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  • Spey casting for the MCCI exam in Australia



    Walter & Group........

    From Gavin Platz (CCI, Australia) :-

    Gordy,

     

    Good news we are going to have the FFF Certification coming here in Sept this year. We needed 10 candidates and we’ve got 11 just gotta hope they don’t get cold feet and put there deposit in by the 14th june. They’re all pretty poitive thou.

     

    I’m very worried about the double handed Spey section of the MCCI test. The closest spey casting is a couple of thousand miles away. We’ve got the DVD of Mel Krieger’s. How’s this,  we’re having trouble getting a Spey rod even, let alone good instruction. I have got one now for Nial and I to practice with.

     

    How would you attack the problem? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as we are in full training.

     

    What line would you use on your single handed 7wt ? I kinda remember comments about the Mastery XXD Taper, is this still the best all round to use for the test?

     

    Cheers,

    Gav

     

    Capt Gavin Platz

    Tie ‘n’ Fly Outfitters

    AUSTRALIA’S ONLY SPECIALIST SALTWATER FLY FISHING OUTFITTER

    8a Point Cartwright Drive, Buddina Qld 4575 Australia

    Ph: (61) 7 5444 0611

    Fax: (61) 7 5450 6619

    Email: gavin@xxxxxxxxxxx

    Web: www.tienfly.com

    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

    Gav.....

    Most of our MCCI exams are given using only a single handed rod .... we rarely use the two handed sticks even for the Spey part of the exam.

    Here is what I look for in giving that part of the exam:-

    1.) I want to gain the impression that the candidate it well rounded in all sorts of fly fishing and fly casting ..... NOT that he/she is an expert on two handed casting including Spey.

    2.)  A basic knowledge of Spey casting should be demonstrated, including:

         a. Familiarity with Spey terms (such as, "dangle", "D-loop", "white mouse", "stick", "pickup", etc.)

         b. When to use certain basic Spey moves, such as the single and double Spey casts, related to the direction of the wind (upstream or downstream) and the river bank on which the caster stands.

         c. A reasonable definition of a Spey cast.  (Mine is: " An aereolized, live line, change of direction, elliptical roll type cast.")

    A couple of hints:   # Never place your D-loop on the windward side of you.    # Generally, use a double Spey for a downstream wind.

         d. A general idea of when you might elect to use Spey technique.  (Like for dead drifting a fly on moving water after executing a change of direction cast, etc.)

         e. The concept of lining up your target with your casting arm and placement of your D-loop 180 degrees from the target; all in a straight line before making your delivery cast.

    3.) Ability to actually perform single and double Spey casts.  (Allowences made for lack of water tension for, "line stick" if tested on grass, etc.)

    I doubt that you will be asked to do a, Perry Poke, a Snap-T, though you may be asked to do a basic snake roll.

    I might suggest that if you have not already done so, that you try to get hold of Simon Gawesworth's book, SPEYCASTING.

    Gordy