? Old Smooth

[Fishman]

Smooth,
Have you ever had the chance to fly fish with a two handed fly rod and if so what do you think the advantages are of using a two handed rod?


Bob

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Fishman,

Yes I have used a double handed fly rod in the past.... mainly for Salmon fishing though.

I have to admit that I prefer single handed rods as they are lighter in the hand and easier to fish with all day. But the double hander has advantages, in as much as it is designed for casting heavy full lines on big fast flowing rivers. #10 and above. Rod lengths up to 15' but most now are 13' as they are easier to manage.

They originate from Rivers such as the Spey, Tay,Tweed, Teviot, Anann, Moy etc in Ireland and Scotland that are powerful deep running rivers, where a long cast may be neccessary to reach the lying fish.

Roll and Spey casting is the method used on these rivers and is in itself an art form and one that has to be "mastered" to get the best from them.

Some of my fishing is done on smallish rivers and what we call chalk streams that are no more than 5-6 feet deep and maybe 20-30 yards accross so no need to use a double hander.
I have a colleaugue who specialises in teaching double handed casting and he is based in Scotland.... home of the Spey cast, he is absolutely brilliant probably one of the best in this country, although he would not like me saying that. I have seen him cast a size 16 wee double salmon fly 50 yards and put it in a ring no more than 2 feet accross.

I need a size 9 shooting head to do that, but could not put the fly in the ring!

If you are going to fish a lot of big deep fast flowing rivers then it is a method i would reccommend, but..... it is a different casting technique.

Cheers
Shaun

[Fishman]

Thanks for the reply Shawn. In the region I live in I don’t have the opportunity to fish deep fast moving waters. I fly fish small streams with a lot of over hanging trees so I do a lot of roll casting.

Bob

[Old Smoothound]

Originally Posted by Fishman

Thanks for the reply Shawn. In the region I live in I don’t have the opportunity to fish deep fast moving waters. I fly fish small streams with a lot of over hanging trees so I do a lot of roll casting.

Bob

No problem Bob, just love to talk Fly Fishing and fly tying.

I have a spot not too far from me, we call it a BROOK about 10 feet wide, lots of vegetation and trees and about 2 foot deep. The only way to cast is like you roll cast, but also bow and arrow style, you need a soft rod to do it with. I use a #4 and 1/2 a double taper line and 3lb fluro carbon leader straight through, single fly, Hare's Ear nymph or prefer dry flies, size 20 Elk hair caddis is a good one. Shoots the line out when you are in a tight spot. The Brownies only run to 3/4 - 1lb but they are very fit and jump like hell! Lovely fishing though. Usually go up there on a nice warm summers evening, just take a leisurely walk, well mostly on my knees actually!

No-one else around apart from coots, kingfishers and Chironomids (Buzzers, so called because they buzz around your ears), Olives, odd May flies early summer/ late spring. Early mornings are good as well. Just love to see the morning mist rising on a still morning.

Ah wish I was there now!

You must explain a bit more on how you fish your streams and what flies you use, I would be very interested to know. What kind of set ups do you use? And what kind of fish are you targeting?

[Old Smoothound]

Very nice web site Bob,

Is the gear cheaper than the UK?

Want to buy some hand crafted English flies?

[Fishman]

We have a lot of streams like that also, only about 2 feet deep. There also a few catch and release streams in my area. My favorite fly I use when all else fails is a brass beaded nymph.

By the way thanks for the kind words about my site. As far as how much fly fishing gear cost here in the US, it pretty much depends on the quality of the gear.

Orvis sells quality gear and is very pricey. Cabela’s on the other hand has some fine gear at a more reasonably price.

There are some online outlet malls that buy last years gear from Orvis, Simm, Redington and other gear manufactures and sells it at a 30% - 50 % discount. You can sometimes pick up some great deals.


Bob

[Old Smoothound]

Hi BOB,

Thought i would let you know i am going fly fishing on Saturday for a couple of hours, weather permitting.

I am going to fish a lake owned by a friend of mine not too far from where i live. Never fished it before, so i do not know what to expect.

Will let you know on how i fare.

[Fishman]

Hi Shaun,
I have to get out and do some fly fishing soon also. Good luck with the fishing. What kind of fish are in that lake ?


Bob

[Old Smoothound]

Hi Bob,

He is not really sure, but he thinks there may be some Rainbows and Browns. He has seen some large fish patrolling the margins of the lake. So we will see if i can winkle a couple out for him.

How often do you get out to fish, by the sounds of i not often enough, a bit like me!

Too much to do not enough time to fish.

[Fishman]

Hi Shaun

Shaun you’re right. I did not get out to go fishing much this year. But last year for a while there I was going at least once a week when trout season opened.
Let me how you made out fishing that lake. If you have pictures I would love to see them.

Good Luck
Bob