On Sun, 21 Jun 2009 20:44:31 -0400, Wizard of Woodstock wrote:


http://www.ireland-salmon-fishing.ne.../snakeroll.jpg

Those long-ass rods are making a comeback over here in the states. With
their tides and shallow shores, I can understand needing a long rod for
surf-casting, but I'll be damned if I'd ever use such a long rod on the
rivers and lakes I fish. Still, with modern composites, spey rods do
well on big rivers or in windy conditions.

They are a bitch to handle though unless you've really had some practice
with them.

I have a couple that I built a few years back when I had this fit of
surf fishing fever. It's a very technique specific rod and line handle.

They will throw a heavy streamer very well though and once you get the
hang of it it, incredibly precise.

I've never fly fished with a rod over 10', but I used to do a fair bit of
surfcasting with longer rods. The Brits have a system of casting where
they get distances of 300 *yards*. They use a longer rod, 13-16', a
baitcasting reel, and a pendulum cast. I was trying to learn it, until
by rod exploded on a cast.