Spey line for overhead casting in the surf

[Matthew Longley]

I recently added a Clearwater 13ft 7wt to my quiver, and have found Spey casting to be a ton of fun. I have a 520gr Skagit Extreme head backed up by a 100ft shooting line, and feel really comfortable with my timing in fast current, but overhead casting has me stumped.

Because the difference between the head and the shooting line is so extreme, I haven't really figured out how to false cast without the back of the head in the guides, so I'm overpowering my cast to try and shoot as much as possible with only 20 feet (plus sink tip) of line out. I can cast a good amount (maybe 80-100 feet or so) but most of the time the fly, sink tip, and Skagit head land in a pile at the end of the cast. And even when it all straightens out I feel like I'm forcing it.

I don't want to suggest my technique isn't the problem (of course it is!) but I'm wondering if my line setup is working against me as well. It's a completely new outfit, and so far I only have one line rig.

[arthur...@gmail.com]

Matt,

The answer might be a Rio MOW tip or SA Skagit Tip. 

Because they have additional mass, they may allow the energy from the cast to dissipate differently.

Also, if the trajectory of that 80 to 100ft cast is to high, the line will always fall with a bunch of slack. 

 Because the skagit is so short and heavy, and has little to no rear taper, overhead casting will only allow a small amount of over hang on the back cast.

If your hitting that distance consistently, I think you just need to fine tune your delivery stroke on the forward cast, and play around with different tips.

Cheers,

Art

Sent from my iPhone

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[arthur...@gmail.com]

Matt, 

An intermediate skagit head with an intermediate tip may eliminate the. Rad for a sink tip all together.

Art

Sent from my iPhone

[john]

The Skagit line is used for water borne anchor Spey casts, so usually used for heavy sink tips along with large flies. This is used on Snap T and similar casts where the water anchors the line and loads the rods. For over head Spey casts or splash and go type casts you want to use a Scandi line or a long belly like a Airflo Delta (there are others) but these lines are used for floating lines and flies and maybe light sink tips (not sure what you are using in the surf). I have not fished in the surf all my experience comes from rivers. You can google Simon Gawesworth on you tube and he has some good videos and explanations of the different casts and lines. I'm a member on Speypages and there are some on there that have more experience using a Spey Rod in the surf so you could always post the question there. Good luck.