Spey rod in the surf

[dperrott]

I have been debating for a while about getting a 12’6” 8wt 2 handed rod for surf fishing. I have never used a 2 hander before. I know you can cast a lot farther but most importantly it seems like it would be physically easier to cast than a single hand. I will be doing a lot of overhand casting and depending on the location some spey style casting. I was just curious if anyone else is using a 2 hander for surf fishing. Just wondering what some others experiences are? Thanks

 

[theartoflee]

I have a 12 1/2 foot 8wt spey that I have used both in the salt and on the Slammin. Its great for the Slammin but just ok in the salt. CND makes spey rods designed specifically for the salt. They are shorter in length then 12 1/2 feet and better suited for over head casting. Rusty Spinner has one and loves it I have heard it refered to as the Green Mile.. I think.

So if you are looking for a Spey rod excusively for the Salt look at the CND salt water spey rods. If you want a good rod for the Slamin that can work ok in the salt the 12 1/2 foot eight weight will be ok. One other consideration is what line setup to rig the rod with. You could either use a 12wt outbout line for the overhead or a compact skagit with a tip. Getting the Compact Skagit would be more diverse in my opinion.

 

[sandfly]

A 9 or 10 wt would be better in the surf, an 8 wt is ok on the backside (bay) or calmer areas. For the surf a 9/10 is just so much better. (best fishing is during a noreaster). I use shooting heads and rio slickshooter or cortland running lines on my spey.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I throw a CND "Oceana" two hand rod. It is 11' (3 pc.) and is rated for an 11/12 line, but it fishes like a 9/10 weight rod. I do not do traditional spey casting with it although any fly rod, single hand or two hand is capable of spey casts. I use 36' shooting heads attached to a level 140' floating line with 225+ yards of backing. It's a surf monster!

You cast it by flopping the 36' head and a couple feet of the running line out of the top guide in front of you, bringing that line back on a single back cast to load the rod, and punch it forward and let the line sail out of your stripping basket like it was a spin rod. I have effectively doubled - or nearly so - my casting distance in the surf which can be critical if the fish hang up too far from the beach for a traditional one hand rod which makes only an 80' or 100' cast.

When I have my casting rythym just right, I can cast to my backing knot which is about 170' of line out of the top guide. I just love the look on the spin guys faces in a stiff wind when I can cast almost as far as they can

 

[Randyflycaster]

What I can tell you that when I got into spey casting it was like opening a pandora's box. There was so much to learn about matching lines to rods.

I found the videos I watched didn't answer basic, essential questions, so instead of fishing, I struggled for a long, long time with my casting.

I would guess for fishing in the surf a skagit line would be best. The question I have is how hard is it to set up the anchor when the incoming surf is addling so much slack to the line?

You can probably get some help here:
Spey Pages - Powered by vBulletin

Randy

 

[Rusty Spinner]

What I can tell you that when I got into spey casting it was like opening a pandora's box. There was so much to learn about matching lines to rods.

I found the videos I watched didn't answer basic, essential questions, so instead of fishing, I struggled for a long, long time with my casting.

I would guess for fishing in the surf a skagit line would be best. The question I have is how hard is it to set up the anchor when the incoming surf is addling so much slack to the line?

You can probably get some help here:
Spey Pages - Powered by vBulletin

Randy

Like I said, most two handed surf guys don't throw any of the traditional spey casts. We use the cast I described because you don't have to worry about what the currents and on-shore waves do to all that fly line. Strip into your basket and cast out of that and you will be fine. Spey casting's various casts look cool, but if your fly is in the air, it ain't catching you any fish. That's why I just do the punch and go. Stop by Tight Lines in Pine Brook and ask Drew to demonstrate and then let you cast one of the CND rods and you'll be an instant believer!

 

[dperrott]

Thanks, I talked to them at Tightlines. I just wanted to see others experiences. I am fairly new to all of this anyways. It does seem like I will be spending some time practicing and relearning. I will let them choose the line. The lines sound the most confusing. Thats why nothing beats the local fly shop!

 

[Rusty Spinner]

Thanks, I talked to them at Tightlines. I just wanted to see others experiences. I am fairly new to all of this anyways. It does seem like I will be spending some time practicing and relearning. I will let them choose the line. The lines sound the most confusing. Thats why nothing beats the local fly shop!

Drew specializes in spey and two hand salt/fresh rods and especially in the line systems that work with each rod and for each purpose. Most salt guys use 30' heads, but the CND Oceana likes a 12 weight, 36' head system and a level 140' of fly line. I throw floating (5% or <), intermediate sink (75+%), fast and ultra fast heads (20% combined at most) in the surf. I let wind, flies and depth and current speed dictate my choice of heads, but most often the intermediate sink is all you need, even for most poppers. If you really like to fish big poppers like Bob's Bangers, then the floating head makes it easy. But I wouldn't bother buying a floater again.

When the winds howl or the rips are really fast, those faster sink tips come in handy. Just remember to greatly shorten your leader and tippet! I go as short as 3' on some fast sink fishing leaders. Much more and you can miss the strike, especially in current/waves. It's addicting, catching big strong fish from the surf. Be careful

I was definitely not a player last year on the NJ beaches with the new job, but this fall I've set aside some time to chase Albies and stripers and blues. Look for the 2 hand rod prowling mainly from Sandy Hook to 7 Presidents. Maybe I'll see you there...

 

[rckrego]

Other overhead two-handers to check out:

TFO has the 12 ft 12 wt TiCr. That's a monster.

From discussions with Jay Horton of TFO on speypages, he also uses the TiCrx in weights 6-9 with the two-hand conversion in the salt in Mass.

I think folks have been using the TFO switch rods in heavier weights as well.

Beulah has also released a line of "surf rods" Beulah Fly Rods - Surf Rods that are two handers.

Have fun.

 

[dperrott]

Thanks to all for replies.

Two more quick questions. Is the 2 hander physically easier? I have a 9 wt with an intermediate Airflo 40+. I get tired after a while but some times that is from poor casting! Sometimes I have it and sometimes I suddenly lose all ability to cast!

Rusty Spinner, If you are using the 2 hander on the bayside at Sandy Hook (where I will be most if the time) can you still overhand cast or do you need to do a spey style. Sometimes there is less back cast room. Since I have never tried one out, I'm not sure how much line would be out for a cast. Andrew at tightlines said I would be best served with and scagit line. My dream is to go back to Norway and fish so I will go with a spey as opposed to a "surf" rod.

Thanks all.

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I fish all parts of Sandy Hook with my two hander. One of the reasons you are getting tired is the amount of false casting you are doing to shoot a good cast out there with your 9 foot one hander. With the two hander, you only make the one backcast and punch out the forward cast, so you spend far less time casting and far more time fishing. You also use your "off hand" to power the rod, taking even more pressure off your regular casting arm. If you really have a tight backcast (I'm struggling to think where this happens to me on the bay side of the Hook) you can always do traditional spey casts because you aren't dealing with nearly as much littoral currents and wave actions like on the ocean side which can wreak havoc on your casting.

 

[dperrott]

I don't false cast with my on hander. Sometimes I just stink at casting!!

 

[Rusty Spinner]

I don't false cast with my on hander. Sometimes I just stink at casting!!

Shoot me a PM when the fish are moving and I'll meet you at the Hook. You can give my CND rod a try. Happy to help with any casting glitches on the one hand rod as well