Suck is what I do best! Seriously though--I staarted fly fishin at 8 and considered myself proficient until picking up the spey rod. I can see that the learning curve will be quick--waiting for the rod to load is the hardest part. I believe that most casts can be adapted to the spey rod. The biggest advantaage Ive seen so far has been that when a fish takes on the swing, there.s not much guessing about whether its a fish or a rock as when drifting lead . With no belly in the line, its a direct link to the fish.