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Very occasionally a book comes along with the potential to fundamentally change how we approach fishing for trout. Simon Gawesworth’s book falls into that category. Paradoxically it contains little that is truly revolutionary. Instead it applies what is already known about the mechanics of fly casting in a novel context. For years spey casting has been used by anglers fishing for salmon with double-handed rods. Gawesworth uses clear photographs and well-chosen words to show how spey casts can be used with a single-handed rod on rivers with restricted space for overhead casting. Gawesworth grew up fishing narrow rivers in Devon that are characterised by overhanging vegetation. The inhabitants are small (six to 12 inches long), wild and ‘spooky’’.
Knowledge of Spey casting is invaluable in this type of situation. But I fished these rivers for over 25 years using conventional overhead casts. And so did everybody I met. Consequently fishing effort tended to be concentrated in a few large, open, often slow-moving pools that contained progressively fewer and fewer sizeable fish. And a tradition of river maintenance developed that relied on clearing overhanging vegetation to facilitate overhead casting. Removing overhanging vegetation can expose fish to aerial predation and lead to a downward spiral in fish habitat and angler enjoyment. Hopefully – by showing how to cope with bankside obstructions - Gawesworth’s book will lead to a more sympathetic approach to preserving good trout habitat on our rivers.
Nowadays many anglers learn to cast on stillwaters and then progress to fishing for wild brown trout in rivers where short accurate casts are needed. Some find the transition difficult. In part this is caused by unsuitable tackle. Fast tip actioned rods are well-able to cast a fly a country mile and there is obviously a market for this type of equipment. But trying to learn how to roll cast a short (10-15 feet) length of fly line with one of these rods can be difficult. Gawesworth’s book may encourage more manufacturers to develop rods that enable the average angler to roll cast with confidence. Already we are beginning to see innovation in fly line design with the introduction of Skagit lines for single-handed rods.
“Single-Handed Spey Casting” presents clear descriptions of the roll, switch, single spey, double spey, snake roll and snap T casts. These casts drag the fly through the water in the initial lift phase of the cast. This is not a problem if you want to reposition a wet fly across and downstream. But small stream trout fishing usually involves casting a dry fly upstream, and spey casts can waterlog a dry fly. Gawesworth describes how to overcome this problem in a chapter devoted to the dry-fly spey cast. This is a combination cast. It starts with several overhead or side false casts to dry the fly, followed by a single spey or snake roll cast to deliver the fly upstream and across the river.
However on some rivers Gawesworth's dry-fly spey cast is difficult because bankside vegetation prevents overhead or side casts. Also – as a casting instructor - I have found that timing the single spey element of the cast can be difficult for beginners to master. But it is possible to substitute other casts described by Gawesworth for the single spey element. Gawesworth advises beginners to use the 'crude spey' cast before attempting to master the conventional single spey. The crude spey involves lifting the rod and sweeping it overhead until it points at the target. Lowering the rod point dumps line just downstream of the angler. The angler then forms a D loop before executing the forward stroke. One advantage of the crude spey is that it need not be rushed. The angler has plenty of time to avoid snagging the line on vegetation and set up the D loop opposite the intended target. Once the student has gained confidence with a crude spey they can be introduced to the snap T cast. This has the same function as a single spey and many people seem to find it an easier cast to master.
Incidentally, water can be flicked off a fly by repeated roll casts made directly upstream well away from fish holding areas. I use the phrase ‘line parking area’ to describe this area of relatively shallow, slow moving and unproductive water to distinguish it from deeper fish-holding water along the opposite bank. The line preparation area can also be used to adjust the amount of line outside the rod tip prior to using a crude spey cast to deliver the fly.
Read more about our approach to single-handed spey casting here ...
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You can order Simon Gawesworth's book through our bookshop here ...