Three Components to a Better Spey Cast with George Cook

This is the full presentation of George Cook, 30+ Year Pacific Northwest Fly Fishing Rep and spey caster, at the 2023 Lake City Spey Clave in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. George breaks down the three components to a spey cast in this 38-minute instructional spey casting video.

Every year, House of Fly hosts the Annual Lake City Spey Clave in Coeur d'Alene to share and inspire others through this unique two-handed technique of spey fishing for trout and salmon. Whether you’re a first-time spey caster or a seasoned angler, this spey casting clinic is a great event to learn and improve upon your cast.

[richardkluding]

You're presentation had greatly improved my understanding and.... has given me great markers to continue to improve my spey casting! Much appreciated! Thanks!

And just going into my second season with my long rod, soon.... And loving it!

[ChrisBryantChannel]

I had the opportunity to be at this event and was hoping that this would make it to YouTube. Great demonstrations and instruction.

[appliedpositiveattitude]

What a great analogy of the bottom hand with a lacrosse stick. And the last part talking about having your anchor, all in alignment.

[bjornchristiansson]

Good video 👍
Goran Andersson did show me that underhand casting in 1980 in our home river. I was fishing whit long DT lines of 100-120ft at that time. Our home river is very deep ! And a short heavy sinking head swing different in the current.
The rods we did fish back then was Hardy mostly....
Back in 1981 i started out by cutting of a scientific anglers wet cel DT 12# in 40ft long head. And a regular 30lbs mono line as shooting line.
Thats where i started that form because of Goran Andersson🇸🇪
His work has been amazing for many company's Sage Loop...
The new generation Scandinavia or scandi lines who comes out is so good lines.
You have so many options to choose from. And as grafite has been better and we can do whit a 11feet rod.
Did take a 15' 10/11# rod back then.
But there is places where a traditional spey setup is awesome like in Scotland big wide open pools and a floater then you just lift and change angle for each cast. You fish fast over a pool that way. But it takes bit more effort and longer stroke to handle a long spey line !
I have still have a few. They are 120-140ft long and been used from 15-17' rods.
Just some historic journey to remember...
I guessing all of us love the Hardy fly reel's they last a lifetime or more.
And the sound from a salmon on run whit those reels ! What beat that?
Best regards from Sweden 🇸🇪

[peterallen]

Awesome video explained stuff I had worked out so great to get confirmation I'm starting to do things right Great job

[weforever]

I like it you pretty much told me where i was going wrong ❤from 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👍

[posterestantejames]

George, you personally taught me to cast standing in the Chena river… I've learned so much from you, but I have created a fulcrum a different way than you by bringing my forward hand closer to the reel and pivoting quickly, and focusing at that point on my bottom hand stopping abruptly against my belly (like Goran runs into his belly) a calm underhanded cast. Good to see you, George.

[berndziesche]

Don't let Göran Andersson hear you calling him to be a Spey caster! 😂 "It's not Spey casting anymore. I cut the lines and SHOOT the distance." as he prefered to say.
Where exactly you best position your top and bottom hand along the handle depends on the length of the handle and how you prefer to cast. There is no general right or wrong.
I recommend to learn to change hands!
That aside, nice video. Well made. 👌

[MrKveite]

If you are on that bank casting downstreamm just learn to speycast from that side too, with your left hand as lead hand. Why, it's because you get a much better angle when the flyline lands and you will catch more fish as the fly will fish instantly. The way he does it delay that with many meter or seconds if you want until the line has the correct angle....

[BigFly]

I'm not so sure I agree with George's initial analysis "if you narrow your hand position you loose the fulcrum"! It's logical with hands slightly closer together, less movement of the lower hand creates the same rod movement at the tip. Typical, under-hand casting is based on this principle.

[damienobrien]

I must be watching a different video to those who gave this a thumbs up

[thestyledocument]

Just like the companies he represents, an overcomplication of something simple.

[MichaelJohnson-cghe]

Obviously does not know what a Fulcrum is in engineering terms, makes a nonsense of the film.

[Fenrir.Gleipnir]

He really need to go to a cardiologist, he will be dead within 6 months if he doesn’t go. Please if you know this dude let him know that he really needs to see a doctor, with his heart. You can hear it on his breathing. This isn’t a lung issue even if he have pulmonary disease or asthma this isn’t it. Save his life.

[Fenrir.Gleipnir]

He should watch Scandinavian fly fishing.

[Fenrir.Gleipnir]

He is wrong if you want tight d-loops your need to have Spey rod above your junk but your bottom hand should be out from your body and push it just above your junk that’s how you make tight D-loops with fast action rods