Two-Handed Madness
Let's say you're standing waist deep in green, running water. Big, chrome-colored fish swim unseen somewhere in front of you. Now let's say there's a mid-river boulder creating a seam that you just know holds fish. Between you and that rock stands a depressingly wide stretch of depressingly fast water. A high cut-bank rises up close behind you. With a single-handed rod, you might as well be at home mowing the lawn. Even if you could, by some miracle, make the cast, you'd never make the mend, you'd never make the swing and you'd never hook the fish. Thus, the Spey rod.
But it's not as simple as that. Oh, no. In fact, the modern ‑graphite two-handed rod has spawned more factions, movements and schools of thought than almost any other aspect of fly fishing. Long belly lines vs. short belly. Fast action vs. traditional. Sink tips. Double tapers. Shooting heads. There are geographic biases, style issues, personal dogma. The conversation can be downright contentious-or humorous, depending on your point of view. And yet, there are benefits that everyone agrees on: the ability to cover vast amounts of water quickly, even with little or no back-cast room. Unbelievable line control. Incredible casting distances. And, perhaps most importantly, the fact that two-handed rods are just plain fun.
What to make of the many opinions within the Spey casting community? Only that there's really no right or wrong way of playing the two-handed game. The passion expressed by each devotee only emphasizes the unlimited potential of Spey rods as angling tools. And who knows where it might lead? Trout anglers today are using the new ultra-light Spey rods to expand their big-river streamer fishing and indicator nymphing. A few cutting-edge saltwater specialists employ two-handers to throw big flies and heavy tips into fast tidal currents. And, of course, salmon and steelhead anglers continue to dream up new line systems and techniques to optimize their time on the water. Where and how can a two-hander improve your fishing? It's entirely up to you. Have fun.
But it's not as simple as that. Oh, no. In fact, the modern ‑graphite two-handed rod has spawned more factions, movements and schools of thought than almost any other aspect of fly fishing. Long belly lines vs. short belly. Fast action vs. traditional. Sink tips. Double tapers. Shooting heads. There are geographic biases, style issues, personal dogma. The conversation can be downright contentious-or humorous, depending on your point of view. And yet, there are benefits that everyone agrees on: the ability to cover vast amounts of water quickly, even with little or no back-cast room. Unbelievable line control. Incredible casting distances. And, perhaps most importantly, the fact that two-handed rods are just plain fun.
What to make of the many opinions within the Spey casting community? Only that there's really no right or wrong way of playing the two-handed game. The passion expressed by each devotee only emphasizes the unlimited potential of Spey rods as angling tools. And who knows where it might lead? Trout anglers today are using the new ultra-light Spey rods to expand their big-river streamer fishing and indicator nymphing. A few cutting-edge saltwater specialists employ two-handers to throw big flies and heavy tips into fast tidal currents. And, of course, salmon and steelhead anglers continue to dream up new line systems and techniques to optimize their time on the water. Where and how can a two-hander improve your fishing? It's entirely up to you. Have fun.
