Here on the western coast, two handed rods (aka Spey rods) are very popular in the salmon and Steelhead culture. These rods allow its casters to make long casts with minimal effort. Also they allow for great line control because of the longer lengths.

The thread on the right line for Atlantic Salmon fishing got me thinking. Is there much of a two handed rod culture for Atlantic Salmon fishing. I imagine the same tactics that are used here in the West (long swings, skating, Skagit) can be applied in the East.

Please forgive my ignorance on the topic. I have not seen any articles on two handed rod fishing back east.

AB

In my experience, you have begun to see them, but it is not as acceptable, in my humble opinion, as it may be in the west. The reason, I think, is that in New Brunswick and the Gaspee areas, individuals and clubs own the pools that they fish to the center of the river - yes, high water marks can be vague. The bottom line in that if your pool is up stream of mine, you cannot (should not?) drift your fly into my pool.

Needless to say, on a smaller river, the long casting distance of the spey rod across the stream - especially in low water conditions - can challenge the fishers across the river as well as encroach on your neighbor's pools down stream. This "ownership" issue is the result of old English Common Law from hundreds of years past.

I have not fished for Atlantic Salmon in the Northwest, but it has always been my assumption that this was not the traditional situation there and so more conducive to the development of this style. (If you control both sides of the river, no problem When water is high and backs you up againt the wall - like the origianl Spey River conditions - it is a good alternative to no fishing at all.

I should say, however, that there are numerous streches of "Crown"/ Public water on the rivers as well.

Tight lines,

There isn't much done south of the boarder, most of the hard cores on this side spend most of their time in Canada. The Gaspe is actually pretty popular, and my friend Jim Rusher has his spey school there. I fish lighter spey (12'6" 6wt Z-Axis) in the Androscogin, upper CT (from White River Jct. are up), Pemi/Merimac, Kennebec, Dead and the West Branch for Trout and Salmon. It's a blast... a guide buddy of mine in Maine is pretty hot for it too.

Be careful to not use 'two hander' too generally... the most common two handers are spey and switch rods, and switch rods (despite what some may try to tell you) are not a spey rod you can cast as a one hander. If you want to learn and fish spey, buy a spey rod.

TL's~

I think that I could have a ball up there.
12'6" 6 weight Euro
11'0" 6 weight Z-Axis

Here in Northern California, lighter line Spey and Switch rods are very popular. Besides having enough backbone to fight Steelhead, they are fun to use on the local big wild trout rivers (Lower Sacramento, Lower Yuba). It's fun launching a #6 stonefly dry and keeping it in the drift longer than using a standard length rod. Most of us who use these rods don't really care about the extra distance. It's the line control that is enjoyed.

AB

Exactly... it's not about the distance... and in a lot of cases the whole distance advantage thing is a bit soft anyhow, at least in lighter weight rods. I was unknowingly using spey forms (double, snap-T, snake roll variations) for many years before I picked up a proper spey rod and attended one of Jim's clinics. There isn't a big difference between my ability to make an initial presentation with a 6126 Z spey, compared to what I can do with a 690 SLT or 696 Z.... it's all about what happens after that IMO.

I have a guide buddy out your way who used to work out of a shop (now closed) in Grass Valley, and have fished that area with him. Great water (I liked the Bear too), it's unfortunate the flows have been less than ideal the last few years.