Selecting the proper gear:
So where do we start and how best do we avoid buying the wrong gear? Well there is really only one answer to this question, and you've already guessed it, go to an instructor. Instruction comes in all shapes and guises but if there's one thing I've learnd, we never stop needing it and we never stop learning as a result of it. No matter how good we are, there's always something new to learn and a new technique to explore. Thankfully, unlike so many other outdoor activities, our sport is not governed by physical prowess and so if you can master the basic Spey-Casting techniques, you can fish as well as the next man, or woman, come to that...…. …….Young or old there are no boundaries in Spey Casting.
I find it fascinating, and exciting, at how anglers from around the globe are continually putting a new spin on this wonderful cast. Yes, we still have people out there using the more 'traditional' Scottish Spey casting techniques of old but on the whole, they are in a minority. More and more Spey fishers and Instructors are opting for faster action rods that by their nature are more practical and a lot more efficient compared to those of yesterday. However, with improved efficiency, there comes a price. While most modern 'fast-action' rods are designed to deliver tight loops and long casts, compared to the wide arc and long stroke of the traditional rod, they are also significantly lacking in what a true beginner needs to get him started on the Spey road, and that's 'feel'.