Weekly Round-Up: Trout Spey 101
As we face the winter doldrums, it's time to pull out the trout Spey kit and get to learning.
We’re heading into the shortest days of the year here in Montana. Dawn is just beginning to break when I get home from the gym in the morning, and usually when I look up from client calls or computer work in the late evening, it’s dusk already. December’s always a cozy month, the promise of a festive Christmas on the horizon, but afterward, once we pass the New Year, we’re in for another four months of grim darkness.
For most anglers, this is the fly tying season, and occasionally we bundle up in all the layers and head for any open water. Whether you’re the type who is into staying a home and daydreaming or heading out and nearly freezing certain body parts off, most of us can agree we’re dreaming of wet-wading season in shorts, and hungry fish munching on terrestrials midsummer.
I’m grateful to have some Southern Hemisphere travel coming up in January which will provide a bit of an escape, but until then I’ll be both the person bundling up to go freeze on the river and the person at home tying flies with a big mug of coffee and a good soundtrack. If you’re heading out, keep reading for a bit of seasonal inspiration on how to make your winter fishing just that much more interesting (and fun).
So, What Exactly Is Trout Spey… And Why Should I Care?
Long winter months ahead, buddy.
Talk to avid trout fly-fishing anglers around the country, and you’ll likely hear the terms “swing season,” “trout Spey,” or even “Micro Spey.” An effective method for chasing trout during the autumn, winter, and spring months, swinging for trout offers a new style of fishing and a fresh tempo for seasoned anglers. In short, trout Spey is simply taking the traditional style of two-handed Spey fishing (seen in steelhead and salmon fishing circles) and adapting it to trout.
I’m still very much a trout Spey neophyte, but I’ve been fortunate enough to spend some time with people who are some of the best in the world at it, so take the below with a grain of salt. (And if you’re trout Spey-curious, the gang at Headhunters Fly Shop are an excellent resource for gear, questions, and guide trips.)
Anglers are often on foot, taking one cast, letting the fly and the line swing through, and then taking a step downstream before casting again. This creates an almost zen-like, rhythmic way of covering runs that help anglers develop skills they can also take back to their single-handed fishing. Unlike dry fly fishing, where the object is to remove all line drag so the fly can float naturally, anglers typically mend downstream after casting to introduce tension into the line. It’s this same tension that “swings” the fly through the water and across the run.
Why Try Trout Spey
Many fishermen have turned to trout Spey simply for the sake of a new challenge and a fresh skillset to learn. It’s an excellent skill to have when fishing close quarters without space for a back cast, and learning to properly anchor a two-handed cast will often increase an angler’s cast “vocabulary” when then pick up a single-handed rod again.
When to Try It
Trout Spey truly shines on big, broad rivers such as Montana’s Missouri River, where the breadth of the river provides anglers plenty of space to work through runs on a grid. Anglers can move down a step after each cast, but also reaching out a little further with each cast, covering a promising run with a grid pattern to ensure efficient water coverage. Traditional Spey anglers may be familiar with the classic “down and across” movement—same thing.
Quick note on etiquette: just as in single-handed fishing, never step in front of another angler as they work through a run. Give people space.
A good rule of thumb when looking for promising trout Spey water is to look for water flowing at a walking pace. Cast at an angle downstream, then choose if you want to mend upstream or downstream to either accelerate or moderate the fly’s swing. As the fly comes to the end of the swing—the “dangle”—let it hang directly downstream for a few moments before stripping it in and recasting. Often trout will hit a fly on the dangle; this pause can produce some of your most productive fishing.
The Basic Gear
Rods marketed as trout Spey often fall between a 2-weight and a 5-weight. Unlike traditional Spey rods which range from 12’6” to more than 15’ in length, trout Spey rods fall into a more manageable 10’6” to 12’6” range.
Generally, a line class on a two-handed trout Spey rod equates to two or even three line weights higher on single-handed rods. (Your 9’ 5-weight single-handed rod equates more closely to a 11’6” 3-weight.) Any kind of Spey fishing will require an anchor to the cast—either waterborne or aerial—and a “D” Loop to load the rod as part of the cast, and the movements are often easier to learn on shorter, lighter trout Spey rods than full-blooded 15’ Spey rods.
Select a reel around two line sizes larger than your rod; this helps to balance out the longer rod, which makes casting more comfortable and natural.
Lines fall into two categories: Scandi or Skagit. The details and comparison of both could easily fill several articles, and I encourage any readers to delve into the multitude of information available online. In short, Scandi lines give delicate presentations and are designed to keep the fly closer to the surface. They’re often fished with minimally-weighted or unweighted flies (commonly soft hackles).
Skagit lines, on the other hand, allow you to finesse your set-up. The forward part of the line, called the head, is separate from the level running line. Heads come in different grain weights (sink rates), allowing anglers to target different depths, and different profiles for varied purposes. Skagit lines are effective for heavy streamers, the increased mass allowing anglers to fish heavy sink tips and hefty flies. It’s a good idea to carry a range of shooting heads so you can tackle different water, and don’t be shy about changing them up throughout the day.
Give It a Try
Trout Spey is a tactic worth adding to any angler’s quiver. It’s often done in cold weather (autumn, winter, and spring) so consider investing in quality cold-weather gear. A good pair of gloves, a thick beanie, and a solid jacket go a long way. Layer up more than you think you may need—you can always shed layers throughout the day. Consider bringing along a Jetboil and something hot for lunch; it can be a day-maker to be able to warm your hands.
By nature, trout Spey is somewhat of a solitary pursuit. If you’re fishing with friends, you’ll be spread out along the run, each working through your own stretch of river as you all migrate downstream in the cast-step-swing rhythm. Enjoy the quiet time on the water, remember the dangle, and embrace a new style of fishing!
About the Photos In This Series
All the images in this article were shot March before last, when a group of industry women decided to all rendezvous on Montana’s Missouri River before we started our respective seasons around the country. We met up on the ‘Mo during a frigid, sub-freezing spring weekend for fishing and revelry.
And no, there was not a group memo to wear maroon beanies. That just happened. I think I ended up in my weathered grey one that probably should be replaced, but it’s been on so many adventures with me I hate to do it. Funny how gear comes along for many rides, sometimes.
See You In Denver This February
For those of you who are planning (or maybe should be planning!) to attend the Denver Fly Fishing Show this year, I’ll be teaching a couple different workshops during the February 21-23, 2025 show. (And I’ll just have returned from Argentina two days prior, so the odds are good the presentations will be jet-lagged and entertaining.)
I don’t have dates or times for the workshops or talks yet, but stay tuned for more information. I’ll be teaching on the following topics:
Capture Better Fishing Photos With Jess McGlothlin: A 2.5-hour intensive workshop with in-class “assignments”, $95 for the session and limited attendance.
Travel Tips and Tricks With Jess McGlothlin: A 45-minute presentation designed to help anglers be more prepared—and feel more confident—traveling solo or as part of a group. Free with show ticket.
I hope to see many of you in Denver at the show!
Upcoming Hosted Trips
About to Close: Argentina 2025
About to close up availability for this late January / early February Argentina trip! I still have a few spots open on this combined itinerary which offers a full week of fishing at Estancia Laguna Verde from January 25 - February 1, and then five nights on the Golden Dorado River Cruiser from February 2 - 7th, 2025.
January 25 - February 1, 2025
Estancia Laguna Verde, Lago Strobel, Argentina
$7,500 (7 nights / 6.5 days fishing)
Private room / shared guide
February 2 - 7, 2025 (ONLY ONE SPOT REMAINING)
Golden Dorado River Cruiser, Paraná River, Argentina
$4,200 (5 nights / 4.5 days fishing)
Shared room and guide
The prices include lodging, guides, and food at both locations. Want to learn more? Send me a DM on social media or an email, or peek at this PDF for more details.
Q&A
Keep on sending in your questions via Instagram or by commenting by clicking the button below. Each week I’ll pick one and give a longer, more thought-out answer here than those I give on Instagram.
This week’s question came in via email.
Q: You always have your cameras with you wading or on boats in the saltwater. How do you keep them from corroding and being ruined?
A: I’m always careful to keep a clean “non-salty” towel in my kit, and if I’ve been handling fish, line, or other saltwater-coated items, I wipe my hands well before handing the cameras. Each night when I get off the water, the cameras are immediately (pre-bar, pre-pool, pre-whatever) wiped down thoroughly with a damp washcloth, and then dried with a dry one. Filters and lenses are cleaned and polished, and I use a bulb blower to get rid of any sand or sediment that might have gotten into little crevices. If it’s been really humid, cameras are sealed overnight in the Pelican case with a bunch of desiccant packs to help suck moisture out from the innards.
I never open the memory card ports out on the water (so spend the money for big cards) and minimize changing lenses (part of the reason I run two bodies on shoots—one with a long lens, and one with a wide). A lot of it is common sense… saltwater and electronics don’t mix, so keep the two as separate as possible. Showing your gear care and love will go a long way toward helping it last for future use.
Recently Published
I haven’t seen the print issue yet, but Hook & Barrel has a gorgeous feature about fishing for large rainbow trout at Argentina’s Estancia Laguna Verde in their latest issue. I got a sneak peek at the layout, and am excited to see the final!
Pick up the latest issue of American Fly Fishing and peek at the cover. I shot this image of friend Jackie Jordan on the Battenkill River in Vermont nearly ten years ago. Peek inside the issue for a photo feature on New England fly fishing (and some unexpected adventures you can find in the region’s waters).
Read the latest issue of Fly Fisherman magazine for an article and images on the Golden Dorado River Cruiser, as well as a series of images from Colombia’s Darien Lodge accompanying an article from fly-angling great Jeff Currier.
Not our usual topic, but I recently published a large article on chronic wasting disease in whitetail deer for hunting GPS brand onX Hunt. CWD Planning and Preparation in Two Southeastern States focuses on education and research efforts in the two SE states which do not yet have positive CWD cases: Georgia and South Carolina.
Photography on the Water: Help Your Buddy Nail the Hero Shot ran on Epic Fly Rod’s blog this past week.
In Mind the Gap: Fly Fishing the Darién Gap for InsideHook, I talked about the realities of pelagic and inshore fly fishing off Colombia’s northwest coast in the famed Darién Gap.
Hopping cargo planes filled with concrete and beer in order to go fishing? Sounds like an Australian thing. Read Concrete, Beer, and the American in The Tom Beckbe Field Journal.
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Glad you’re recovering well
Really liked the piece on Spey casting - made me think. My first experience was with April Vokey on the Dean river - she told me she was just learning to teach it. Later on I was fortunate enough to have been taught a few times by Simon Gawesworth - even accomplished a “snake roll “. Hope you continue to enjoy it.