Not too long ago, I bought a new Redington 8-weight rod. While shopping at my local fly fishing shop, I quickly realized that this weight came with a "fighting grip". Initially, I resisted the idea of an extra stub on the butt end of the stick, it just looked odd. Lucky for me, I purchased it anyway.
As mentioned briefly in my Calaveras report, I've become somewhat obsessed with spey casting techniques. Although you can certainly do all of these casts using a one handed flyrod (which I certainly do), I've found that I can more easily get the line out longer distances by taking my left hand and using that fighting grip for extra leverage. Just as you would on a spey rod.
If I had realized the value of the extra grip prior to buying a rod, I probably would of bought a "switch rod" instead. For those of you not familiar with this hybrid, it is a cross between the flyrod and a spey. It includes a grip for your second hand and they are usually longer, ten feet or more. The extra length and the grip give you the ability to load your line more and really get it out there without the need for a back cast.
Many of the rivers that I fish have a lot of trees and brush along the bank. Learning how to cast with these techniques have been a blessing, not to mention feeling more graceful than simply performing a roll cast. With that fighting grip and what I've learned over a few trips out, I can get line out pretty darn far without worrying about what is behind me.
As mentioned briefly in my Calaveras report, I've become somewhat obsessed with spey casting techniques. Although you can certainly do all of these casts using a one handed flyrod (which I certainly do), I've found that I can more easily get the line out longer distances by taking my left hand and using that fighting grip for extra leverage. Just as you would on a spey rod.
If I had realized the value of the extra grip prior to buying a rod, I probably would of bought a "switch rod" instead. For those of you not familiar with this hybrid, it is a cross between the flyrod and a spey. It includes a grip for your second hand and they are usually longer, ten feet or more. The extra length and the grip give you the ability to load your line more and really get it out there without the need for a back cast.
Many of the rivers that I fish have a lot of trees and brush along the bank. Learning how to cast with these techniques have been a blessing, not to mention feeling more graceful than simply performing a roll cast. With that fighting grip and what I've learned over a few trips out, I can get line out pretty darn far without worrying about what is behind me.
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