Interesting topic.
Although I am no expert caster, as a dedicated student I pay close attention to fishing situations as part of my approach. Another perspective (situation verses cast mechanics) would compare a double-spey to a snake roll (right bank downriver wind) and a snap-t to a single spey (left bank upriver wind). On the right bank with an upriver wind, a left hand single spey, LH snap-t, RH backhand snap-t, or RH backhand single spey are the casts I would consider.
Based on the above I hardly ever D/S cast anymore due to the snake roll. I think D/S is a very good cast to know because the motion of sweeping around so far reveals a thing or two about building a good d-loop, as noted in Dana's current Speypage issue. But in the situation of right bank downriver wind (or no wind) I prefer the snake by far for it's efficiency and pure fun factor.
The snap-t comes into play for right bank upriver wind situations when I can't get my left-side single spey going, whether left-handed or backhanded. Although it's more work it works more often. I am still working on getting the left side tuned in to single spey casting in this situation, sometimes well and sometimes not so well.
In the left bank upwind situation where a righty might Snap-T, I'd much rather use a single spey or if there's no wind I find a left-handed snake roll is much less work and lets me practice that cast more, it's one of my favorites. Thanks to a recent tip from Danameister himself and lots of practice, it's become a "working" cast for me and feels quite natural. But with an upriver wind it's down to single-spey, snap-t, or reversing from the left side. Of these the single spey is my first choice, and left bank downriver wind is a no brianer for a lefthanded snake roll.
Aside from the situational differences, in winter I find the snap-t to be useful for lifting sinktips out of the hangdown when using full length rods and short to medium heads, and get consistent long shooting lengths due to the fully energized d-loop formation it allows (big sweep). This winter I want to work on low-to-no running line stripping by going to a looped GrandSpey so I will find out if the snap-t helps that situation on the left bank -or- if a single spey will have the initial lift needed using the big Grandspey belly. I will also be trying the mid-spey w/ tips this winter too, where up until this point I either fished inside seams with a DT looped for tips or a Windcutter with tips for winter fishing.
I think I'll go practice my left-handed single spey / snap-T, and backhanded RH snap-T and single spey... all this chat revealed to me that I have a weakness on right bank upriver wind!
Although I am no expert caster, as a dedicated student I pay close attention to fishing situations as part of my approach. Another perspective (situation verses cast mechanics) would compare a double-spey to a snake roll (right bank downriver wind) and a snap-t to a single spey (left bank upriver wind). On the right bank with an upriver wind, a left hand single spey, LH snap-t, RH backhand snap-t, or RH backhand single spey are the casts I would consider.
Based on the above I hardly ever D/S cast anymore due to the snake roll. I think D/S is a very good cast to know because the motion of sweeping around so far reveals a thing or two about building a good d-loop, as noted in Dana's current Speypage issue. But in the situation of right bank downriver wind (or no wind) I prefer the snake by far for it's efficiency and pure fun factor.
The snap-t comes into play for right bank upriver wind situations when I can't get my left-side single spey going, whether left-handed or backhanded. Although it's more work it works more often. I am still working on getting the left side tuned in to single spey casting in this situation, sometimes well and sometimes not so well.
In the left bank upwind situation where a righty might Snap-T, I'd much rather use a single spey or if there's no wind I find a left-handed snake roll is much less work and lets me practice that cast more, it's one of my favorites. Thanks to a recent tip from Danameister himself and lots of practice, it's become a "working" cast for me and feels quite natural. But with an upriver wind it's down to single-spey, snap-t, or reversing from the left side. Of these the single spey is my first choice, and left bank downriver wind is a no brianer for a lefthanded snake roll.
Aside from the situational differences, in winter I find the snap-t to be useful for lifting sinktips out of the hangdown when using full length rods and short to medium heads, and get consistent long shooting lengths due to the fully energized d-loop formation it allows (big sweep). This winter I want to work on low-to-no running line stripping by going to a looped GrandSpey so I will find out if the snap-t helps that situation on the left bank -or- if a single spey will have the initial lift needed using the big Grandspey belly. I will also be trying the mid-spey w/ tips this winter too, where up until this point I either fished inside seams with a DT looped for tips or a Windcutter with tips for winter fishing.
I think I'll go practice my left-handed single spey / snap-T, and backhanded RH snap-T and single spey... all this chat revealed to me that I have a weakness on right bank upriver wind!