8-Ball, Corner Pocket

One of the most fascinating revelations of Will Turek's spey clinic was finally learning the proper way to hold a two-handed rod for spey casting.

I've been putting the Vulcan Death Grip on the full expanse of the lower grip. But spey casting is a ballet using both hands, with cross-overs, multiple changes of direction, and other complexities. A full grip on the lower just sets up disaster.

Turns out the proper approach is a ball-and-socket with the bulb in the palm of your hand and fingers gripped around it. This gives a solid grip with nearly full rotation. This was truly an "Ah-HA!" moment.

Amazing what some basic instruction will do for understanding! Hoping to get out this weekend to throw a few casts. I've set a goal to have at least two casts - one with an upstream anchor, the other with a downstream - comfortable and repeatable by 1 October for steelhead season. As of now it looks like those will be a Double Spey and a Circle Spey. Several of the Great Lakes guides I've met seem to use the Circle and it's cousin the Snap-T a great deal, so this seems like a good place to start.

-Sean-