TROUT SPEY FISHING
LRCTU CHAPTER MEETING VIA ZOOM 30 MARCH 2021
For you that missed it Tim Flagler gave a very informative talk on Trout Spey Fishing at the March 30 Chapter meeting. He included parts on equipment, rigging, and flies along with numerous videos demonstrating the techniques he was presenting. I like the idea of saving my shoulder when fishing bigger rivers (e.g., the Clinch or the French Broad when they are generating).
Equipment and Rigging Options for Trout Spey Fishing. Here are suggested setups that Tim uses routinely when fishing with this style
Trout Spey Rigs–Rod-Reel Combos, Lines, Heads and Tips
- FIRST:
- single hand trout spey
Rod: Scott Radian, 9’ 5-weight
Shooting Line: OPST 30 lb Laser Line
Head: OPST Commando Head, 200 grain, 13.5’
Tip: OPST Commando Floating Tip, 20 grain, 5’
SECOND:- two-hand Scandi, smaller flies (including dries, wets, nymphs of sizes usually associated with
regular trout fishing), lighter tips
Rod: Orvis Clearwater, 11’4” 3-weight
Shooting Line: .025” shooting line
Head: Scientific Anglers Scandi Lite, 180 grain, 20’
Tip: Orvis poly leader, 7’, intermediate
THIRD:- two-hand Skagit; for larger, heavier flies (usually streamers), and tips
Rod: Douglas 10’ 6” 4-weight
Shooting Line: OPST 35 lb Laser Line
Head: OPST Commando Head, 225 grain, 13.5’
Tip: OPST Sink Tip, 96 grain, 12’, Bucket Series
Note; Tippet with these rigs. Tim uses fluorocarbon tippet for any sinking fly (2x or
so for large flies) and mono for floaters and sometimes wets. Usually in lengths of 2 – 4- feet.
Tim also showed a number of his exquisitely tied flies he routinely uses when fishing with this
technique. All the flies that were included in the presentation are on Tim’s YouTube channel, and there are playlists there which can help narrow patterns down by
category: https://www.youtube.com/user/tightlinevideo .
Here are links to Tim’s favorite trout
spey flies:
Pine Squirrel Trout Spey Streamer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vpLndd3G7w&t=
Isonychia Nymph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEw6LsZbEGg
Mickey Finn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzS4LjZ5Zj8
Squirrel & Herl Bugger
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeaIoU9ei5g&t=
Composite Loop Zonker
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_J3i_UQJi8
Hare’s Ear Wet Fly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLjBq9hRwNU
Light Cahill Wet Fly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnqty3n7C5Q&t=
I wasn’t aware of this but Tim does a monthly virtual “Tie-Off” with Tom Rosenbauer of Orvis. They’re held the first Monday of the month on Facebook Live. The next one is Monday, April 5th. You can view past Tie-Off’s on Orvis Fly Fishing Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/orvisflyfishing), just go to events, then past events and scroll down. Sounds like fun!
Also, Tim has several websites that provide much useful information. They are
tightlineproductions@comcast.net
www.tightlinevideo.com
www.practicalpatterns.com
www.flyfishstories.com
