[wrke]

more on that later . . .
but the Grand River Spey Clave was marvelous!

Neil and Rick put together a first class event that should have been more heavily attended. I was especially sorry that I had to leave Saturday night to come home (one daughter who I rarely see arrived Thursday night and left this morning . . . it's tough juggling priorities). But the day on Saturday was absoultelyfirst class.

Andy Murray continues to provide new insights, Rick's presentation was terrific for first-timers. Francois (can't remember his last name) a BC and Gaspé guide, gave a great presentation of double-handed underhand and single hand speys. Brit Gary Champion demonstrated sunk line techniques. I was especially pleased with Neil's clear demos of Skagit casting (and I was grateful that he matched lines to my personal rods). I was also pleased to be able to meet and share ideas with the designers of a couple of my favorite lines . . . James Chalmers (Spey lines) and Andrew Toft (trout lines) from Carron. Andrew let me cast their wonderful 16 footer with the 85' Jetstream and they helped me match the 85 footer with my ARC 1509 (yes, I bought one . . . I also have their 9/10 and 10/11 for a couple of my other rods). Andrew's Spey casting demo was marvelous. A big thank you to the Jacks for sending them across the pond.

*The one thing you all missed was Gordon MacLeod's wonderful presentation on that illusive icon, Alexander Grant. And to top it all off, the best part of all was his "first time ever displayed in public" demonstration of Grant's poorly understood planet cast. I can't wait to spend time with it. What a new "twist" it gives to Spey casting. I'd tell you all about it, but I'd have to kill you first. You should have been there.

So thank you, thank you Neil and Rick . . . and all the guys who came over from Scotland and England. It was a wonderful event.

Bill

 

[wrx_canoe]

Echo Echo Echo

I strongly echo Bill's comments. I'm just a newbie to spey fishing but it was great to see all the various demos and people passionate about spey fishing. I had a hard time absorbing all the information but I've learned so much in such a short amount of time.

To add to what Bill left out on, Sunday entailed more demos, on water product testing, and a casting competition. The longest caster I believe was around 265 feet which was their best right and left side casts combined. Amazing to see the guys bomb out those casts!

Oh forgot to mention there was also a raffle on Saturday night with ridiculously good odds on winning some fabulous prices (e.g. Sage two-hander, Islander and Hardy reels....etc).

Hats off again to Rick, Neil, all the volunteers and sponsors who made it possible. I look forward to the next one.

Cheers,
Preston

____________________________
SpeyPages Contributor

 

[juro]

Rub it in why doncha!

Hi Bill,

Sounds like a GREAT time. Rick and Neil know that I would have loved to attend as I have in previous years, but I was chasing acres of false albacore stationed on a coastal island camp on (Marthas) Vineyard Sound.

Next year I'll try to schedule to attend BOTH

 

[Charlie]

Sounds like this event was a blast! Like Juro I had some other engagements to attend so I could not make it. Knowing Rick and Neil the event had to be top of the line.

Did anyone take pictures?

Charlie

 

[Isgrigg]

Those that were not there really missed out!

Those of us that were there had a really great time!

What a treat to see, talk to and stand in the river with some of the best Spey casters in the world.

Met and talked to a lot of great people from all over the world with a common intrest ... Spey casting.

My thanks to Neil and Rick for a great weekend!

Stephen

 

[SpayDoc]

WOW!! is right

Where do I start--I guess with the overseas contingent--5 of the finest to ever grace the banks of the Grand or any other river!! Andrew, Andy, Gary, Gordon and James were DYNO-MITE!! Four Scots and a Brit!! Then, of course, Francois, Neil, and Rick from Canada--if I forgot anyone, I apologize as I am just too tired from all the good times including demos, company displays, food and drinks, raffles with great prizes, 2 trips to Niagara Falls and one to the Ganaraska River for great fishing!! Camping overnight was really good because we all got to sit around the fire and bond!! There were also at least 3 successful FFF certifications completed.

The other posters talked about the casting and it was truly great--results of the casting competition, with a moderate upstream wind, blowing the fluffy back at the casters are: Total of 2 casts (left and right)

Andrew Toft-Carron - 244 feet winner of the Loomis GLX

James Chalmers-Carron- 241 feet

Andy Murray, perennial favorite-Hardy - 230 feet who would have been first in the Masters Division if there had been one :chuckle:!!

I guess that you could say that the air was blue with Carron lines!! The two most interesting casts (for me) were Gordon McLeod's Planet Cast and Gary Champion's aerialized 180 degree change of direction cast with no anchor!! There is just so much going on in our little world of spey!!

So, Neil and Rick, thank you again for a GREAT weekend!! See you on the river!!

 

[SpayDoc]

message to Juro

I will be looking for you around Chatham next week as I have greetings from Andrew Toft and James Chalmers to deliver.

 

[juro]

Julian,

I sure hope we can hook up while you're here. When I read that Andrew and James were attending it certainly made this date conflict very difficult to take. I look forward to catching up with these two fine gentlemen and casters, Gordon and Mr. James Jack himself on the next opportunity.

 

[Whorwood]

"Wow", you missed it!!

Hi Gents
When you put an event such as this together you sometimes forget or don't get a chance to thank each person individually "Thanks to all"
We had a great two days, the demonstrations and competition were the best, the boys outdid themselves.
A personal thanks to Neil for working so hard to get the event up and running, to his wife Pat and my wife Pat for all your help. Thanks to Marty & Julian for all your help. To the guest casters, you guy's made the event!!, a special thanks to the manufactures and rep's, Fly Fusion Mag. T.U., Friends of the Grand for your generous donations. Neil who did I forget?

Rick Whorwood

 

[SMR]

just a few sample pictures from this past weekend. a great event. start planning for next years Clave now!

Andrew Toft of Carron-JetsStream loading up the best cast of 135'

James Chalmers of Carron-JetStream loading his 133' er

Francois Blanchet of Loop unloads a 90' er

 

[fishingd0]

Great photo's . I wish I could have made it over, however work had to take first priority. What a drag !! Sounds like it was a great weekend for all. Maybe next year.

A big congrats to Andrew and James on getting a 1-2 for the Carron boys in the comp. Looked like a close affair between them once again.

Gordon

 

[SMR]

i have about 40 some odd photos in total...woulda had more but...spent my time casting alot both days

 

[BLACK FRANCIS]

great event, site and talent all around. the folks from across the pond made it something extrordinary to witness and photograph. thanks to Neil and Rick for their monstrous efforts and thanks to the talent for considering this part of the world worthy of their time. here are a few pics to rub it in on the folks who missed it

Gordon Macleod demo

 

[BLACK FRANCIS]

site #2 instruction

 

[BLACK FRANCIS]

carron boys warmup

 

[BLACK FRANCIS]

Gary Champion making it look easy

 

[spey valley]

A big thank you to all

Just got back to some sort of normality after a great weekend in Canada with a great bunch of people,too many to thank but I will give it a go.
Neil Houlding,Rick Whorwood and their good ladies who made the event possible well done guys.Andrew Toft,Andy Murray,Gary Champion and Francois Blanchet for their immaculate demonstrations in very hot conditions, which had something new in them for all of us to learn.A big thank you to Marty you are a true gentleman for taking the time to examine Andrew Toft and Gary Champion for their FFF Qualification over the weekend,which I am sure these guys will be forever grateful.
I met lots of guys over the weekend and to a man one was more enthusiastic than the next ,guys like Bill Kessler,Chris Wilson,Chris Bird from Fly Fusion(see you in therapy for the double double addiction)Gillie sorry about the Islander reel I had to have it,I will give you a T-shirt next time I see you,Muckle Salmon with the singing German Shephard and the passion for an argument with crazy horse Chrome Buck from M I C H I G A N over float or swing, especially after I had filled them up with Speyside Malt and wound both of them up to the max ,I wasnt sure who would end up in the fire first.Eric and Brian from Quest,Jeon Lee and your mate you 2 guys have so much potential in the casting world that I expect to see your name in lights soon,im sorry for burning you fingers with cigarettes but it was the only way I could get my rod and lines back from you you did everything but sleep with them.Jeon I think you should restrict your cigar length from 24 ins to 12 inches as you are going to burn your fly lines in half.Hugh llewellyn a race horse vet who has been in Canada for 30 years a man from the Welsh Valleys WHO HAS NOT FORGOTTEN HIS ROOTS,he could be found easily in the evening staggering around the campfire with his miners lamp switched on.A big thank you to Julian for taking care of Andrew and myself on Monday as we had to do Niagara Falls,the video I took of the Humming Bird in your garden was immense, I did not realise until Monday that your dogs name was Turbo,I just thought it was something that Neil Houlding was shouting as he passed wind round the campfire,if I have forgotten anyone I apologise
Finally I would like to thank Jimmy and Gwyneth Jack from Carron for letting Andrew and myself loose in Canada

James Chalmers

 

[driftin]

Thank you Floyd and Marty

I wanted to take an opportunity to thank Floyd Franke and Marty Tannahill for taking time out of their schedules during the clave to test me for FFF Casting Instructor Certification. Thank you.

The clave was a great experience. The casting presentations were top notch. As mentioned earlier there were great odds for the door prizes. Apparently nobody at a spey clave wants a 9' 7wt single hander. I was the only ticket in the bucket. I had a sure thing on a nice bass bug rod.

Count me in for next year!

Jeff Moore

 

[J. Lee]

spey clave

I had great time in the clave. Casting with world class casters has given me an opportunity of refining my casting skill. I realize a long way to go to master spey casting skill. Jame and Andrew from Carron were great and so were other instructors. My knowledge always improve after test. I can not think of spey clave without casting competition.
Spey valley! don't forget about my spring.

 

[Muckle Salmon]

Added thanks

I would just like to add my thanks to Neil and Rick for the terrific job they did. Few of us can really appreciate the time and effort that goes into producing such an event.Special kudos to their ability to bring such good casters from across the pond. I especially appreciated the company of the fine Scottish gentlemen Gordon and Andrew (don't know if James quite fits in this catagory :lildevl: -well anyone so liberal with his whisky must I suppose :roll: ) as well as that of Gary, "nae bad for an englishman", (the best compliment my grandfather could give to someone from the wrong side of the border), and that French maniac "Francois de Loop guy". I knew I was in trouble when James opened the bottle and tossed the cork in the fire but given the circumstances

"Muckle Salmon with the singing German Shephard and the passion for an argument with crazy horse Chrome Buck from M I C H I G A N over float or swing, especially after I had filled them up with Speyside Malt and wound both of them up to the max ,I wasnt sure who would end up in the fire first"

I was definitely surprised to see a native Glasgow lad :smokin: head for cover at the first sign of a punch up. Things have certainly changed in the Scotland that I left.

Thanks again to Rick and Neil I beleive a good time was had by all.

A heartfelt thanks, Ramsay