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The balance
of rod, reel and fly line is essential for effective and enjoyable Speycasting
for Salmon. If the system is out of balance, not only will your casting
be sub-optimal, you will retire in the evening feeling dissatisfied and
weary. Matching a fly line to rod is not so difficult if AFTM ratings
are followed, though we often find that a good Speycasting rod enjoys
casting a line which is rated a grade heavier than recommended. The reel
weight and capacity should be appropriate to rod length and line rating,
but unless the reel is particularly heavy, imbalance is rarely a problem.
We
are all in a privileged position in having a great selection of quality
fly fishing gear to choose from. Here we discuss the aspects of particular
items of tackle that we feel are important and we recommend certain manufacturers
where their products excel.
Please note that Ian is quite happy to source various items of gear, from rods to flies for anglers who are uncertain of their requirements. Feel free to phone or e mail to ask for advice prior to purchasing. He will discuss the options for any given budget, order the chosen goods and deliver to a destination of your choice. Postage charges will need to be covered but prices will be as seen at the high street supplier. You are under no obligation, just give him a call. If you have any general Salmon fly fishing queries he is very happy to give advice.
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The
Speycast consists of a series of loops. The set up of a nice loop prior
to the forward cast, which is what the Speycast is all about, is essential
to a quality delivery of the fly. A good Speycasting rod will always have
a through action where the rod flexes down to the butt. This may seem
initially a little strange to anglers who are more familiar with stiffer
blanks designed for overhead casting. A through action blank is merely
an extension of the fly line loop and vice versa. The power of the rod
is transmitted through a rolling loop in the line rather straight down
the line, as in the overhead cast. Having said this, the Speycasting rod
will still ably handle the overhead cast. Many traditional blanks are
too stiff for Speycasting and the rod attempts to lift the line off the
water, rather than transmitting the whip of the rod down the line.
We always recommend taping the joints of a Speycasting rod. The nature of the cast encourages twist and if sections work loose, it is possible to break the rod. Use a tape that will not damage the varnish - try Scotch 3M tape from Sportfish.
Bruce and Walker are at the core of fly rod technology when designing rods for Speycasting. The firm was founded by a combination of the enthusiasm and technical knowledge of an engineer and a thinking fisherman. Jim Bruce and Ken Walker were the first to design Salmon rods specifically with Speycasting in mind. Their rods, in our opinion, have yet to be bettered.
The Powerlite Speycaster range of rods have a beautiful lightweight blank, but have the power and sophistication for expert Speycasting in a variety of conditions.
The Double Speycaster is the expert's dream, having interchangeable tips for use with sinking or floating lines.
The Norway Speycaster is a little stiffer than a standard Powerlite, but has been designed to combine distance on big rivers whilst retaining exquisite presentation.
Bruce and Walker rods are fully tested in the field and the company
listens carefully to the valuable comments of gillies and experienced
fishers alike. Any rod can be modified during manufacture, according to
personal preference with respect to action, fittings and finish. See their
website for further details by clicking onto the logo.
The
reel is essentially a capacitance vessel. It holds the line and makes
it available when starting to cast and yields it to a fish during play.
There is therefore often more aesthetic than functional appeal when it
comes to selecting a Salmon fly reel. Having said this, there are a number
of elements that are important, in our opinion, in the selection of a
Salmon reel.
Firstly, the reel must be able to hold a full length of appropriate weight fly line and backing without becoming tight against the rim. Not much can go wrong with a reel, but if it jams on a Salmon you have lost your fish.
Secondly, a quality ratchet is important not only for aesthetic feel, but for controlled release of line as a fish takes the fly. We believe in fishing "off the reel" and a smooth yield of line at the take is ideal.
Thirdly, one needs to feel "in touch" when playing a Salmon off the reel. A disc drag reel is very attractive in this respect; fly line will be given out easily, but steadily retrieved during play according to the Salmon's demands. One always feels much more "in touch" with a fish when played off a disc drag reel.
Finally, a large arbor reel has a tremendous line capacity, has a low start up inertia when a fish pulls and yet has fast line retrieval similar to a multiplier, but without the weight.
There are many reels on the market to choose from. Go out and handle them in the store or preferably on the riverbank and decide according to your pocket.
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A careful choice of line type is essential when one considers the depth at which a Salmon fly must be presented. Lines are chosen according to sink rate that is specified by the manufacturer. In warm water, we fish a fly close to the surface on a floater. In cold water, we fish a fly slow and deep on a fast sinker. Please bear in mind, however, that the size and weight of fly, type of leader and speed of flow will all ultimately affect the depth at which your fly fishes.
There are very many lines to choose from. Here are some specific notes of interest.
- For Speycasting, a double taper profile line is generally recommended. A forward taper line has an insufficient length of belly outside the rod tip to load the rod. More recently, speycasting lines have been developed. These have an extra length of forward belly which allows loading of the rod, but also have better shooting capacity from a thinner running line.
- A sink tip line is attractive in that one can follow the speed of traverse more easily than with a slow sinker (or intermediate). However, the density of the sinking tip makes casting more tricky and encourages splash as it meets the water. An intermediate or slow sinker fishes the fly at a similar depth, but is easier to deliver having a more uniform density. These lines, however, have to be lifted or rolled to the surface before they can be taken into a speycast and shot.
- A variety of interchangeable tip lines are now available. These have a stiff loop to loop connection that does not allow hinging and loss of control of the tip. A fast sinking tip can be fished on a floating running line and yet the fly can be presented deep for cold water Salmon. Tips can be changed quickly and easily and bulky spare spools become redundant. The running line allows tremendous long casts to be delivered with ease.
We have particularly been impressed with the Rio Windcutter lines
by Jim Vincent.
Also see:
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Nylon monofilament line is still the forerunner of leader material for Salmon fly fishing. It is strong, tolerant, flexible and relatively invisible underwater. The strength of leader is chosen according to the time of year, size of river and fish to be encountered and the size of fly to be presented.
Excellent monofilaments are produced by Maxima.
More recently fluorocarbon leaders have attracted interest. This material can generate strong thin leaders which sink readily yet have a low refractive index. This may be important when presenting small flies to Salmon in clear, low water conditions. The pay-off, is that the material is a little stiffer and may be more prone to breakage at knots. The jury is still out. Give them a try and see what you think.
The
best Salmon fly is the one that instills confidence in the angler. Such
is often generated by previous success, but a strong recommendation for
an effective pattern is the next best thing.
We believe
that the dressing of the fly is important. Salmon flies should be tied
slim and streamlined. A common error is to add too much dressing. The
fly should always appear as an illusion. Too much dressing or colour makes
the fly too bulky and, therefore, less attractive to the Salmon, particularly
in clear water. Always buy good quality hooks.
We
can provide a selection of recommended Salmon flies in various sizes for
fishing the Spey, Dee, and Findhorn Rivers throughout the season. Please
let us know what you require and we will tie them to order. We can supply
them mail order or have them ready to collect at the start of your fishing
week.
The photo below shows a selection of Purple Cascade and Orjok patterns from size 6 to 10 doubles. These have been extremely popular with our clients through the years, especially in peaty water conditions. We can also tie up selections of flies of your own liking to order. Please contact ian@speycaster.net to discuss your fly requirements.
Popular patterns most frequently requested are the Copper bodied Ally Shrimp, Red Ally, Yellow Ally, Cascade, Purple Cascade (gold or silver body), Orjok, Black Blue and Silver, Mad Max, Purple Haze, and the Sunray Shadow.
If you are looking for something a little different, then Par Palm is an expert fly tier based in Sweden. Visit his website and take a look at his cone head patterns by clicking on the logo below:
Partridge of Redditch
provide an excellent range of handmade Salmon hooks, waddingtons and tubes.
Waders are considered an accessory item of gea,r but we feel they should feature high in the list of priorities. They should be warm, comfortable and safe.
The felt sole is still the best all rounder providing excellent grip in most situations. The River Spey is fast, clear and pure but in places the wading is treacherous; akin to traversing a bed of greased cannonballs! A safe footing prevents the inadvertent dip and allows us to concentrate on the fishing. Be careful though when wearing felts on the bank and walking on wet grass, mud and snow.
For cold water fishing, Neoprene has still to be surpassed. This material is waterproof and very warm. One becomes oblivious when fishing, to the cold snow melt waters of a Speyside spring. It gives readily when bending, stretching and climbing into the car. It only becomes a problem on hot Spring or Summer days when the insulating properties are just too good!
See Daiwa for excellent Neoprene waders.
For late Spring, Summer and early Autumn fishing we recommend Goretex waders with felt soled boots. Stocking-foot Goretex waders are comfortable to wear and yet protect from overheating in the warmer months. Good quality felt soled boots are the ideal accompaniment providing sure footing, ankle support and comfort when walking the bank.
See Simms
for excellent Goretex waders and boots.
We
are privileged in having a great choice of warm comfortable undergarments
and excellent lightweight waterproof wading jackets to accompany us when
fishing for Salmon in the most varied conditions. Comfort when fishing
should never be undervalued.
The following sources are strongly recommended:
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Websites
If you have any particular questions regarding suitable gear, please feel free to get in touch: