Modern Spey Fishing
Rick Kustich
Fly Fisher/Fly Tyer/Author
Spey fishing has evolved from being traditionally used for salmon and steelhead to a wider scope of species including inland trout, smallmouth bass, and even saltwater game fish. Rick Kustich discusses presentation techniques for both two-handed and single-handed approaches to spey as well as lines and heads. Join us and learn about spey techniques and methods, and how spey fishing could fit into your fly fishing future.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- Where and when did spey fishing start?
- How did you first decide to learn spey casting and how did you go about learning the various spey casts?
- Other than distance, please list the advantages of Spey casting vs one handed casts?
- Can these techniques be adopted to small waters and smaller fish. This seems to be a big water technique?
- For someone starting out with Spey Fishing and an experienced fly fisher, what would you recommend in terms of equipment?
- What are the basics of spey casting?
- What’s the difference between single-hand and two hand casting?
- How does trout spey differ from “conventional” spey?
- What are the differences between Spey fishing for trout and the traditional wet fly swing?
- Are there practical applications for spey casting when musky fishing?
- What technique would be best for casting in a pond that has no current?
- Can you use a spey rod to fish saltwater from a beach?
- In what circumstances if any, do you use a stripping basket? Are they useful in Spey fishing?
- What type of flies are commonly used for spey fishing?
More about Rick Kustich...
Listen to the Show...
Casting Seaward
Steve Ramirez
Fly Fisher, Naturalist, Author
Steve Ramirez has been traveling thousands of miles in pursuit of native gamefish in salt and brackish water habitats. Join us as Steve tells his stories of adventures in the salt that weave fish, people, and nature together and how humanity impacts the world in many ways.
More about Steve Ramirez...
Ask Steve Ramirez your most important questions on adventures in saltwater fly fishing...
Register for our free drawing.
Miss a Show? - Browse our Show Archive!
Over 378 Shows for you to listen to!
- High Stick Nymphing
Kelly Galloup, a professional guide in Montana, talks about high stick nymphing and reading the water. Join us to learn techniques that will fine tune your nymphing presentations and hook you up with more fish.
- Fly Fishing Belize
Jim Klug, photographer, guide and travel coordinator, takes us on a tour of Belize from the northern waters of Ambergris Caye, to the pristine waters of Turneffe Atoll, all the way south to Hopkins, Placencia and Puta Gorda. Join us to explore Belize!
- Colorado Guide Flies
Pat Dorsey, a professional guide in Colorado, will give you the inside scoop on what the top Colorado guides have in their fly boxes. These are the flies they use day in a day out to get their clients into fish. You don't want to miss this one.
- Spring Creek Strategies
Mike Heck, a professional guide and master of spring creek fly fishing, shares the tactics and techniques he uses everyday to catch tough, selective trout in these waters.
- Fly Fishing the Upper Columbia River
Steven calls the Upper Columbia River his home waters where rainbow trout are known to reach 25 pounds. He’s been guiding there for many years and has found that many of the trout love to eat soft-hackle & hairwing wetflies, swung and dangled. Join us to learn about this incredible fishery and Steven’s unique approaches to fishing it.
- Trout Hunting Colorado's Four Seasons
Landon Mayer has fished Colorado his whole life and has guided across the state for many years. Listen to this podcast to find out when the best seasons are to fish and how to fish them.
- Do Your Fly Rod, Flies and Techniques Travel Well?
Whether to a faraway famous location or a new stream in a nearby watershed, traveling is a common theme in fly fishing. During this podcast, Tim Cammisa of “Trout and Feather” shares some methods that have helped him be successful from his home state of Pennsylvania to recent destinations including Iceland, Wyoming, and more.
- Fly Fishing for Steelhead - Queen Charlotte Islands and the Dean River
Greg Thomas pursues wild steelhead in out of the way places, with a focus on British Columbia. Recently he's fished the Queen Charlotte Islands and the central British Columbia coast. In July he lucked into the best week in 10 years on the Dean River and had 17 fish to the beach in three days. Listen to Thomas' adventures and you'll learn how to reach these unique fisheries where 10-to 20-pound wild steelhead can be found, often in good numbers.
- Want To Be A Fly Fishing Guide?
Zach Lazzari worked as a professional guide for 10 years in places like Colorado, Montana, Alaska and Patagonia. If you’ve always wanted to know about what it’s like to be a guide tune in to this show. Zach will give you the inside scoop on getting your first job, living like a guide, the great times you will have and the not so great time you may have.
- European Nymphing
Aaron Jasper has found through countless hours of testing and practice that European nymphing techniques require an investment in time to learn but are very often unequaled in their fish catching potential. Find out Aaron's secrets as he explains a variety of Euro-Nymphing techniques including short leader Czech methods to longer leader Spanish and French techniques. Find out Aaron's secrets as he explains a variety of Euro-Nymphing techniques including short leader Czech methods to longer leader Spanish and French techniques.
- Stillwaters Simplified
Tim Lockhart is a stillwater fly fishing junkie and stillwaters provide some of the best opportunities for big fish. If stillwaters have intimidated you in the past get ready for an awakening. Join us and learn about the critical lessons for catching more trout in lakes, ponds and reservoirs.
- Fly Fishing Streams for Smallmouth Bass
Harry Murray has been fly fishing, guiding and teaching others about smallmouth bass most of his life. You'll find his practical approach to finding and hooking up with these exciting fish an enlightening experience. Listen in and learn his secrets.
- Colorado’s Greenback Cutthroat Trout
Once thought to be extinct, Colorado's famed greenback cutthroat trout is now in the process of making a remarkable comeback. Listen in to hear how Jim Rubingh and Richard Fritz explored Colorado in search of the greenback cutthroat, where they found them and the best strategies for putting one on your prized catch list.
- Tactics for Bass, Panfish, Pike & Other Warmwater Species
Tim Jacobs is a guide and FFI Certified Casting Instructor who fishes both the warm waters of the midwest and the cold waters of the Rocky Mountains. Tim will be sharing tactics including rigs, techniques and fly patterns that you can use to catch more bass. panfish, pike, and other warmwater species. Join us and learn Tim's secrets to warmwater fly fishing.
Just a few of the questions asked and answered during the interview:
- Where do you do most of your warmwater fishing?
- What does a fly fisher need to know about lakes to be productive?
- Is it more productive to fly fishing from a boat?
- How do you dissect an unknown lake?
- What types of rods and lines do you need for warmwater fly fishing?
- Where should you look for largemouth bass?
- What is your primary method for finding fish?
- What types of flies do you use for largemouth bass?
- When fishing rivers for smallmouth bass, how do you work the water?
- What's your go-to fly for smallmouth bass?
- Where do the pike hold in the water column?
- How do you rig up your leader and shock tippet for pike?
- What are your favorite types of flies for pike?
- Where is the best place to find pike?
- Mexico’s Grand Slam Expressway
Phil Shook has traveled and fished extensively throughout Mexico. Phil considers the three giant estuaries off Highway 307 in Quintana Roo some of the best flats fishing in Mexico. Ascension, Espirtu and Chetumal will definiely have you on the hunt for your grand slam.
Learn more about fly fishing and listen to our podcasts by these top experts...