out for dinner after the demo and again everyone is more than welcome to come along and talk Spey, have dinner...............or just a beer. Guys don't miss out on having the chance to watch and Chat and get some tips from Scott, a guy descibed by Way Yin of Scott Rods and many others as the best Speycaster in world. Its a one time deal , be the first in North America to try out Scott's new range of rods and lines. I would have to count the numbers, but pretty sure the class with Scott and Myself the following day is full. Thanks fae Gordo.

"I personally love the underhand casting alot compared to a traditionally scottish nestcast or a mordern/skagit cast as it is alot more easier and less strain in the body as you are using the whole body for the cast and not just your arms." Body movement in Speycasting is as old as the hills, nothing new in that, what is new is the amount of Spey stuff going on in Calgary this past few years, can only be goooooood for all. Gordo. Heading to coo toon soon.

Just thought i would post a wee link to the show, always a great weekend with all the guys, working at Scott Mackenzie's stand, but will take in all the demo's from a great bunch of guys. www.tweedanglingfair.co.uk. if the link does'nt work just search google Gordo.

For rising Trout i have found klinkhammers or the deadly Dawl Bach, are two of the best Trout flies to fish in the surface film, i think Dawl Bach is Welsh for little devil, which at times it sure is. Gordo.

Lots of good advice so far, one point i would make is when shooting line is to make sure you are not letting the line out of your hand until the line has good forward momentum, it must already be travelling forward for it to be able to carry the line you are tring to shoot. As Colin says a positive stop is a must, no creep on the forward cast, and no drift on the back cast. Gordon.

What's with all this Speycasting thing.........i just don't get it, it sounds like fun but not sure if its for me, i have caught so many fish on the Bow with my single-hander.......at least 0 fish, i dont think they are Stocking that river properly. Hope to see some of you guys next month, Lethfisher get out with Toolman and the guys and do it SCOTTISH STYLIE. Gordo.

Hey Bhurt, Dont worry about us we are well trained in the art of drinking beer and teaching, Spoke with Scott this morning he flies in at 3pm Monday afternoon as he is in London doing a demo for a large fishing tackle store then its something to eat and then to the river for a wee demo and chat with anyone interested in Speycasting. The demo as the full day will be at Southland dog Park (can use the bridge for river right and left) . Both Myself and Scott are members of the Scottish Angling National Assocation, which expects us both to adhear to a code of conduct as Instructors, we must both have first aid, a child protection certificate , a health and safety certificate have done a written exam and presentation, we even have to attend a talk on appearance, clothing and behaviour. So a beer or two is alright but thats all it will be on the Monday night. If anybody know a good place for dinner and Speycasting Bullsh** after the demo, fire away and lets pick a place. Thanks Gordo. Got some new Spey stuff coming this week, and will bring my wee ladies 6wt and 7wt 2 handers.