Skagit Casting by Riveraddict
Skagit Casting
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I am posting this to make it easier for anyone inquiring about "Skagit casting" to be able to find basic info about it under one heading. Being as how I am a single-digit "hunt and peck" type of typer, this will probably take a while, therefore I will be adding to it continually over a period of time...
What Is Skagit Casting? -
In simplest terms Skagit casting is a change of direction cast, in other words a cast that enables the redirecting of a fly line from one angle to another. This redirection of line is accomplished by utilizing the surface of the river as a "switching" or transfer point, a circumstance that also happens to eliminate the need for using fully aerialized backcasts. What this translates into for the steelhead fly fisher is the capability, after completing the swing of a fly, for casting back out into the river for another presentation without false casting, along with the capacity to accomplish this action while using only minimal amounts of "back cast" room.
Skagit casting was developed from traditional Speycasting principles by steelheaders in the Skagit River area during the early 1990's. The term "Skagit casting" was coined in order to distinguish this "offshoot" system of Speycasting from other types of Speycasting. Though Skagit casting initially appears quite similar to other forms of Speycasting, the fact is it possesses its own casting fundamentals and traits of distinction. Skagit casting's most apparent characteristic is its employment of relatively short lines – shooting head or Windcutter style - in other words "short head systems", and in recent years this circumstance has led to the term "Skagit casting" being associated with many other short line Speycasting systems on the West Coast of the U.S. However, in its original context, the term Skagit casting defined a method of casting that exercised a particular casting premise to accomplish its casts - the sustained anchor concept. To illustrate what the sustained anchor concept is, we must first take a brief look at all of Speycasting as it exists today.
Modern Day Speycasting - A Concise Overview
Speycasting, in its present state, is a much more diverse subject than it was even just a few years ago. Increased contemporary interest in the sport has brought about an abundance of not only "things made Spey", but also opinions and beliefs on "how to Spey". A result of this condition has been the manifestation of what seems to be, quite a wide variety of Speycasting styles. However, the fact is, within this current proliferation of casting methods, there are in actuality just two fundamental means for using the surface of the river to conduct a cast; in other words, two elementary ways to accomplish a Spey cast. All current Speycasting styles use either one or both of these basic approaches for enabling their casts.
The first elementary way to Spey cast is what I refer to as "brief or momentary contact" Speycasting, because it uses a relatively brief or very momentary contact of the fly line with the surface of the water for an anchor. Simon Gawesworth coined an even better descriptive term for it - "touch and go". This methodology of Speycasting derives the most significant portion of its casting or rod loading power from the inertial energy created by a fly line that has been dynamically lifted off of the water and then kept fully aerialized. This type of casting dictates that once the line has been lifted from its initial starting position it must then be sustained in motion throughout the remainder of the casting process in order to maintain its inertial momentum - anything more than an exceedingly brief contact with the surface of the river (anchor) will result in a termination of the line's inertial energy, and therefore any possibilities for a cast. The primary purpose of the anchor in this type of casting is to provide a means for changing the direction of the cast from one angle to another. The defining examples of brief contact Speycasts are the Single Spey and Snake Roll.
The other basic means for conducting a Spey cast is what I call "sustained anchor concept". It works off of principles of rod loading that are in direct contrast to the brief contact style of Speycasting. Sustained anchor casting produces the bulk of its casting energy through water resistance. Load is created against the rod when it is directed into a predetermined process of pulling the fly line free from the grip of the river's surface tension. This "grip" is established by instituting sustained and exaggerated contact, or anchoring of the fly line with the surface of the water, as part of the casting procedure, by completely stopping the momentum of the line midway through the casting process - an action that is in complete contradiction to the casting fundamentals of brief contact Speycasting. The function of the anchor in sustained anchor casting is twofold - provide the means for changing the direction of the cast AND provide the primary mechanism for loading the rod. Casts that work best with the sustained anchor concept are the C or Circle Spey, Snap/Zip T, the Perry Poke, and Skagit Style Doublespey.
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Riveraddict
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Brian
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