[jimsand]

Just wondering.
I took up two handed rods about two and a half years ago. Bought the video tapes but didn't take any lessons. (Fresno Cal. is a spey desert.) Anyway, I set some goals and gave myself three years to accomplish them.
I was wondering how others similarly situated have learned. I found myself fishable after about six months. I could cast 80' with most of my casts. My consistency wasn't there, but I worked on it. I noticed that I would go a couple of months with no apparent improvement and then, bam, one day I'd do noticeably better. I'd go for another couple of months and again, bam. And so I have progressed (four rods later) in this way.
Anyway, I can see the goals I set out for myself in near sight and am looking for some more long range ones. Anybody have any thoughts or comments on their learning curves>

 

[Rick J]

Tapes vs lessons

If you really spend time watching the tapes - especially Derek Brown's - I think you can become fairly proficient in relatively short order. It helps if you are a competent single hand caster and understand the casting basics which are not all that different between one and two handed rods.

That being said, there is nothing like lessons. I have been casting single handed rods hard core for over 25 years and have been a part time instuctor for close to 20 years so was able to pick up the basics watching the tapes (both Derek's and Rio International). I took up the two handed rod not quite 2 years ago and felt pretty good about my skills though they were cerainly somewhat inconsistant. I went to the two day Rogue River Spay Clinic taught by Way and Steve and it really opened my eyes. They have little techniques that are just hard to pick up from the videos. I rewatched the Derek Brown video when I got back from the class and really picked up some points that I missed watching it the first 20 times!!

So take the time and go to one of the classes!! It is really a great way to meet fellow spey nuts and quickly increase the learning curve! Yous should really try to make it to the Sandy River Spey Clave!!

 

[juro]

The Spey clave on the Sandy would be primo if you can make it.

Dana Sturn will be running Spey schools throughout the year and I'm sure the forseeable future as well. Click here for more info.

Another thing that has helped me out is friendly competition. If you are trying to keep up with others who are on the journey, you tend to try harder to stay on the learning curve.

Hope to meet you at one of these Spey sessions someday!