Tonight on the Podcast: Michael McLellan on Spey Fishing for White Bass

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  • #88606
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    I also noticed in the process of assembling tonight’s show that I had left an audio track out of last week’s Scott ad. Weird; not good. Fixing it now.

    Zach

    #88611
    Dan
    Member

    That might be one of the best podcasts yet, but then again I could be partial…

    I didn’t realize the McFly site had the blog. I hadn’t been on the site in a while as I just tend to wander into the shop whenever I feel like being too broke to pay attention for the next three or four months.

    Excellent work portraying an excellent shop and fishery.

    #88612
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Thanks Dan. That spot has your name written all over it.

    Zach

    #88613
    Dan
    Member

    I have fished it a few times. It can be great but is often elbow to elbow. I’m more likely to wade in below War Eagle mill and work downstream a ways. I’ve pulled crappie and white bass on chartreuse Clousers till I got tired and/or hypothermic. We mediocre casters can’t always reach across the river to a good spot, but we retread Infantrymen are always willing to strip down to our shorts and swim across the 51 degree water to reach it.

    #88614
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Hahaha. Dan you need to read my piece which is about to come out in Arkansas Life magazine about Michael McLellan and what he has done with two-handed rods. Have you tried using a switch rod there? It’s basically perfect for that water, with its tangled banks and limited wading sections. You might well be able to get away from the crowds.

    #88615
    Dan
    Member

    I’ll be sure to check that out. I was impressed with the spey/switch subject in the podcast and admit to looking at a few shortly thereafter, as though I need more rods. I can foresee an application for swinging through pools and chutes for smallmouth too. I’ll have to see what he has on hand next trip down there. Never having used a two hander would require a financial and temporal investment, but it sounds like something fun to try.

    #88626
    Zach Matthews
    The Itinerant Angler

    Dan there is a time commitment but honestly, Spey casting is its own reward. It is freaking beautiful and many of the skills you learn can then be applied to make you a better single hand rod caster. I use Spey casts all the time in nymphing now that I have learned them.

    Snap T:

    Switch Cast (i.e. Dynamic Roll Cast):

    Snake Roll (Change of direction cast):

    I bought Simon Gawesworth’s “Spey Casting,” made a grass leader, and practiced with a beater rod until I got it.

    Zach

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