Reply To: Single-handed spey casting

The main difference, at least for the two spey casts we worked on in the advanced class is that a proper roll cast does not change the direction of your line, whereas the spey cast does. So when you are downstream at the end of your drift or swing, and you want to reset upstream 90 degrees or more from where you are, rather than making 2 or 3 roll casts and gradually move up stream, the spey can be used to change your casting direction in one cast. Much more efficient which means more time in the water which = more fish…hopefully.

From the research I have done, there are two types of roll cast, which Kenny mentions above. I have seen them referred to as static and dynamic. Static being the one where the line stays on the water at all times. Pausing prior to the forward or not, the anchor point, where the line leaves the water to form the “D” loop, is next to you or slightly in front of you. The dynamic roll cast actually picks up the line from the water and places it back down so that the anchor point is actually a bit behind the caster. Once the line touches down, you immediately start the forward cast. The idea is if you have a sinking line, or a lot of line under the surface, it brings it all up prior to the forward cast. As you know, roll casting a sinking line that is still sunk, don’t work.