Michael Exl
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You can do it for carp.
http://speypages.com/speyclave/showthread.php?t=38853Most of the guys that I know from out East are using two-handers for overhead casting like Andrew said.
Who would ever want to fish for carp? This is ridiculous…
I agree, who would ever go after those things.
In Erie, it is a steelhead if it is caught on the swing, if it is caught any other way it is a rainbow ;).
Thanks Mark. I’ll let you know if I head out that way. That is a one of a kind hat too. Got a Rio patch and put it on a military style cap.
I would go with Capt. Meszaros. It’s close to Detroit, plus that time of year I believe that Brian will have you sight casting to muskies. I have talked to several times in the past month about and you have to see the flies that he is using, tubes that are about a foot long. Not to mention the smallie fishing as another reason to go.
You could also hit the St. Joe for the summer run steelhead, skamania, they are like having a bolt of lightning on the end of your line. But that is a drive to South Bend area. I would just stick with fishing St. Clair.
-Mike
Allan,
Are you able to get Temple Dog? I use it for the wings on some of my tubes. Really great material if you can get over the fact that you are tying with dog hair.
-Mike
Really? I’m having a hard time believing this. At least in my world. to have the option to “just decide I didn’t want to go….” hmmmm. Surely you are kidding.
Nope, not kidding at all. I was down there about 2 years ago, time for another person to get a chance to go down.
Very cool.
I was actually going to be leaving for Patagonia today for a hosted trip through my shop, but I decided I didn’t want to go on the trip and had another member of the staff take the trip. Very awesome place to go to.
I’m fairly new to all this 2 hand stuff too and its alot to understand and get into, but a hell of alot of fun.I pretty much play with Snap-T, double spey and Skagit casts. Get the Ed Ward video Skagit Master. I haven’t seen the Scott Howell flick,but hear its good too.
Dave,
Skagit Master 2 is far better in my mind then the first one, the first one still is awesome. 2nd film has a lot more fishing applications.
-Mike
Dave is right about Spey Pages. I spend several hours a day on that sight, lots of great knowledge. Fair warning though as of late the subject of anything involving “skagit” has been drawing a little heat. This is mostly between what I like to call the “old guard” long belly and the new guys that are just picking up two handed casting that are starting with skagit. If you post on there you will get a lot of great info, but you make get some one that is in a bad mood and say something about using a skagit. No worries though, different strokes for different folks.
As far as what to look for in a two-hander there are several things to look at. To start with wt. of the rod. I would recommend getting a 7 or an 8wt. This will allow you to throw larger tips and should be able to handle most of the fish you will come across. Next thing to look at is the length of the rod. I would look at something in the 12’6″ to 13’6″ range. As far as action it really depends on what you like. You are going to want a rod where you can feel the load so a mod-fast action would not be a bad starting point.
As reels go you are going to be looking at something in the 10 to 12wt. range as far as size. You really just need something to hold the line. This stuff will look like a piece of rope when you compare it to a standard WF line.
Distance really depends on the caster and the line being used. The two-hander will probably get you an extra 5-15 feet, but distance really is not the purpose of these rods. The whole idea behind a two-handed rod is to fish larger water more effeciently. You are not having to work as hard as you would with a single hander to cover that water. Double hauling a large single hander with a sinking line and a large fly can wear you out after a while.
The benefits of a switch over the double is going to be the ability to switch between two handed casting and single handed casting. You can do this if you have the right line like a skagit short. They are also easier to strip streamers with.
The benefits of the two-hander are able to cover larger water effeciently. You will also be able to throw larger flies and heavier sink tips with it.
Also, is there an advantage to having a one-piece skagit line?
In my opinion, no. A lot of guys like using different heads, be it skagit or Scandinavian, it different grain weights on a given rod. This allows the angler to better fish in a given situation. For example I know some of the guys that like using a skagit short on a full two-hander. This allows them to fish in tight spots and fish bucket water. For example on my one of my two-handers I have 4 different heads for it.
Now that being said I would not worry about have mutiple heads. I would get a running line and a skagit head, and then whatever tips you need.
Peter,
I would check out the Redington CPX series of rods. They cast great and fish great, not to mention they have a great price.
If you are looking for versitility I would get a switch rod and a short skagit head. I would also highly recommend going with just a head and not one with the running line attached. All of my two-hander and switch rods are set up this way.
-Mike
