For some reason, during the past few seasons, I've found myself out of place with my rod. Either I'm somewhere with a 9' single handed rod while ALL others fish 16' spey rods, or I'm fishing a 16' spey rod, while All others fish 9' single handed. This could be another symtom of "I'm right while everyone else is wrong".
Frankly speaking, I was quite surprised on my last recent visit to the Gaspe. I only saw one other spey rod being used besides mine. Even during a drive by on the Matapedia, quite a decent size river, I saw no Speys being used. So again, I found myself the outcast. In fact I would often hear that familiar comment; "Ya dont need that long rod on this river".
The "sound" of those comments were very familiar because I've been in the exact reverse position, being the only one with a 9' #10 weight single handed rod, while all others donned 16" Hardys. I got the same comments there, but in reverse. "Ya neare gonna take a big bugger on that wee bit of a stick". Actually I made that guy eat his words several times, BUT the point is, I was quite humbled while casting in their presence. I had to compete with their effortless 100' casts while they barely wet their boots, while I double hauled, wading deep, well over my arse in the swift current.
It all made sense to me on that trip. Have to get myself one of those big rods. Instead of covering one side of the river, and working hard for the distance, why not effortlessly cover both sides with one cast. Made sense to me. Of coarse hooking and landing a fish on a 16 foot noodle is not as pleasurable as a stout nine foot outfit, but the positives sometimes out weigh the negitives in many cases. Learning this from the Europians, I've come to love a Spey rod, not only to perfect better the challenge of true spey casting, enabling me to hit those lies in the canyons, but for better coverage when casting conventionallym not to mention the effortlessness that it takes.
Anyway, after many years, now I fish both. Big water, fish spey. Smaller water fish, single handed.....and soometimes even vice versa. Forget the comments. They do no one any good, especially to the one making the comment. Both have their place where ever one sees fit.
Howie
Frankly speaking, I was quite surprised on my last recent visit to the Gaspe. I only saw one other spey rod being used besides mine. Even during a drive by on the Matapedia, quite a decent size river, I saw no Speys being used. So again, I found myself the outcast. In fact I would often hear that familiar comment; "Ya dont need that long rod on this river".
The "sound" of those comments were very familiar because I've been in the exact reverse position, being the only one with a 9' #10 weight single handed rod, while all others donned 16" Hardys. I got the same comments there, but in reverse. "Ya neare gonna take a big bugger on that wee bit of a stick". Actually I made that guy eat his words several times, BUT the point is, I was quite humbled while casting in their presence. I had to compete with their effortless 100' casts while they barely wet their boots, while I double hauled, wading deep, well over my arse in the swift current.
It all made sense to me on that trip. Have to get myself one of those big rods. Instead of covering one side of the river, and working hard for the distance, why not effortlessly cover both sides with one cast. Made sense to me. Of coarse hooking and landing a fish on a 16 foot noodle is not as pleasurable as a stout nine foot outfit, but the positives sometimes out weigh the negitives in many cases. Learning this from the Europians, I've come to love a Spey rod, not only to perfect better the challenge of true spey casting, enabling me to hit those lies in the canyons, but for better coverage when casting conventionallym not to mention the effortlessness that it takes.
Anyway, after many years, now I fish both. Big water, fish spey. Smaller water fish, single handed.....and soometimes even vice versa. Forget the comments. They do no one any good, especially to the one making the comment. Both have their place where ever one sees fit.
Howie