I recently watched a video by Simon Gawesworth on Single Handed Spey casting. I was really impressed with his casting and just had to wonder if the line he was recommending would help make my own single handed spey casts smoother and maybe even longer. Simon does casting for RIO products and he was recommending the RIO Elite, Single Handed Spey line. I looked it up and it’s pricey, but I after studying the video, I just had to have it.
Well I just got my line in a couple of days ago in a six weight and I have to tell everyone that I just love it, especially for Perry Pokes and the Tongariro. I wanted something that I could use for my summer bluegill fishing as I often wind up wading or bank fishing in scenarios where there is little room for back casts. I need spey casts when I don’t have room for back casts, to help with angle problems, change of direction etc. I normally prefer a Scientific Angler Master Expert Distance (SA MED) because it has a seventy foot head and it also does Spey casts well, though it is primarily a distance line. I didn’t think there would be a lot of difference but this new RIO line just absolutely excels. When I say it excels, its not like the other lines don’t accomplish the Spey casts it’s just that this RIO line makes them all easier and smoother. The Tongariro cast especially benefits. My Tongariro rolls out over the water in a tight loop with only a small amount of D-loop. I haven’t attempted to see if it will actually cast a Tongariro further than the SA MED, but I expect that it will. Just fishing in the neighborhood pond I’ve sent almost all 90 feet of the line out.
At first, noticing the short head on the line, I thought the line would be similar to Skagit lines, but it’s not. Skagit heads are shorter and the weight is at the front. This line has the weight in the back of the head and so it doesn’t flop around like a heavy Skagit, it makes a nice presentation. The taper makes for tight loops and the overhead casting is just about as good as any line I have cast. I made an overhead cast the other day with all of the 90 feet going out and with around ten feet of backing.
The line does not cast heavy flies well but then with summer bream and crappie fishing, I don’t need to use big flies. It does cast the typical micro-jig or bead-head fly very well. This line is pretty much what the doctor ordered for me.
If I have a complaint it would be the same one I have with all short head fly lines in that it starts to perform poorly when making casts with a good bit of overhang. The SA MED will certainly allow more carry but I think that only matters with respect to distance casts and that’s usually just something to do out in the yard, “just to see”.
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