[sean]

Was searching the web last night and came across some photos from Fred's Charity Clinic he puts on on the Rogue every year. I attended this event one year and mark it as the start of my spey casting addiction.

I had thought it was 2002 but turns out it was April 2003 so I have been casting for a shorter amount of time than I thought. No wonder I suck :hihi:

That got me thinking as to the makeup of the spey pages members in regards to how long they have been waving the long wand.

-sean

 

[MJC]

I don't know how long it has been but it was right after Dana started the ISC board.

 

[SparseHairHackl]

Longer than I care to admit.

 

[Rick J]

Sean - was it really only 2003? I also attended that first get together and still have that group photo on my wall in my fly tying room!

 

[sean]

Yeah the first one was 2002 which you must have wnet to and I was at the second in 2003. Thought it was longer than that but I guess not.

-sean

 

[Philster]

fall 1996... but the first picture I have of me with steelhead in my hands and a two handed rod under my arm is dated 3-17-97 :hihi:

 

[baldmountain]

Just a few weeks for me...

 

[SpeyFisher]

Built a 9140-4 in October of '92.

 

[fredaevans]

Far longer than I care to relate.

First time with a spey rod (greenheart, no less) was at age 10 or 12; the first spey rod I actually owned was purchased direct from Sage. Was told at the time it was #4 off the production line.

 

[Ol Rich]

March of 1998, Took a lesson through Kaufman's and never looked back. Got the addiction and have not looked for a cure. Met some great people and have had wonderful times on the rivers.

Rich

 

[flytyer]

1993 was when I got my 1st 2-hander. Since then I fish 98% of the time with one.

 

[inland]

Summer of '93 I first cast one. I have nearly exclusively used one since Fall of '93.

William

 

[BrentComer]

I've only been casting for six months (Jan, 05). I'm glad I started! I feel like I've learned quite a bit in the past six months.

When I made my first post on the board, many experienced casters posted dire warnings about the addictive nature of two-handed casting equipment. So far, I have not matched Kush's rod collection. Not even close. :chuckle:

 

[sinktip]

Don't worry Brent, so far SAGE has not matched Kush's rod collection. :hihi:

 

[Jamey McLeod]

Moved to West Mi (from East central MI) on Jan. 15th of '03, hit the Mo for the first time on the 16th, was in Gander Mtn. buying a 13ft 7/8 St. Croix on the 17th. On the 18th I completely iced the thing solid at 6th street dam trying to cast an 8wt sal/steel taper wondering why it wouldn't work.

 

[juro]

Sean, so those first casts of yours on the Sauk don't count in 2001? They were good in that video clip. I guess the clock starts when you buy a Spey rod.

Ten years this summer for me from my first purchase. I thought it was longer but I did some research and I bit the bullet in 2005, putting my trusty 896 RPL in the closet and it's made but a few appearances since that day.

Having been on the east coast for most of those ten years, there have been some years of regression but the last several have been quite active and the most recent few were downright intense. I like it that way and hope to keep the pace.

I guess the return on investment with all this is by the time we are too old to get away with casting poorly we'll cast so well that our technique will overcome our physical limits and we'll still be able to reach the fish

 

[Grampa Spey]

Juro does time travel. Buys his first rod in 2005 & has 10 years experience

"Ten years this summer for me from my first purchase. I thought it was longer but I did some research and I bit the bullet in 2005, putting my trusty 896 RPL in the closet and it's made but a few appearances since that day."

 

[speybug]

I cast my first two hander on 12-18-04. This is a quote from my fishing journal.
“I cast my first spey rod today at the Day on the river put on by River run anglers in Carnation. I am doomed."
this statement has proven true.

 

[juro]

"Ten years this summer for me from my first purchase. I thought it was longer but I did some research and I bit the bullet in 2005, putting my trusty 896 RPL in the closet and it's made but a few appearances since that day."

Got me on that one Grampa! 1995 was the year of that post I found on another mail list. Apparently that wasn't the first year I fell in love with single malts >hic<

 

[salmo_g]

Depends how you count.

I rolled my first two handed rod from a 16' prototype blank Jimmy Green gave me in 1990 or 91. Although I couldn't "Spey cast" it, I did thrash my line and fly into the Skagit and derricked a hapless 6# hatchery steelhead from the river the first trip out. I think, however, that I've actually been Spey casting since attending the Spey clinic on the Skykomish River February before last. Since then, I'm working less and casting better, and, not surprisingly, enjoying it more.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.