[speybum]

I had a question ask of me the other day that I cannot answer.
Where in which book or letter was the word spey put together with the word cast?
I thought it was in Fine and Far Off by Jock Scott. But I might have missed it or got switch cast mixed up with speycast.
Please let me know chapters and verse.

SPEYBUM

 

[Poul]

Interesting question. My book collection is mostly quite contemporary and not too many european books but I had a quick look through it anyway.

The earliest reference I could find to a "Spey cast" was in Bryan William's "Fish and Game in British Columbia", 1935, page 32:

"To become really proficient there are several other casts which you will have to master, such as the "Switch" or "Spey", which are somewhat similar, also the "Loop"."

I'm sure there's a much earlier reference and will keep looking. Might be the first north american reference, tho.

Poul

 

[flytyer]

Speybum,

Kelson talks about the "spey cast" in his opus "The Salmon Fly, published in 1895. Hardy also speaks of it in his book "Salmon Fishing" circa 1890. Knox speaks of it in "Autumn on the Spey", circa 1865. Don't remember if Blacker mentions it is his book from 1855, and I don't have my copy here in the room with the computer to check and see if it does. Perhaps some of the fellows from across the pond can let us know if it was mentioned earlier that Knox's book.

 

[speybum]

FLYTYER

I was hoping for a page??
I am rereading Autumns on the Spey now.
Will reread The Salmon Fly.
Thanks
Speybum

 

[juro]

Flytyer - I am impressed to say the least!

 

[Rick Whorwood]

Angling History

The History of the Spey cast:
I have a later edtion of Francis Francis, 1920. If someone has a first 1867, maybe you could check it and see if this was written in that edtion.
This cast is called by various names; sometimes "the Welsh or Spey cast", or according to the name of some other rivers where it is practised. FF

I had a quick look through a number of my old books (early 1800) and have not found any mention of the Spey casting (other than Kelson, FF) I'll keep looking and let you know if I find anything.
Rick

 

[flytyer]

Rick,

It is mentioned in the Francis Francis original ediction of 1867, I have the reprint edition published by Fly Fishermans's Classic Library.

Juro,

I have been reading about fly fishing and fly tying since I was 7 years old, I am now 49. I have also been fortunate to have attended Penn State for the B.S. in Education I have from 1970-1975 and read a large number of the fly fishing and tying books that were in the Penn State Library collection. And I have a rather large number of fly fishing and fly tying books in my personal library. Therefore, providing some of this information is not that difficult.