What is Skagit Casting?

An explanation of continuous motion Skagit casting with a two handed Spey rods and a Rio scandi short versitip system.

[@fishduckdog]

Man, that's some awesome casting 👌! I can only keep trying! Hitting the water in 3 weeks! Tight lines Jedi!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks for watching Charles. Hope you are able to get some good fishing and practice casting in!

[@brianamado4366]

Just started fishing a 2 handed setup. I love it! Went on my first steelhead outing a couple weeks ago and hooked into a beauty. Jumped 2 times, fought her for about 2 minutes and the hook popped out. I'm not sure what went wrong. User error, (probably), just plain coincidence? I'm really not sure. All I can say is I'm hooked. (No pun intended). I have so much to learn about casting, fly selection, sink tip selection, how to setup a good swing, etc. I've been binge watching your videos and can tell you have a wealth of knowledge, which I greatly admire. At 21 years of age I often think I know it all (especially when it comes to fishing) But then veterans like you put me back in my place quickly! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge! I cant wait to learn more! Tight lines sir!!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Yeah Brian! Consider that a long distance release! In my experience as been they pretty much hook themselves, so its just a matter of patience! You;ll get another chance, let them take it for a long time, dont get overexcited and jerk, be patient before any hook setting.

[@mountainstomarshes8966]

First steelhead outing with a 2 hander and you hooked up?! It's all down hill from there brother!

[@MrLagerblad]

This is the best explanation I’ve heard ever.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thank you very much sir...your comment makes very happy!

[@MAx-zp8bi]

So appreciate your videos, you have given me an incredible insight on how to fish my local Rivers with a Skagit line, I probably would have given up if it were not for your videos

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Great to hear! Thanks Max, that totally makes my day.

[@raidentaka0124]

Good evening! I am a Japanese fly fisher. Your casting is amazing!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thank you very much! Glad you are watching my friend!

[@АркадийСедов-м2ц]

Такая красота!!!Тим,шикарное видео!!!!А какая петля!!!Все очень круто снято!!!Спасибо тебе!!!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thank you my friend, your compliment touches my heart!

[@paulmerelrich9863]

Awsome video thank you I think this will help my cast....makes alot of sense coming up on the angle and not flat....thank you

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

You bet buddy! This will also allow you to sweep nice and slow so you won't blow your anchor. Experiment around with it a bit with your speed etc. and don't be afraid to video or have someone watch, or turn your head and watch what your anchor is doing.

[@BrianPeters110]

Your instructions are amazing. Greetings from the north Umpqua in Glide. Hope to run into you out here one of these times. Would happily pay for an instruction session

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks Brian! I look forward to meeting you on the river. Flag me down if you see me out your way!

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

Hi buddy ! You have a point there ! And all is about what anchor you make ! And where it placed. I'm not often do perry poke cast I do the sweep and around and I dont need so much stick because I go up in grain and can cast whit out a hard anchor that's my key ! On my switch rod 13' I'm use 650gr head and short 20' short compact head shoot in the forest where you shoot the video I do the full OPST shootingline all 55yards and my loop is super tight and not so high over water as many I see. Nice video by the way 👌 take care the swed 🇸🇪

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Good stuff Bjorn, That is a lot of shooting line my friend! I like the Varivas Airs for mono because it floats pretty good, but I use Berkley Big Game 40lbs test for fishing because it is cheap and works good..Tight lines my friend!

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins Oh I use this sometime to the 40lbs when use the deepwater Express lines is awesome good but remember to cut of 3-4ft every time you go fishing important. Nice video bud. Take care talk soon. The swed 🇸🇪

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins I was assumed you hand OPST Laser line 35lbs on the reel ! I use it for most part. And Vision Catapult flat 50lbs its very good don't tangle just need stretch as it comes of the reel after that it's done it is awesome and it is fluo yellow so you see it pretty well. Bjorn 🇸🇪

[@riverrightoutdoors]

Great info Linespeedjedi... thank you.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

My pleasure! Glad you liked it brutha!

[@janusz.panicz]

When you take a close look at it, most of Ed Ward's casts and yours too Tim using ultra-short Skagit heads, are blown anchors. As casting with ultra-short Skagit heads like OPST Commando is prone to blown anchors by nature. Do those blown-anchor casts work - sure, the same way Belgian casts work but is it still sustained anchor casting? Not the way I see things.

[@bjornchristiansson2827]

Hi as I'm told Tim I use the OPST comando and Rio short. And blow anchor is often because leader is to short! I use 12' like T14-T17 if I need a T8-T10 I go up to 15' so they grip water better and not blow the anchor so easy. Head is good to be short ! And I'm use those who is 18-23' the OPST 470gr is one favourite and Rio 625gr is one more. I use OPST 300gr on my single hand rod 5/6# and it's a fast action rod. That's my best expansion too you. Tight sweep close to the body and not sweep to hight is next. But all do it bit different. Best regards Bjorn from Sweden 🇸🇪

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks Janusz, for watching and commenting. This video was accidentally published before I had a chance to provide some information. Beulah 12'6" 7/8 Classic rod with a Rio Scandi short body, 10' of T8 , 3' mono leader and a small dumbbell eyed intruder from Aqua flies. I only use the Commando heads on one handed rods or very short mini trout two hand from converted one handers. I have noticed that Ed ward doesn't mind a blown anchor, barely, and it is probably by design, but I was also under the impression that he coined the phrase sustained anchor, which is a term I rarely use myself. You may see a blown anchor or two on some of my videos but my problem has been too much anchor until recently. Cheers!

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks Bjorn, you have lots of good ideas and tips and I appreciate them! Thanks for contributing your insights on tip length and sink tips and lines! You give me some good ideas to play with!!! All the best, Tim

[@janusz.panicz]

IMHO without an anchor or with blown anchor it's no longer a spey cast (or "Skagit cast" as some like to call it). Balance is needed when matching rod length with the length of the shooting head/tip/leader/tippet. Too much of an anchor is a problem and too little of an anchor is another problem. Ed Ward and you might not mind the blown anchor but I do and many more do. By design an anchor is an essential part of a spey cast. Period.

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

@@janusz.panicz Yes, you make a valid point. I don't like blown anchors nor do I want them as part of my casting. I prefer the fly always be traveling in the direction of the cast. There are a few that are slightly blown in this video and I should have commented on that.

[@bgp2133]

Great camera work! About how much running line should be in front of rod tip when casting? (Beginner :) )

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

just a few inches is fine. You can ad more if you like later. When you improve a foot or two will be easy.

[@robertwest7197]

What is your preference, a high sweep or a low to high sweep with a short Skagit line?

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

It depends on several factors but lately a lower, peeling sweep. Thanks 🙏

[@lesterma1608]

In this video river left which foot is forward?

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

I prefer to cast with my dominant foot forward. So if I'm left hand up casting, left foot will be forward and vica versa unless wading makes that too difficult! Then I adapt!

[@alfonsobrutti3]

In questo video usi un REEL LARGE ARBUR ma non tiesco a individuare il fabbricato. Vuoi essere cossi gentile da informami? Credo si tratti di un vecchio HARDI, che ho cercato per molto tempo

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

It is an older Hardy that is discontinued. Not my favorite reel. Its just ok. I'm still looking for the perfect reel myself!

[@alfonsobrutti3]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins grazie

[@BrianPeters110]

@@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins Lamson waterworks speedster. Super light and a very adjustable drag. And lamson has recently had many of their reels on sale. Ntm made in the US, Idaho

[@Petergoneflyfishing]

Hey bud, I hope all is well your way with the virus stuff going on. I wanted to ask you what your setup was in the video?

[@LineSpeedJediTimRawlins]

Thanks Peter, Beulah 12'6" 7/8 Classic rod with a Rio Scandi short body, 10' of T8 and a small dumbell eyed intruder from Aqua flies.