[LabanTayo]

What are the pros and cons of each rod?
I can see that maybe I can use a single hand rod for largemouth/smallmouth bass here in the Midwest. I will be taking a trip to the Deschutes soon, and I am starting to get interested in spey casting (thanks juro and mjc ! )
But, I want to be able to use my spey outfit here in the Kansas City area for bass. I might look kinda weird on a farm pond with a double hand rod, but then again, only the cows will be there to laugh at me.
Can someone suggest the exact componets (rod, line, etc...) that I would need for a mid priced setup in either single or double hand ?
Thanks in advance.

p.s. I think it would be cool spey casting in the Missouri or Kansas rivers here for big blue cats (25-70 lbs, and yes, they do chase flies) or 10-20 pound carp. I hope those species do not tarnish the spey aura, but those fish are fun on a regular fly rod.

 

[flyfisha1]

I believe that you will find a strong contingent of fly rodders chasing carp on this and other forums, so I wouldn't worry that people here will take any offense to the suggestion.

Just my quick .02, as I certainly am no expert in Spey fishing, but I would think that locating a two-handed rod that could both overhead and Spey cast effectively would be the first goal. Obviously, go with the line weight that would best suit your needs. One of Bob Meiser's switch rods would probably work very well, as would some of the CND rods. I'm a fan of T & T most of all, and I've built one rod to do exactly what you're after on a 10' blank. I'm about to start work on a second rod, 11' 7-wt., built as a two-hander, for streamer fishing. I imagine that there are going to many good suggestions about rod models forth-coming.

 

[MJC]

Hey Laban Tayo...

You already have the equipment for single hand spey casting with your 9'-8 wt and that SA bug taper. You may find a specialized line better, but what you now have will do the job.

As for two handers I must tell you I sell CND spey rods so I will say the Expert 1308 @$325.00 or the Expert 1409 @$375.00 will be a very good choice for a beginning caster. There are lots of great spey rods around in the lower price ranges. The St Croix 13' & 14' rods under $300.00, Heritage 14' & 15' rods -$225.00 to $240.00, TFOs @ 300.00 to name a few. There are many brands of very good rods ranging in price from those I have listed to close to a grand. It takes a big reel (3 3/4"-4"+) to balance the rod and hold a "fat" spey line. Something like an 10/11 Okuma or the largest Pflueger on the lower priced end up to whatever you can or want to spend. A floating spey line will run between $65.00 to $75.00 with a multi tip being double that.

While I would say some lessons from an experienced spey caster are the best, being in the area you are may limit that. Besides this forum, a good spey casting video would be the best investment short of an experienced spey caster giving you hands on info. Rio's International Spey Casting, John and Amy Hazel spey casting video, Derek Brown's Spey Masterclass video are some very good ones.

When you go west to go steelheading if you want to try spey casting hire a guide that does spey casting for a day. They will have tackle available and will give you some instruction. Take care, MJC

 

[Carl]

warmwater spey/two-handed fishing

I'm finding spey casting techniques and equipment very adaptable to warmwater. Wading near shore and either fan casting or fishing along shore, I'm finding the bass/pike taper lines work very well using a snap-T and extra anchor/slow timing (Skagit style). I'm fishing the 11'7" 5/6/7 Meiser rod, but you could do the job with any spey rod (lighter is probably better). The general Skagit line guideline is to have the head 3-3.5x the rod length, and I'm finding 35-38' to be good. The grain weight you cast Skagit style is higher, and so it may take a bit of discussion and trial to get the right line. I'm currently using 470 grains at 35', which is a cutoff old SA Mastery Spey 10/11. With more line (or sink-tip) used in the anchor and a smaller loop, the actual load on the rod is much less than the actual head weight.
I also fish a lighter rod (11' 6wt Cabelas FT) that I added a bottom handle to. It likes an 8wt pike taper at 240 grains. Whereas the Meiser rod handles fish up to 15 lbs, the Cabelas rod is better fit for fish under 6 lbs, if we're talking about efficent landing for release. With both rods, shooting casts to 70'+ is a breeze with the snap-T...and I can do it all day effortlessly. No double hauls, and no sore or tired arm or shoulder.
Carl

 

[Dr. Swing]

Blue Cats?

Get those things to eat a fly on the swing (any swingy water over in Kansas) and I might fill my waders. 70lb catfish....... on a fly...... I could learn to love that. How's the Speyfishing for Gar? We've only scratched the surface...... :Eyecrazy:

 

[LabanTayo]

Thanks everyone for all the good info. there's a lot to take into consideration. first i need to get a video to help visually decide what direction i need to go in.
i've never fished for gar on purpose, but in the tailwaters of Fall River, that could be fun. for blues on a fly, chum a hole or creek inlet, and swing a clouser minnow or shad immitation in the hole and let it swim around. flatheads will be harder to catch on a fly, because they like 'live' bait. blues and channel's will hit artificials.
so many decisions........

 

[Maxg]

There is so much to do and no time to do it. The problems just keep getting bigger and the double handers capable of handling the jobs more prolific on a daily basis. We are just finding out how good the things are, everywhere. Try a Loop greenline in 8/9 or 9/10 in 12' with an adaptive head and tip kit. Max