Dunkeld Spey Casting
The Vikings invaded Scotland between 800 & 1050AD causing much pillage & rape and general mayhem in the glens and ports of our great nation.
Unknown to most historians we were invaded again in 2005AD with a 'Scandi' angle to our fine traditional Spey casting approach.
The Market Will Change Back To Spey Action
My prediction is that the Spey line & rod market is on the verge of a significant comeback and soon you'll be seeing more Spey products on the shelves and rod stands of the tackle shops. The hindering factor for many who choose the Scandi approach was mainly because they struggled to get the right casting knowledge which these days can be easily obtained through technology that was not available in 2005 when the big change over from Spey to Scandi started to kick off. Personally I'm re-launching my highly effective 'fishing' Spey line in the next few months which flies and swims beautifully. It also hooks salmon effectively and fishes a controlled fly 'at range' as there's minimal 'core stretch' in this product but most anglers don't know anything about the value of low 'core stretch' and how that assists in setting a hook at range.
Get With A Spey Casting Professional
A lesson with one of the Scottish professional Spey casters who understands the value of a smooth high lift that seamlessly merges into a beautiful shoulder engaged smooth swing with a watchful eye for precise execution from the anchor point to the target will be time well invested. Study the sheer aerial 'side on' elegance of the Spey cast and the smoothly powered tight loop as the line is delivered to the river with nothing short of sheer class and you'll start to get it. Then compare the twisting, buckling 'arse over tit' of the weight condensed head section of a shooting head as it leap frogs its way out and enough said!
What Salmon Fly Rod Should You Be Fishing With
If you want real satisfaction and can get your head around the fact that distance without 'fly control' is a completely wasted loss of casting energy then open your ears and trust my professional judgement. I know this isn't what you want to hear but for goodness sake if you're fishing a shooting head and stiff butted salmon fly rod you're missing out on so much enjoyment & satisfaction compared to the elegant tapered Spey line and through actioned Spey rod. You're also missing out on much fly control whether you're aware of it or not that will be costing you a fish or two each season. If you think Spey casting is a huge or bigger effort then you've missed the point that the Speycast when conducted properly & effectively is based on smooth line energy build up which only requires the slightest of touches on the forward delivery stroke.
The Salmon Fishing Tackle Trade
You cannot fault the tackle dealers either for filling their shelves with the all the vast ranges of 'Eric the Red Longboat Stopper' T whatever you want head sections or the 'Up Helly Aa' broom pole Scandi rod ranges as all these items bring in additional sales for additional profits. Talk about choice being a dangerous thing well my goodness this business is even getting too confusing at times for those of us who are professionally involved. There are however many professional ghillies and Scottish salmon fishers who would love to see well designed proper Spey actioned rods & elegantly profiled Spey lines back dominating the market.
Easy Fly Casting For Guides & Ghillies
I completely get the fact that a shooting head line is an easier system to use which makes life easy for an over worked ghillie or casting instructor to get a new fly fisher delivering a line to the river quickly. The thing I question though is where's the thought behind the loss of elegance, casting satisfaction, fly control and even control of the fight when a hooked salmon starts boring deep in a heavy stream and the thick shooting head is drowned & acting like a 'drogue' which only the strongest of hook & leader will tolerate.