Single Spey Traditional or Improved style

the_grube

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Do you have a preference, and if so why? this vid describes them pretty succinctly. The difference is in the first step getting out of the hang down. Trad-lift then point at target, improved - point at target then lift.
 
I was taught to point the rod at the target, lift and just pivot into the backcast. It was simpler than the traditional, which I also crashed my leader too.
 
I didn’t know of the difference until that video as I’m mostly self taught in the spey casting world. Meaning I do both but the nomenclature wasn’t known. I find myself doing the traditional more-so due to fluidity.

During winter I spey cast more because of limited room and I’ll use the improved style when forced into even tighter spots.
 
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The thing that hitches me more than anything else with the single-spey is turning the corner.. getting the line from the hang-down and lined up with the target. I found that the improved style worked better with my 7130/short-belly. But I started fishing a 6120/Scandi this summer, and the traditional works better on it. That seems opposite of what I would expect although I can't say for sure why.
 
I've casted both ways for 30+ years, and what I will tell you is a "traditional" lift and sweep will allow a D- loop and anchor that is further off the bank, and will make a sink tip easier to cast than the "improved" style. Having said that, I use a myriad of lifts including the Falkus 8 in my singles. Learn and use them all. It helps out adapting to all casting situations.
 
Ummmm.. neither... there is no "dip" in any spey casts. The rod tip always rises and the body always rotates to face the target. Not quite sure what he's talking about.
 
Ummmm.. neither... there is no "dip" in any spey casts. The rod tip always rises and the body always rotates to face the target. Not quite sure what he's talking about.
Gawesworrh describes the cast with a dip.
 
Ummmm.. neither... there is no "dip" in any spey casts. The rod tip always rises and the body always rotates to face the target. Not quite sure what he's talking about.
There you go again, my way or the highway. C’mon Rob, I’m pretty sure you’re a good guy and would like to fish with you anytime but consider that everything is not black or white.
 
It's all good. Some great tips here.I'll keep working with both of them.
 
I'm guilty of the occasional Bloody L. And I agree with @_WW_ I'm usually casting a short Skagit so I feel I can get away with a bit more.
I'm right-handed.
If I'm river left like Simon was with an upstream wind and I have a dry tip or a 2.5' sink tip with a non-weighted fly then I'll single spey. Splash & go style.
If I have a 5'-10' sink tip with any fly in the same situation, I'm just going to snap T.
Downstream wind means double spey, cacked-handed.

River right is the same rules, just cacked-handed. Which is actually good for me. I cast better cack-handed since I keep my arms & hands tighter than when river left. Downstream wind means double spey regular handed.
 
Ummmm.. neither... there is no "dip" in any spey casts. The rod tip always rises and the body always rotates to face the target. Not quite sure what he's talking about.
Yep it was that “dip” part that was causing me problems. I wasn’t trying to dip, it just would happen as I started the cast from the initial lift. It would crash the leader and cause inconsistent anchor placement for me. When I started paying attention to never letting the tip descend at any point is when it really came together for me. The improved method works well for me.
 
Hmmm, sort of traditional I guess. The more I learn about Spey casting, the more I realize I don't know shit about Spey casting. If the single Spey is the hardest Spey cast - according to Simon - then I wonder what the hell I'm doing. What I do is simple, and according to some, kinda' elegant, but they must not know shit about Spey casting either. The single Spey is my favorite. It's efficient. And looks cool. Chicks probably dig it too.
 
The mid and long belly line snake roll lefthand up is hardest for me.
The snake roll befuddles me. It's supposed to be easier than the single spey, but not for me. I struggle to get a good anchor and wind up doing a poke more often than not as a rescue operation... it works but the cool kids don't need the extra step.
 
As long as you can get a cast where you want it to go...
You're doing it 'right'.

Chicks dig that...
 
As long as you can get a cast where you want it to go...
You're doing it 'right'.

Chicks dig that...
Ya, regardless of what the immature chickens think... I'll keep watching my anchor closely on that move and apply the poke as needed. I hope this will sort itself out soon cuz I need to be one of the cool kids (aka immature goats).
 
The snake roll befuddles me. It's supposed to be easier than the single spey, but not for me. I struggle to get a good anchor and wind up doing a poke more often than not as a rescue operation... it works but the cool kids don't need the extra step.
I think snake roll is easier than a single-spey because the oval shape you make with the rod tip places your anchor and helps change your direction while putting energy back to form a nice D loop.
 
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