Spey Rod & Line Uses

Fishermen use different types of fly rods and reels when fishing in different environments--oceans, rivers or small streams. Equipment also differs depending on the size of fish pursued and the surrounding terrain. Fly rods and reels vary in length and weight according to all of these factors. Smaller rods (6 feet, 4 weight) are commonly used in smaller creeks or streams for pursuing trout. Larger rods (15 feet, 7 weight) are used for pursuing larger fish like steelhead in rivers. The size is the length of the rod, and the weight is the suitable fly line weight for that rod.

  1. Spey Casting

    • Roll casting is used when terrain limits the ability of the fisherman to perform a back cast (in other words, when the vegetation is so thick behind the fisherman that it's impossible to perform a traditional overhead back cast). In a traditional back cast the motion of the arm extends backwards so that the fly is delivered behind the fisherman before loading and projecting forward. Because of terrain limitations, a roll cast allows the fisherman to cast the line forward without using the backward motion to load the line. While casting forward, or roll casting, it is often necessary to change direction and that motion of direction changing while roll casting is called spey casting. Spey casting is best learned with hands-on instruction, by watching a video or reading a book.

    Spey Rods

    • Spey rods are designed for change of direction roll casting, or spey casting. They are one type of two-handed fly fishing rods which commonly run between 12 and 15 feet long. The added length of the rod allows fishermen to cast longer, and present the fly at greater depths than with a single-hand, shorter fly rod. Spey rods are used when pursuing larger fish like salmon and steelhead in rivers. The other kind of two-handed rod is called an overhead rod and is used for fishing open water when there is plenty of space for overhead casting. Spey is not a brand of fly rod or a fly rod manufacturer. There are many different manufacturers who build spey rods.

    Spey Lines

    • Spey lines are fly lines of sufficient weight to work in a spey rod. These fly lines are of a heavier weight than that of a shorter fly rod, in order to be able to span the distances and depths necessary when using a spey rod. Spey lines vary from 6 to 11 weight. These lines are designed specifically for use on spey rods and are made by many different manufacturers.