toolman

Wow, sounds like you have been Spey fishing for a long time Brent, or are you just recycling old assumptions? Maybe I should post a link to Team USA's, John Wilson, who's thread tells the story of how the European teams crushed them with the long rods on the little rivers, at last summers World Flyfishing Championships. As for the fight of an 18" Crowsnest Bow on the Deercreek, it was great, but I don't normally fish 14" Crowsnest trout for the "fight", as there are plenty of badazz trout on the Bow to kick my butt any day of the week.

Hmmmm....I fished my DeerCreek 6126 with #20 flies, on the Crownest back in October and found it too be the right tool for the job. Did pretty good that day with Hawgstoppah if I recall and I think there may have been a post about it a while back... Thing is, I have been out with my two handed rods about 250 times in the last 15 months and have fished them in every situation on big water and small. There were many challenges that I normally would have considered using a single hander, as I thought it would be easier and it would have been, had I brought one, but....I learned how to fish my two handers in situations that are thought of to be the domain of single handed rods and to my delight, I found that long rods rule....anytime, anyplace...you just need to learn HOW to use these tools to their full potential. Then you will be amazed at the possibilities....Just my .02 cents on the matter. ps. Do you know how many times I was told "two handers are no good for the Bow or trout fishing, that's for Steelhead and Salmon".....Good thing I did'nt listen eh....

We will arrange a second Loop Spey school on the same weekend if there is continued interest, as we seem to have already filled the first school. We'll get the available dates worked out and post them so we can decide which weekend/day is best for you guys.

That's great guys and now there are only a few spots left if anyone is interested.

The Loop school will extensively cover the use of shooting heads (Skagit & Scandi) and sink tips etc.

We'll be doing that next Chinook, Brent. I think it is also ok for a few guys to hire someone to help them improve their casting skills.

I would do both Schools and learn a ton of stuff. Having your casting evaluated by expert instructors will make sure you don't have too much time to pick up bad casting habits and this will really accelerate your skills. I attend every Spey School I can and I'll be at both of them.

We have been discussing the possibility of having a Loop Spey School, in May, hosted by Loop Casting Clinicians, Brian Niska and Francois Blanchet. Both of these gentleman are incredible casters/guides/fisherman. Brian has the highest level of casting certification in Canada and is a Federation of Flyfishers(FFF), Master Fly Casting Instructor(MCI) and Two Handed Casting Instructor(THCI). Frank is also a FFF Certified Casting Instructor (CCI) and one of the cleanest Two Handed Casters in the business. This day clinic will be limited to 8 participants, with the two instructors and at a cost of around $150/person. Anyone interested?

I'm in for the next gathering of the Clan...

Major envy looking at that picture. That's a dynamite combo Rusty, congrats.

I picked up a CND GPS 5/6 Spey line for my little Deer Creek 6126. And of course a Vac-Rac , Pro Combi, that will transport all 8 of my Spey rods at the same time! And a couple hundred wet flies, four fly boxes....but.. I did not buy another Spey rod!

Thanks to Rick and Jackie for hosting and good job with the cookin' Rick, delicious. Nice seeing everyone and we should do this again.

Lethbridge...never heard of it...that in Canada?

Rick, I'll bring plates, forks, spoons, knives etc.

I'll be there Rick. Let me know if you need anything and I'll bring it along, coffee, paper plates, cups, juice etc.

That's great to hear Clarki and a beauty pike. Thanks for the pics.

I've had a few folks asking about this recently.

The ice conditions were fine today, but the flows are a little low for my liking. Lots of wind, but getting milder. Tommorow may be good fishing if the flows come up tonight.

I highly recommend all of Jim's books and his latest release, "Water Marks" is just an excellent read. Jim has been high on my list of fishing mentors, since I first started flyfishing for trout.

Jones, thanks for the information. I enjoyed reading your response. I hope to get out and collect aquatic inv. samples from the Bow river very soon and will post pics in the Entomology forum.

The DC 6126 is a very nice Spey rod, which I own and use. I also own the DC 8130, which is also a very nice rod. I use an AirFlow Delta 6/7, Multi Tip on my DC 6126 and would also recommend the CND GPS spey line for this rod. The moderate action makes it ideal for close up high stick nymphing or long delicate dry presentations and streamers. I routinely use the DC 6126 with 4-5x Fluro tippets, for larger trout, without problems.

I would add that the same degreasing is often neccessary for mono/fluro, leaders/tippets as well. I usually just use a clean wet rag and give them a wipe. For cleaning Airflow floating lines, which are made from PolyUrethane and not PVC, which is used by most other line manufacturers, I've read that Airflow recommends using "El Slicko", STP "son of gun". I have been using a clean wet rag and then an application of line dressing for all of my floating lines. I try and keep my floating lines clean at all times to get the highest floatation possible and to improve shoot-ability. Some lines float higher than others, but when buying a new line, it's always a trade off between line belly/taper profiles, floatation, durability, castability, shooting qualtities, mending abilities, turnover etc. And don't forget to clean your running lines, used with your shooting heads as well.

Excellent post Islandguy and thank you. I would add, that the Airflow 14' Salmon Polyleaders, are available with a rated 40lb. B.S. Also, that it is possible to trim P.L.'s to length, to fine tune and balance your rod/line/leader system, as Islandguy did when he trimmed his fly line back 18". Edit: Just had another look at the Airflow 14' Salmon floating PL, which has printed on the package... "add level tippet up to 40lbs." The tapered end of the leader however, has a 24lb. mono loop.

I have been speaking with many new Spey casters recently and most have asked questions about the use of PolyLeaders with their Scandi heads, such as which size/length/sink rate, application etc,. So if anyone has questions about the use of polyleaders, ask away. It will give us something to talk about while it snows. Also, if any of the senior Spey guys, ie. Islandguy, Whistler, et al, would like to write something up explaining the use and selection of Polyleaders, it would be greatly appreciated.

Ta Da....great idea SIA