Google Robert Gillespie,he's a fan of that cast and it works remarkably well.If it helps any I use it a lot, however I treat it slightly more as a sustained anchor cast and not a true touch n go(I just slow it all down really!),upon the line touching down prior to the forward delivery,I cock the rod ever so slightly upwards and back just a touch, this holds the D loop shape and further "energises" the loop, its then just a simple tap out n up,dont follow through with the rod point but stop high n sharply.I find it so effective this way,I cast a lot further like this off my left shoulder than I do off my much more prominent right shoulder(doh!,I'm totally right handed afraid, my lefts only good for picking my nose and scratching my bum!).
It feels awkward at first and it is very much something you'll have to teach yourself as you go,and if it feels unatural then your part the way there as thats how it should feel in executing this particular cast.
Happy casting,Yorkie

 

For me, I found that learning the single spey with the left hand up was actually pretty easy . . . it just takes a little time and practice. After a short time, it seems pretty natural because you're already familiar with the single spey dynamics. It came to me pretty quickly and is a strong cast.

I find it interesting, though, that my left hand snake roll is more difficult even though my right hand snake is a cast I can do in my sleep. That one hasn't translated as easily for me.

 

Some day, some two handed dude is going to ask "Do you normally fish left handed or right handed"? You will pause for a moment and say to yourself "Yes"! Just keep practicing and look foward to opposite bank single spey opportunities and slow it down as the man said.

Cheers, and Happy New Year to all.

 

Cack-Handed Single

In river right situations, I use that cast more often than any other, winter with Skagits, or summer with scandi and Rage set-ups.

For me the keys are two: 1. Not trying to "reach" too far upstream with my top hand. 2. Making sure that I am turning my shoulders as I set the anchor.

My top/right hand never really gets outside my left shoulder as I finish the upstream sweep. Basically it comes back to the shoulder. Making sure you get an adequate shoulder turn allows this to happen pretty easily.

My 18-yr old daughter has been starting to fish with me; she struggles with a cack-handed double precisely because she tries to reach too far upstream with her top hand.

Lift, turn the shoulders, top hand ends up right at left shoulder w/rod angled upstream, then the bottom hand goes to work. That does it for me.

Will say that it was indeed a hard cast to get right.

Edit: Will add this to SLSS's post below: He says for you to "lean and rotate." Great advice. I almost included in this post my interpretation, which is to "rock and roll." Different words.....but same advice, I think.

 

I use it a lot, more than I ever thought I would. I find the same two keys as the single spey in my dominant side-

1- Upstream foot in front

B- Lean and rotate

I find I can easily slip into casting with my hands and arms, and I'm much better off, especially with a single spey (either side), to start with my weight on my forward upstream foot, lift, then rock back and rotate with the sweep, then reverse that movement with the forward cast.

 

The easiest way to learn SP using non-dominat side is to alternate side every few casts. This way you develop a better muscles memory and the entire process is not so boring and frustrating, before you start making a decent casts.

 

Why struggle with a right hand single Spey on River right when you can practice with your Left ?

My 2 bits worth is to learn how to use your Left hand up. There are just too many situations that you can easily handle when you become proficient with both hands.

 

Agree with kdt. I simply cannot pour the power on with any sort of cack-handed approach. To me, it's like using a backhand when I could simply go with a forehand.

Many years in the handball courts convinced me that I can perform with either hand.

 

I cast cach-handed because I enjoy it. I like the movement, the way it feels, and the result I get. I've worked on my left enough that I can throw a decent single left handed, but prefer cach.

But similar to what wrke said, the cach-handed snake is not working for me, and as I migrate to longer lines, I'm going to have to learn that, which is not coming easily at all. But then it is a new year, maybe that's my resolution.

 

I was becoming very efficient with my left hand up (being a dominant righty) until my left shoulder and elbow injury. Now I am the cack-handed meister ....
Even after 3 extra strength ibuprofen capsules, all it takes is 5 casts and I would be done for the day. My left hand can only stay on bottom, whether following my top hand or can be a dominant underhand. As soon as my elbow raises to my chest, the stars come out.

Both moethedog and SLSS have good pointers. I just went through my cast in my head and it seems I do the same as these two gentlemen. But I'm usually humming Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb when I do a cack-handed single


Mike

 

….I'm usually humming Pink Floyd's Comfortably Numb when I do a cack-handed single

Mike

You sure you don't mean top to bottom of the run?

 

Some time back at a clave, I remember a showing hands for cack-handed followers. Seems they made up the majority like 60:40.

I started switching hands on about every other cast regardless of bank because the first book I read said I should do that. Just fell into using whichever hand on top without giving it a thought. Like everything else though, if I practiced I could probably go cack.

Years back I switched from left handed to right handed archery because I'd had no schooling and was not lining up with the dominant eye. First switching attempts were a complete laugh to watch, but with about 3 practice sessions it became natural. No way could I go back to being a lefty with my bows.

Good luck out there,

 

Like SLSS, I also enjoy casting cachhanded right hand up for both sustained anchor and touch and go casts. I've tried both hands up (and get both to work) and am just more comfortable keeping my right hand up. Probably playing sports most my life and muscle memory is reasoning for this comfort, but I feel like I generally have a very compact and deliberate stroke cachhanded. Focusing on body rotation and tempo while transferring weight seems to generate a lot of power for me while casting cachanded. As my right rotator cuff gets worse each year (non-casting reasons), I'm sure I'll see the light and do more left hand up casting in the future, but for now I'm a right hand up caster.

 

Use the same Gillie eight move as you use on your regular single and throw with the back of the hand. The key is not to ever ever loose tension in the line.

 

Absolutely - that last sentence is the key.

Regards, Tyke.

 

I recorded myself practicing left handed single spey (underhand style)
Open to critique.

In the end there is couple of spiral speys

other angle, better to see anchor placement

 

At first you should do the cast in two definite steps!

Do line lift using only the top hand and then "lock" it to your ribgage . Then do the back cast sweep using only body twist and the bottom hand and then forward cast using only bottom hand.

Then later add Drifting and there it is

Esa

 

Reverse single spey

foreach71,
Keep at it, its not rocket science even though some people might make it seem like that, one important thing i think you should remember is to face the target, turn your body round towards the river a little more and face where you want the fly to land you seem to be facing downstream a little, and have a look at your stance, google open and closed stance and you will see what i mean.
Gordon.
DTX Pro Staff.

 

Keep at it with your left hand up! Your videos are what I was like just 3 years ago and now I find it comfortable to do singles on river right. Like others Snakes are a little harder. Good luck.

 

This link has a video where you can see how the line is lift first using just the top hand and then how the back cast is done using just the bottom hand and then Drift using both hands. However those are only Switch casts and there is no body turning. There are many more Underhand casting videos in youtube and vimeo.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=0AuOx9WGKj0

Here Göran Andersson himshelf shows how to Underhand cast:

https://youtube.com/watch?v=xnc40QQKiVo

 

Keep at it, it'll come. Two suggestions, though, face more across stream toward your target instead of downstream (you should do this for all upstream anchored casts) and if you're going to cast cache handed move your top hand down the grip a ways.

 

Reverse your feet.

Standing as you do, you are blocking your body turn to make the change of direction.. as mentioned above face your target and have your right foot forward then when you rotate your body, it is free to move.

 

Gene's got it: Right foot forward.

 

There is no right or wrong but I think a Closed Stance (rod side foot forward) is what casting instructors currently teach first if caster does not have physical limitations. At least IFFF and EFFA instructors do here in Europe.

Back cast becomes more consistent and forward casting stroke becomes straighter.

Here is a Spayclave Poll: Open is more common but Closed is close

http://www.speypages.com/speyclave/55-technique/24848-casting-fishing-stance.html

Esa

 

I agree with bender and use my rod side foot forward. Some prefer the other way around. Get a bigger D loop with the open stance especially with a Skagit head but I still prefer a closed stance. Shifting your balance between foot forward to back foot and forward again will help with your timing and also gets more energy into the rod with very little effort. You are on the right track...

Bob Meiser said to me when I was struggling and just starting out: " Just get out on the River and practice " . After a while I started to find my way... I have probably watched every Spey casting video on the internet (Good and Bad) The guy I'm trying to emulate these days is Tommy Aarkvisla as my desire is to get better with a long line.

Keep at it.

Practice!