You will, It took about 8 months of casting for me to feel safe

You will get better, how long is that spey rod, can't see why you are hooking yourself all the time if the rod is 13 foot or longer.

Since I have converted to spey rods I can't recall ever hooking myself like I did with single handed rods.

FL

You didn't say what type of spey cast were giving you problems, or if you were casting weighted flies. One thing about spey casting that I believe is true, is your fly should not get that close to you. I guess that this time of year you are casting sink tips.

Some keys: Slow down your motion. Don't overpower the rod. This just means let the rods flex do most of the work. Don't try to cast the entire line. Your timing will come with experience.

Always wear glasses. Keep those barbs smashed.

Don

Make sure your bottom hand is inside your upper hand (center of you're body)

If not you better have alot of band-aids

Well ... yes you can. Couple of things: If you're 'wacking' yourself with your fly you're coming through with the rod in too verticle a position. Forward cast HAS to be at least 10-15 degrees off of verticle (Spelling sucks tonight.)

Secondly (some cast excepted here such as the Double Spey) actually have very little water contact. If you're 'ripping' the water up you're putting FAR too much effort into the cast. SLOW DOWN!! But!!!!!!!!!!!!!! every spey cast requires you DO NOT slow down once you've started the cast; this unloads the rod. Not a good thing even with a single hander.

Slow down!! but increase rod tip speed through out the cast. I know, I know . this sounds like an oxymoron, but not doing so kills more cast than anything else I can think of.
Fred

Bloody Hell! Forgot to add: if you hear a great WOOSH as you're coming forward (you're breaking the sound barrier .. really!!) you've got FAR too much power into the forward cast.

SLOW THE THING DOWN, BUT DO INCREASE ROD SPEED THROUGHOUT THE cast.

One small note on your casts.
Be Sure anchor is out side of your cast path.

Up steam wind casts you anchor should be upstream of your straight-line path of the cast.
( In other words upstream of the rod tip)
Down shoulder cast the anchor should be downstream of the straight -line path of the cast.
( In other words downstream of the rod tip)

I hope this helps

Excellent points Arron. Mr. R here is one of the best 2-hander instructors in the Seattle area; his shop is in Carnation, WA.

if memory serves, he has a wall full of 'spey rods/lines' that you're welcome to try out on the river by his shop.