Ideas?!?!

[Riveraddict]

I think that most everybody on here knows by now that I am the "Skagit Crusader". Now that I am at an age where I have more fishing days behind me than I have to look forward to, I am becoming much more aware of my own personal mortality. Add to this my passion for fishing and Skagit casting... I have put in enough time fishing, and in such a variety of circumstances and venues, as to only reinforce my feeling and belief that the Skagit approach is not just a justifiably distinct methodology of its own, but that it is also one of the most versatile ways for utilizing a fly rod. This circumstance has spurred me to start the undertaking of a project that has lingered in the back of my mind for some time now... a Skagit casting video. I have teamed up with Jeff Mishler, who shot Dec's video, and we are hoping to make this gig a little different than the standard "how to". Of course, with some of the actual instructional bits, there's just no getting around the "usual" do-this-then-do-that approach. But, we want to incorporate as much actual-on-river examples as possible. The steelheading aspect we pretty much have established our agenda. But, along with that, I would like to include something(s) away from the "mainstream" steelhead/salmon focus - Speying/Switchrodding for trout, smallmouth bass, striped bass, white bass, bluegill - something that would go beyond the "usual" PNW focus of salmonids and push the boundaries of the Spey/Switch concept to new horizons. On this part, we could use much help/advice/suggestions as possible!

These are few of the parameters that we would be looking for:
- stream or river situation, from 50' wide up to ???, and wadeable.
- species of fish that can be caught on a fly: swung, strip-retrieved, or dead drifted - any or all would work
- would like to have situations conducive to light Spey's (4's or 5's) or Switchrods (5, 6 or 7 weights) as the "heavy" stuff will be exampled enough in the steelheading part.
- doesn't necessarily have to be a "trophy" type of fishery. For example, catching decent numbers of 9" to 14" bass would be preferable to working all day for one, two, or three fish of better than 16", because shooting time would be limited to two or three days most likely (got to stay in budget!)

And, we will not name the venue being fished unless otherwise directed.


......in process....

[Hooknsteel]

if you include footage of fish catching i'll buy 100

[Miguel Morejohn]

I heard some rumors that a production of this nature might be coming together...this is wonderful news to have it validated. I think that producing a film about the Skagit casting and fishing methodology featuring the originator and if done right (Jeff's talent's behind the lens as well as on the river are exceptional) could potentially be destined to become a classic like the Lani Waller's series. For me the Skagit casting method has such depth and a seemingly endless learning curve to it. I am looking forward to seeing how this important production evolves. Thanks for the preview of ideas and giving the board an opportunity to give some input.

[fishmhard]

Are you limiting this strictly to rivers , or have you considered jumping way outside the box with potential stillwater applications? What region nationally are you thinking of ?

[wiscokid]

How about swingin for these big and mean river monsters. There are a number of rivers that have a moderate gradient and nice structure for using switch rod and short skagit heads w/ big flies. Just an idea.

[sixrivers]

I've been wondering how long this was going to take.
You're going to get bombarded by everyone and their brother about the best ditch in their part of the country. I'm probably no different, so, if you ever want to come back to your old haunts in the Alagnak braids we have a jet boat there and a couple catarafts and camp gear enough to house a camera crew and a couple casting gurus.
As far as the video, I would like to see comparisons while casting that show why a particular skagit cast works better than traditional. Actually make the cast using the same terminal tackle to show why that particular system can't drag that ball of feathers out of the water as well.
Another thing that I have not seen much is detail consisting of why someone picked the fly, leader length / material and sink tip to fish a particular run and why they are CHANGING to something different as they pass through the rest of the run. Reading runs and your thoughts about what it takes to reach a certain target and why. Details. Details that include sink tip lengths and materials and different knots or loops That are easy and work, etc.
Was it Dec that said you were the most inquisitive angler he ever had the pleasure of hanging with? If in this video you let just a little bit of that streamside knowledge come out, the end result will be a far cry from your normal how to cast vid!

[wilson]

You've got several great shad fisheries out West. Columbia, Umpqua, Sacramento, just to name a few. Covering them wouldn't be a bad idea for any new video. I'm sure your technique would work for them just fine especially with the lighter speys that are coming out. (Just bought one for this very purpose)

I never had a chance to partake in the Columbia fishery when I was living there in 2006, but any thoughts on dividing up large rivers into fishable stretches from a fisherman's perspective would be valuable to anyone. That'd translate well to the EC fisheries that have the same characteristics like the St. Mary's, Niagara, and even EC tidal fisheries for shad and stripers.

-Chris

[Gillie]

I would vote to stick with steelhead but focus on line control, mending, how to swing the fly through the sweet spot......in short, how to fish with the spey rod rather than simply how to cast it.

Dec does some of this in his video but there is still no definitive video out there on fishing the swung fly for steelhead. This is particularly true when you talk about deeper techniques and working sink tips in different types of water.

If you combined skagit casting techniques with fishing techniques you would have a great video.

[greenspey]

That sounds like a fantastic video, I look forward to it. I would suggest the Bow river in Alberta (but generally around Calgary). It is well over 50 feet wide and it is a trophy brown trout fishery where there is plenty of water where you can swing a fly. Much of the fishery is walk and wade accessible and the fishing even right in the city (of Calgary) is pretty strong with browns over 20 not being unusual. It's also cheap considering your production costs are (likely) in US dollars and the CDN dollar is currently some 20 cents cheaper so your dollar goes 20% further. There is also a reasonably sized population of people who swing the big rods in the area.

[Boston]

Ed,

Since you taught me (attempted) your style of casting, I feel it would be successful here in the New England area where we have several tidal rivers. Please feel free to contact me regarding fishing some of these waters as you develop your video!

Ernie

PS. It is a very foreign concept in these parts...it should be interesting.

[Grampa Spey]

First of all thanks to you and your Skagit Amigos for making Skagit casting/fishing a vital style for many of us. I'm 70, and Skagit casting/fishing, the AFS Heads and the shorter lighter spey and switch rods have extended my years of fishing and casting.

One of the biggest uses for Skagit casting in N California is Shad fishing. Bob Pauli and I have the name of a great guide for the Sac. He guides for shad in May. Your Rio/Sage Skagit buddies have contacts re the American River/Yuba and Feather Rivers.

A video fishing for Smallmouth bass on the middle/low Umpqua would be excellent.

The use of the two handed rods for Stripers on the American and rivers in Oregon would be great.

The purist nihilists who think Skagit casting is a deadly sin will run away from this suggestion, how to catch Carp with two handed rods in our rivers and lakes.

Bass fishing with the two handed rods in smaller ponds and bigger lakes is a lot of fun. Again the Skagit lines and AFS lines work well with this fishing.

You might want to contact Jeff Putnam re switch rods and spey casting one handed rods. Jeff has an excellent knowledge of the waters in N California where the Switch Rods and lighter Spey rods work.

[Salmon Chaser]

Ed, I dug this little nugget up. Whatever you decide to do i'am sure we'll all be watching anyways
http://speypages.com/speyclave/showt...ght=cam-corder

[Sauk River]

Hey Ed,
I liked the idea about pre selling the video, sign me up for 4 copies, one each for Fred, Dean, Gordon and myself. See ya on the river, as soon as it is fishable and the roads are open.
Cheers
Mike
aka Sauk River