Spey: Defined And Demystified

Spey Casting or Spey Fishing has a multifaceted definition that refers to both the type of fly casting and the type of rod used to make spey casts. In this article you will find a brief and straightforward explanation of both of these aspects of the spey casting method and style of fly fishing and the purpose of using them. What is a spey cast? A common misconception is that a spey cast is just a roll cast. This is not the case. I like to say “you can make a roll cast with a spey rod, but a roll cast is not a spey cast.” A spey cast is a cast where the tension of the line on the water is used to load the rod as opposed to a traditional fly cast where the tension of the line in the air is used to load the rod. A spey cast is made by lifting the fly line from the water, “anchoring” it on the water, and then pulling against this anchor to create tension on the fly line. When the rod pulls against this anchor to create the line tension, a loop is formed between the rod tip and the water called a “D loop”. When this happens, the rod is loaded and can be directed toward the target to complete the cast. Unlike an overhead cast, a spey cast can be completed with very little or no backcasting room and this is the biggest advantage and core reason to use it. Also unlike overhead casting, spey casting involves no false casting, thereby keeping your fly in the water for a much longer amount of time. What is a spey rod? A spey rod is simply a longer, two-handed rod anywhere from 11 to over 18 feet (most commonly 13-15) that can execute a spey cast better than a shorter single hand rod. Because of its longer length, a spey rod is capable of handling a larger amount of line, which makes it easier to perform most spey casts. With this longer length, the spey rod can also deliver the cast higher in the air and generate more power, giving greater distance to the cast with much less effort. In addition a longer spey rod can give better line control, pull off bigger mends, achieve longer drifts and many more things that a shorter single hand rod cannot.