Quick Tip for Better Spey Casting – Get the Best Anchor Point
Do you struggle to keep a consistent spey cast? Do your casts tangle or wallow with little energy or pop? One common mistake cripples spey casters consistently. Not achieving the proper anchor point is a one of the most common mistakes casters make.
The anchor point is referring to where your fly is “anchored to” when you make a spey cast. The positioning of your fly is very important. It should be located on the side of your body you intend to cast from and be with-in a rods length away from you. The most common mistake casters make is to force a cast with the anchor point (fly position) too far away. Another common mistake is to position the fly on the opposite side you intend to make the final cast from. Properly positioning the “anchor point” or fly is imperative to a good spey cast.
Positioning the fly within a rods length is the first step. Often many anglers force a cast that starts with the fly too far away. This often results in a cast that lumbers out with little energy. You can see an obvious sign of this problem when your line goes out and curves, it does not deliver the fly in a straight line. By positioning your anchor point/fly with in a rods length you will fast on your way to achieving much better alignment, power and line speed.
I’ve seen steelhead hooks imbedded in anglers noses! Bad things can happen when your anchor point/fly position is not correct. When your fly position lands across your body from where you intend to cast; say you intend to cast off your right but the fly lands on the left side of your body- abort the cast. If you cast anyway, the fly will often hit you. Be sure the fly is positioned on the same side that you intend to make the forward cast from.
Positioning the anchor point properly is sometimes hard to master and casters often struggle with this very important first step to the spey cast. It is important to start with a straight line and the fly on or near the surface before attempting to position the anchor point. If you are using a sink tip and or weighted fly it can be beneficial to roll cast the line straight downstream to get the fly on the surface before you initiate the cast. Lift and skitter the fly and sink tip towards you to position the anchor point. You are NOT casting this into place. Watch the progress of the fly closely to determine it’s progress into position. If you send it too close or not close enough, immediately roll cast downstream and start over. Positioning the anchor point properly is imperative to a good cast.
Work on getting this step right before you move on to other parts of the cast. Having the proper anchor point is where all good casts start from.
If you’d like to learn more about spey casting you can join us for a PRIVATE LESSON or check out our Winter SPEY SKAGIT MASTERY CLASS.
Want to know more? Check out this article on Choosing the Right Sink Tip
Good luck on the water!
Water Time Outfitters, Inc. aims to surpass client expectations with fun loving guides and exceptional hospitality so our guests can focus on their love of fishing, maximize their success and take home memories that last a lifetime. For guided winter steelhead trips connect with guides at Water Time Outfitters. The crew at WTO has been guiding NW rivers for a long time and know the spots to be with the ups and downs of winter fishing in Oregon.
