Single Hand Spey Casting Tips With James Millard | Ashland Fly Shop

James Millard of OPST gives some tips on how to properly single hand spey cast. Check out our website for more instructional spey casting videos! www.ashlandflyshop.com

[@KevinGarrigan]

great breakdown guys, thanks so much

[@awaken77]

Nice presentation! I love your casting videos

[@ashlandflyshop770]

Thank you!

[@johnmeyer6197]

Very good video. I ordered a 250 great opst line system from operations mgr and opst. I will be purchasing 275 great also. Too much snow here to use now.

[@cachi-7878]

Beautiful casting guys. I have a setup I bought not too long ago and I’ve taken it out twice so far. I cannot cast single hand Spey style yet so I’ve been throwing overhead style. It launches big flies like a catapult, however, I need to learn this stuff because casting an OPST system overhead is taxing on your shoulder. I’m using an 8wt with a 275 grain smooth line and a 7.5ft riffle tip which was recommended by James. I wish he could teach me on the stream so I could do at least one move but well.

[@mikekuczynski1552]

Good stuff

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Very Cool video guys. Nicely done. What camera are you using? Its amazing. Thanks

[@ashlandflyshop770]

Thanks man! It's a Sony a6500. I like it a lot.

[@pakfrd7887]

I’m having a hard time deciding on a single or two-hand rod for steelhead. I Mainly fishing will be fishing my local Sandy and Clackamas rivers with a handful of trips to the deschutes. I’m not new to single hands. I’ve been fly fishing trout on my 5 wt for years and ready to move up to steelhead. I originally bought a spinning road for steelhead but I’m partial to fly fishing. I don’t want a switch rod. Any help on what I should do?

[@scalnation3069]

Swing flies=spey nymph=single

[@stephencifka4629]

Great info. What rod and line is James throwing in the video?

[@ashlandflyshop770]

Thanks! The rod hasn't hit the market yet, but OPST will be releasing something new very soon ;)

[@esbirddog]

Great video!! ... for the most part... so for a complete neophyte like me, I find that "you guys" (the fly shop guru's in general) tend to use a lot of terms that might mean something to those who already understand the spey/skagit casting world, but leave us that are trying to figure this stuff out via researching KZbin guessing... i.e.: "Pinch the head..." does that mean I'm pulling the head all the way through the guides and pinching the end of it against the grip? or to use the Lawyer's terms, am I "assuming facts not in evidence"... what does that mean in simple terms? Also, would love to see a video that goes over the set-up of the reel/rod all the way from attaching the line to fishing it (understanding that you could be using different tips/leaders, etc. dependent on where and what your fishing for.) For instance, I emailed NUMEROUS fly shops before I got one to answer as to if you put backing on the reel first, or go straight to a running line... and I'd bet that if I was unsure of this, there are lots of folks out there with the same question(s)! So in this case, I have a 9' 6 wt. regular fly rod. If I'm understanding this correctly, to set it up for single hand spey, I could still use the same 6 wt. reel I have on it now, 100 or so yds. of backing, running line? (and how much?... or can I just keep my WF6F line on it...), and then a commando micro skagit head (like 200 grains if I understand this correctly)... to which I then attach my sink tip or floating tip.... and then leader. As far as a leader, can I just go with some straight tippet? If going for something bigger, i.e.: steelhead, some straight 15 lb. mono or fluro? or do I use a tapered leader? Sorry for the long winded reply/comment, but like I said, if I have these questions, I'm sure there are LOTS of others feeling the same way, and at some times it seems so complicated (which I really think it isn't, and would seem less so if things were explained in simplified terms instead of the "spey jargon") that there are some saying "F#$@ all this spey stuff, I catch plenty of fish (or not) fly fishing the 'regular' way!". On the other hand, I personally think that this wold be a great tool to add to my arsenal and I would be able to fish places that I now can't.... would love to see a reply here in the comments section, as well as the afore mentioned video!!

[@ashlandflyshop770]

Hey there, thanks for your comment here. I'd say a couple things in response: 1. There are many videos online that are designed specifically to help you get the answers you're looking for as far as rigging your reel and rod to properly spey fish with a single hand rod. OPST has made many of them and we have worked with them on a few in the past as well. For the basics of understanding how to set up your reel and rod, I'd recommend either searching for fly fishing basics on KZbin or taking a fly fishing course at your local fly shop. We are happy to be a resource for that as well, and we can be reached by email at [e-mail] or by phone at [phone]. 2. As I mentioned, there are many videos designed specifically for beginning spey casters like yourself, but there also need to be videos for folks who've been fishing for a bit and understand the terminology involved in the sport. 3. I'm sure there are many people who shy away from spey casting on single or two handed rods because of the complications involved... And that's why local fly shops like ourselves exist. We are here to help you through this process so you can go out and have fun on the water. Videos are just a primer in that effort. Again, we are always reachable by email or phone and are happy to help make things simple for you. 4. When you set up a reel, there will always be backing put on the reel before a running line or any fly line. Your six weight reel will work with this line just fine. The amount of backing put on any given reel depends on the length and size of the line you want to put on the reel. 5. Whether you use a floating tip or sink tip on the end of a spey line depends on the type of flies you're wanting to fish with.. If you want to fish streamers, use a sink tip with around three feet of tipped on the end. If you want to use dry flies, use a floating tip with a standard trout leader on the end. OPST has videos that show both their sink tips and floating tips and the different uses of each. 6.. Hope this helps!

[@esbirddog]

@@ashlandflyshop770 Thanks for the quick reply!! I have seen many of the OPST videos, and they all have been a great help, despite generally being an OPST commercial, which I would fully expect, aside from the fact I like their product anyway. As far as the local flyshop, unfortunately the internet killed mine (Creative Sports in Pleasant Hill, CA.) There aren't really any readily close, I would have to drive quite a bit... and if you know the SF Bay Area, you understand why I don't want to do that. So... next time I come up to visit my brother in Oregon City, I'll have to make a run by your shop on the way up... (a little out of the way, but would seem worth it!) We do have a local fly fishing club, Mt. Diablo Fly Fishers, who I've been meaning to join, but so far their schedule and mine haven't worked out... thus using KZbin as a resource... but thanks again for the reply, it was helpful!!

[@lorbas58]

awesome. can you write exactly how your kit is built? what rod, length and weight of the head ...? thanks.

[@simonfox5123]

Check out the opst website bud, they have tables to answer your questions, less this guys rod length of course!

[@tricoptero6419]

Hello, I have a 9.6" one handed rod for 7# line. They recommended me a 250g opst comando head. Could it flip and throw really heavy baits? Like lead streamers, silicone crabs, UV resin shrimp, etc. I would use it in river mouths and beaches. Thanks.

[@ashlandflyshop770]

interesting application! The commando head will certainly throw those flies, not sure it's the best "fishing" line for that application but it will certainly get them out there!

[@danielashjazadeh6165]

hey, I have a sage foundation 690-4 and I was wondering what head to use?

[@ashlandflyshop770]

The 225 grain Commando Head would be great on there!

[@danielashjazadeh6165]

@@ashlandflyshop770 thanks! Would you also consider the 250, or is that too heavy, also, what length of sink tip would you use?

[@ashlandflyshop770]

@@danielashjazadeh6165 you could but more doesn't always mean better. The suggestions for single hand rods from OPST are pretty spot on. That said, I would rather go up than down in size. 10' light sink tips or sinking leaders will cast great on that head.

[@danielashjazadeh6165]

@@ashlandflyshop770 thanks! Would you recommend a rio tip, or a opst one? Are there any other brands like SA whose product you could recommend? Thanks!

[@ashtonmakowsky9838]

What do you mean by "pinching the line behind the head" ?

[@ashlandflyshop770]

It's where you pinch the running line against the rod in order to keep the shooting head in place when you make the cast .

[@jessejames1395]

I know this sounds like common sense but wish you would’ve shown the parts of the line as you were talking about them, example shooting head or tip

[@ashlandflyshop770]

Good call! Appreciate the feedback!

[@Detroit3Pistons]

What’s the best way to figure out the perfect amount of over hang? Do you want a foot of running line out of the rod tip or none?

[@scalnation3069]

Enough to where you don't blow your anchor but you still lid the rod

[@Alaskaflyfishing]

So why is the opst rep. Talking over his questions before he asks them. I love opst but wtf is with the waiting to talk rather than listen. The advice was ok but it wasn’t really educational. Just another blow hard with a beard acting like he’s a celebrity. The host was super helpful and did a great job. Opst you need help in your marketing professionalism. Why can’t we see more humble and passionate anglers. Ed Ward is the man and he’s the coolest guy ever

[@ashlandflyshop770]

👨👨 A little harsh but understandable! We can't all be Alex Trebek! Glad you found a couple pearls in there and thanks for watching!!

[@coolcaster]

Totally agree, the bearded guy isn't up to scratch.

[@OPSkagit]

I think if you met James in person you're opinion of him wouldn't be so harsh. But the last thing Millard wants is to be famous. Get to know him before passing judgment over some you've never met.