Fly Fishing Book Review by Bob Triggs - Little Stone Flyfisher : Guide

Spey Casting By Simon Gawesworth Publisher: Stackpole Books 2004 ISBN 0-8117-0104-2 Hardcover, 286 Pages $49.95

   Modern Fly Casting Doyen Simon Gawesworth took four years out of his otherwise blurryingly busy life to write this solid reference to the Spey Casting experience. Simon's whole life has been an immersion into the fly casting and fly fishing life, with a significant groundwork in the two-handed rod ,including numerous titles in competition worldwide, and a lifetime of international fly angling. His contribution to modern fly line technology is well noted as Rio Product's resident expert in all matters related to fly lines and rods and casting techniques. And anyone who has enjoyed Simon's public demonstrations, clinics and classes, articles and videos, has surely walked away with a sense that fly casting- especially Spey Casting- and the perfection of it, could indeed become a way of life. With this new book Simon has taken another significant life step in solidifying himself as one of the all-time Masters of the fly fishing arts.

 Perhaps it is most unusual that someone so undeniably expert and accomplished could write a work of this order, and yet manitain a most self-effacing tone throughout. While the author's own voice and sense of presence is immediate throughout the read, never once does the reader sense the kind of ego that drives most masculine competitive endeavors. And in a game rife with big egos and blow-hards, perhaps Simon Gawesworth stands out most for his simple, happy and commonsense approach to what more than one casting student has described as the"daunting" task of learning to cast the two-handed rod.

 Modern two-handed casting has indeed emerged as the new cult following in fly fishing in America. Here in the Pacific Northwest, where new Spey rod and fly line designs are being developed faster than the manufacturers can tool up for them, the art of the Spey has taken on all of the ardor, communicance and panache of a religious order- replete with it's own cult of personalities. But now it is everywhere- You can find Spey fishermen from the Russian Kamchatka to The Olympic Peninsula to the Skagit Valley, and all the way out to the broad Striper flats of Cape Cod. And for a simple rod design and a basic technique, that began centuries ago on a Scottish Salmon river- the River Spey-  there may be nothing else anywhere in sports quite like the renaissance of the long rod.

 Simon approaches this task of teaching us how to spey cast, from reading his sturdy book, with what seems an ironic set of contradictions:

 " It is not really possible- learning how to spey cast through words, photos and illustrations. There is no doubt that to truly master any form of spey casting, a direct, one-to-one lesson with an expert instructor is the only way to succeed."

And later:

 " There are many different styles of spey casting. This book is not going to show you the way to spey cast. This is just an interpretation of the techniques that have worked for me, both as a caster and as an instructor. Some people will read this book  and decide they do it differently. Others will find that my techniques don't work for them or their tackle. Ultimately, most casters will settle into a style of their own and as long as the fly gets to the fish, it doesn't really matter what the cast looks like."     

 This could easily be the sanest advice any casting student ever heard. But especially beginning Spey Casting students; trying to find their way through the idiosyncratic maze of books, videos and opposing strong opinions amongst teachers, Gurus and self-appointed experts. Simon keeps the student on the ground with one-step-at-a-time patience and clarity. The book is fully, beautifully illustrated, with each significant step in casting  presented alongside a sequence of color photographs that clearly show every important rod position, and each corresponding dynamic reaction of the line, through the entire sweep of the cast. Alone this is a remarkable achievement in a casting book as a pet peeve amongst students of casting has often been the lack of a clear visual representation of the rod and line, especially the line. You can study all of the moves with real confidence.

 Simon introduces us to the Spey rod and each cast in 26 chapters; from "The Overhead Cast" to "Advanced Spey Casting", with humor, reassurance, and refreshingly free of dogma or any sense of judgement. he also reminds us that if we do not do the basic, patient work of learning how to cast properly, with an understanding of the fundamental mechanics of the casts and how to use them, then there is little hope of our enjoying longer distances or more accurate Spey casting in our fly fishing endeavors. Much less continuing the activity with pleasure throughout our angling lives. The sooner one surrenders to this process, and sincerely applies themselves, the more likely there will be a positive reward. The way Simon teaches each step of each cast makes it obvious that this experience does not have to be overwhelming, intimidating nor daunting. You just need to take it a step at a time; one cast at a time. And you have to practise. Patiently. Simon gives us the tools. We have to do the work.

 Also supporting this book are a few unusually helpful chapters; "Crude, Traditional and Modern Spey Casting", "Weird Casts", "Mending", "Safety", "Fishing with a Two Handed rod", "The Single-Handed Spey Casts", and several more chapers on equipment; lines and leaders and balancing your Spey tackle. A very well-rounded glossary here sustains one's study all along the way.

 The first time I saw this book sitting on a table, reading the title and the author's name- I knew this was the signal modern work on the complex subject of  Spey Casting. From all I had experienced of Simon Gawesworth's many previous good works- I knew that this was the long awaited compendium for serious students of the Spey. A book for a life's work in the romance, and sport of one of fly fishing's finest arts. It is everything I had hoped for in a book about Spey Casting.

 

Article	091
Created	5-2-2005
Modified	9-19-2005
Author	Bob Triggs
Rating