I have the same rod & sounds like pretty much the same setup, with a 450 gr. Rio Skagit Flight Line & sink tip. For streamers I bought an 18' T15 sink tip from Fish Tales & cut that up into a 10', 5' & 3' sections. I mostly use the 10' witch is tough thing to cast a first but once you get on to it you can really get some line out, & it sinks to the bottom where the fish are. I also only use about 42" of leader of 12lb & 8lb Maxima. I use all the usual streamers, but not heavily weighted, maybe a conehead. I try to cast straight across from where I stand & then let it swing, & with the T-15 Sink Tip I find it get s down fast & put the streamers in the fish's depth. Then strip it back up where at the point where I sterted the cast as far as how much running line is hanging out of the rod. Now I just started the foray into spey casting as you have, but I have gotten professional lessons, read a lot, talked to fellows on this board & other boards, & bought DVD's. Some days the casts can shoot out into the river, next cast not so much, but what I find the best is the practice, & practice.