Skagit, Scandi, various bellies..Sorting it all out for the beginner

[City Rat]

So I just got back from a quick trip to PNW for family stuff and got in a day of fly fishing for steelhead on the Cowlitz River, a trib of the Columbia, in Washington. I had planned on single handing with my 8wt but my guide convinced me to try something new, spey casting for steelies. I jumped on the chance to learn to spey cast in PNW. I later found out that I had been Snap T casting the entire day, who knew. I tried to do research into the tackle, specifically the lines, based on what the guide explained we were working with. What a rat's nest of gobbldy gook for anyone not deeply in the spey world to deal with. As such I thought that I'd offer a couple of links to some very clear explanations of the various types of lines, the pros and cons of each and situations for best use. I am a newbie to fly fishing and an actual newborn babe to this spey jazz so I offer these links for my brother babes in the woods who are just trying to find their way around. I chose them because they were really clear, concise and understandable explanations. I assume that there are others as well, my bet there are books and treatises. This thread is not an attempt to replicate the books just to give new guys a foothold into all of this. Others who know of links to other clear, concise and simple explanations like what is in these links should feel free to post those links up here as well. Perhaps we might end up with a thread that new people can go to to get the basics on spey tackle. Thanks.

Demystifying Spey Part 1: Lines - Skagit vs Scandi Heads — River Salt Outfitters - Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guides

Demystifying Spey Part 2: Tips and Leaders — River Salt Outfitters - Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guides

Demystifying Spey Part 3: Shooting/Running Lines — River Salt Outfitters - Olympic Peninsula Fly Fishing Guides

Skagit vs. Scandi

View attachment Understanding_Spey_lines_2013.pdf

 

[flytie09]

Catch anything? There’s always a steelhead to be had in that river.

 

[City Rat]

They were in there, just not biting. I saw one guy, spin fishing from a jet boat land one all day. Maybe it was all the boats with big engines buzzing up and down through some really good pools at speed, right while I was drifting my flies into them. I got a couple of bites and tugs but no big boys. I was able catch 2 juvenile steelies, one juvi salmon and a whitefish about the same size while nymphing for steelies with my 8wt. I sent all of them back home to their moms with two messages, go home, eat more spinach, get big and come back and tell your mom that your big brother is sending you to go check out the cool new shiny thing rather than do it himself,lol. It was a beautiful river, different than anything I've ever fished before, a great day on the water and a great trip. I now get the why behind spey casting.

 

[coug]

Good for you! Two-hand rods can be very addicting!

The terminology is its own world
skagit vs scandi vs short belly vs mid-belly vs long-belly
poly vs mono leaders
and it goes on.
nymphing vs swinging: this can raise the "tone" of the conversation in a hurry for some...
Important thing is to just have fun. For me at least, there is nothing better than two-hand rods and steelhead.

 

[flytie09]

My first encounter with jet boats was on the Cowlitz. I had found a good public stretch of water, which isn't easy there for a wade angler. Spotted a nice seam to target some swimmy things. Geared up, scoped out the run. Started casting and swinging and 5 minutes later a jetboat comes charging up and then another down the river. I just shook my head. How the heck is that peaceful or stealthy.........

Oh well.......I agree....they're in there.

 

[City Rat]

My first encounter with jet boats was on the Cowlitz. I had found a good public stretch of water, which isn't easy there for a wade angler. Spotted a nice seam to target some swimmy things. Geared up, scoped out the run. Started casting and swinging and 5 minutes later a jetboat comes charging up and then another down the river. I just shook my head. How the heck is that peaceful or stealthy.........

Oh well.......I agree....they're in there.

On this point I have to give my guide a lot of credit. First, his drift boat was powered by his 20 something arms and oars, no motor. Second, he really knew that river and after he could see the dismay on my face and me cringing as they roared very near to or over my drifting fly, he said there is no not having them around but we're going to try to use it to our advantage in a mile or two. and he had me cast into buckets on the side of the river opposite to the path of travel of the boats as they were approaching on the theory that the boats would push the fish into where I was casting. He was right, you could see them move over to the bucket, they just weren't biting. Last, he was a great casting instructor, he found a quiet spot early on where I could wade out and he could teach me how to spey cast with the Skagit rig. It took me an hour to get down the Snap T well enough to be able to drop the fly into buckets and seams 60-70 feet away, distance that are completely beyond my comprehension single handed. He even took video of my casting so that I could replay it at home, remember the technique and practice on smoothing out a particular rough patch in my nascent spey cast. Once I get my technique smoothed out I would absolutely make another run at the steelhead in that river if the opportunity arises, jet boats be damned!

 

[coug]

Sounds like a great guide! I have never fished that river but jet boats are very common where I am. Your guide has a good attitude. A friend of mine who is a guide told me to cast right in their wake. Steelhead do not "bite" for food, as much as they get pissed off and hit. His theory was that the boat upset them making them more likely to hit swung flies.

 

[City Rat]

Here's a few more for the list:

A Brief Introduction to Modern Spey Lines - Fly and Field Outfitters

https://www.scientificanglers.com/overview-application-specific-spey-lines-design/

MOW tips explained:
Yakima River Fishing Reports > Red's Fly Shop