[Edgewalker7]

I'm new to fly fishing and having bad time starting out. Ordered a reddington chromer that broke in half on the 3rd cast. Went to Nomad anglers in GR and they sold me an echo 10'10" #8. Now after a month of waiting for shipping, trying to research and buy the right stuff, going to fly shops. I can't cast to save my life. It's like the shooting head is just stuck in the water. It's a 425 grain skagit max. I'm gonna try the 575 skagit max short I ordered on accident for the now broken chromer. Any tips for a total beginner? Or anyone near that show me how to do this? Tried some fly shops but casting classes were cancelled due to covid.
Thanks all the help guys.

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[partsman]

Edgewalker, check out the youtube video skagit casting defined and simplified. Also the north american flyfishing forum has a whole section devoted to spey and skagit fishing. I feel your pain, I really want to get better at this, and I would take some lessons, but this covid b.s. is really putting a damper on everything. Anyway check out these items as I have found them helpful, and the guys at nomad anglers are helpful, but for now it is what it is.
Mike.

 

[OH-YEAH!!!]

I'm new to fly fishing and having bad time starting out. Ordered a reddington chromer that broke in half on the 3rd cast. Went to Nomad anglers in GR and they sold me an echo 10'10" #8. Now after a month of waiting for shipping, trying to research and buy the right stuff, going to fly shops. I can't cast to save my life. It's like the shooting head is just stuck in the water. It's a 425 grain skagit max. I'm gonna try the 575 skagit max short I ordered on accident for the now broken chromer. Any tips for a total beginner? Or anyone near that show me how to do this? Tried some fly shops but casting classes were cancelled due to covid.
Thanks all the help guys.

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It’s like riding a bike. Hard to get the balance but then natural once you do. Keep the faith!

The timing is really tough in the beginning. Contact www.troutmoor.net and ask about their spey casting lessons. Bob from their shop got me going in about an hour.

 

[Honyuk96]

My advise. Don’t spend another dime until you know your gear is properly matched. Forget Nomad. Go see (specifically) Bob Braendle at Great Lakes Fly Company in Rockford. He will get you sorted. Spey casting doesn’t come easy and w the wrong gear you wil flail and flail

 

[Edgewalker7]

My advise. Don’t spend another dime until you know your gear is properly matched. Forget Nomad. Go see (specifically) Bob Braendle at Great Lakes Fly Company in Rockford. He will get you sorted. Spey casting doesn’t come easy and w the wrong gear you wil flail and flail

He spooled my reel for me this morning and sold me a shooting head and some flies to get me started but that was for the chromer rod. So now I'm not sure if this shooting head will work. The chromer was 7 weight 13"6' and now I got a echo 8weight 10"10'. I did try out a rio Skagit max short that did seem better but it's a 575 grain. Seems a bit heavy buy honestly, what do I know? I'll definitely keep at it.

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[Edgewalker7]

It’s like riding a bike. Hard to get the balance but then natural once you do. Keep the faith!

The timing is really tough in the beginning. Contact www.troutmoor.net and ask about their spey casting lessons. Bob from their shop got me going in about an hour.

I did. Canceled due to covid-19.

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[Edgewalker7]

Edgewalker, check out the youtube video skagit casting defined and simplified. Also the north american flyfishing forum has a whole section devoted to spey and skagit fishing. I feel your pain, I really want to get better at this, and I would take some lessons, but this covid b.s. is really putting a damper on everything. Anyway check out these items as I have found them helpful, and the guys at nomad anglers are helpful, but for now it is what it is.
Mike.

Great video! I need to get back out and try again. I must have looked like a retard out there flipping a rod around then having it snap in half

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[Honyuk96]

If Bob set you up w a head for your rod, that’s a good start. The guy knows spey. The rest is up to you. Again, spey casting does not come easy, but when your gear is properly matched and you are an adequate caster,it’s a beautiful thing. Schedule some private spey lessons w Bob. It will come

 

[Edgewalker7]

I believe you but the rod he set up is already on its way back to Amazon. He has not seen my new one that is way different in length.

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[Honyuk96]

Don’t open that line then. Wait till you get the rod and then bring the entire setup into Great Lakes. If the line is not righT, i’m sure they’d be happy to swap it for the correct one.

 

[Honyuk96]

Your rod should be labeled, i’d hope, w a grain window. If athe rod doesn’t have that info, check the paperwork that comes w it. All about the proper grain window. Good luck

 

[Edgewalker7]

Your rod should be labeled, i’d hope, w a grain window. If athe rod doesn’t have that info, check the paperwork that comes w it. All about the proper grain window. Good luck

I was in gr practicing with the Redington Chromer when it broke. Went to the ups store and sent it back to Amazon. I didn't want to call it a day so I stopped at Nomad and he set me up with an Echo SR. So yeah I got all mixed up. The Redington is a spey and the echo is switch. I liked the feel of the longer chromer better but I haven really have the echo a fair chance. I went from a 13'6 to a heavier weight 10'10. The 425 grain skagit max head I got at Great Lakes in Rockford is within the grain window I believe. Should I be able to cast that with a 10'10" rod? Do I need the short version or is that just a luxury?

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[Edgewalker7]

According to this rio chart I need a 500 to a 550. View attachment RIOlinereccomendations.pdf

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[Edgewalker7]

But then the Echo web site says 480 to 510.

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[Honyuk96]

425 for a 10’10” sounds in the ballpark. Both rods are good rods. Rod makers recommendations are a foundation to start. So many other factors come into play. How heavy of tips are you using ? How long is your leader ? Just assuming here you are using tips in Mi. Some guys toss dry lines w long mono leaders. All aboot dialing in your setup w what you want to do, but starting in the right ball park grain window wise, is where you start. And schedule some lessons w Bob, will be the best money you spend. Go to the spey clave gatherings yearly up on the MO. You can try every rod/line combo you can think of and there’s a vast array of spey knowledge there to answer questions.

 

[Edgewalker7]

I'm using 10ft t8 mow tips that were recommended so I can practice without hanging on the bottom.

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[Honyuk96]

Sounds right. If the line is properly matched, which it sounds like it is, now you just need to learn how to cast it. Spey casting requires an anchor. My guess is, if you are having issues, it’s probably anchor related. Spey casting relies on the anchor to load the rod, in turn, turning over your line. You’ll get there eventually.

 

[Edgewalker7]

So I guess 10 feet of t8 is 80 grains and my 425 grain head adds up to 505 total. Knowing that makes me feel better about the setup.

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[Edgewalker7]

Sounds right. If the line is properly matched, which it sounds like it is, now you just need to learn how to cast it. Spey casting requires an anchor. My guess is, if you are having issues, it’s probably anchor related. Spey casting relies on the anchor to load the rod, in turn, turning over your line. You’ll get there eventually.

Ya apparently I was trying traditional spey casting when I should have been skagit casting. Maybe now I can make progress without poles exploding in my face


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[Honyuk96]

On your particular setup, i can’t confirm exactly. All rod manufacturers are differen’t but generally speaking, yes, tip weight as well as actual line weight, together, make up your “grain window” weight. I too, would suggest practicing w a normal type spey fly w the hook cut off. Once your casting is dialed in then you start experimenting w dumbell eyed types, if that is your thing. Sign up on the Speypages. It’s free and a wealth of knowledge