B6 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, September 11, 1996 SKEENA ANGLER _ROB BROWN Two-handers he first two-handed flyrod I saw in Skeena was in the hands of Eric Maisonpierre, an iconoclastic American angler who had written some articles on the Zen of steelheading for the magazine Salmon, Trout, Steetheader. A few years later, when I'd saved enough to buy a fifteen-footer of my own, I discovered that the American was not manipulating the big stick in the manner for which it is best suited — a technique called spey casting, named for the legendary Scottish salmon river where the art of fishing the two-fisted fly rod was born. Spey-casting is unquestionably the most effi- cient and effective way to fly fish for steelhead and salmon. When engling for these species, the fisher who covers the most water almost always catches the most fish. Rods of thirteen to fifteen feet in length not only cast flies farther than their single-handed counterparts, but enable their owner to exert more control over the drift of his lure, Since a long two-handed rod is capable of larger mends, it also has the ad- vantage of allowing the angler to sink his fly more deeply. Brushy, steep, or armoured banks and over hanging trees are a few of the menaces that fill a flyrodder’s day with frustration. Since a proper- ly executed spey-cast requires only a few fect of back casting room, and requires no aerial back- casts, the teeth are pulled from these hazards with the result that formerly inaccessible water +. ig vcasily . explored ‘once. the spey-cast . is “ittiastered...".. ve ee a Onice the basic concept is understood, there: is. nothing mysterious or particularly hard about spey-casting for a person who can already cast a fly. However, describing the mechanics of the single and double spey-casts in words alone is a formidable task requiring much more Space than Thave here. And besides, it is unnecessary since there are books and videos on the subject avail- able. Thirty-Four Ways to Cast a Fly, by the late John Lynde contains the clearest and most suc- cinct descriptions of spey-casting with both long and short rods. The technique advocated by Lynde was developed in order to cast giant rods of greenheart armed with matching brass winches, These outfits of yesteryear bad to be manipu- lated in a way that ensured the rod would do the lion’s share of the work, Lynde’s approach turns on balance and ensures that, with a mini- mum of labour, a maximum of energy is milked from the rod. With careful adherence to Lynde’s instruc- tions and the practice routine he sets out, you will find yourself watching spectacular lengths of line unfurl before you as if driven by their own engines. Sadly, Thirty-Four Ways to Cast a Fly is out of print, but copics tura up in second hand book stores and can also be obtained from book dealers, There are also a number of British books available on spey-casting. I’ve only seen their titles in catalogues, but I’m sure the meth- ods set out in thei are sound. Ultimately, though, you must see someone spey-casting if you want to master it. There are three videos readily available to fill that need. John Evans, a polished English caster, can be viewed casting on the Spey River in a no- nonsense video that sets out to demystify the single and double spey-cast, and succeeds, The famous English angler, Hugh Faulkus, has a similar video on the market. Faulkus’ ap- proach is aggressive, relying on upper body and forearm strength to punch out the line, There is more than one way to filet a fish, and the casts Faulkus makes in this movie attest to the legitimacy of his muscular method, Mike Maxwell, who along with B.C,’s augling historian, Art Lingren, reintroduced the two- handed rod to the angling community in this province, has produced a book and video on what he calls ‘‘spey fishing’. Mike’s method includes much more that just casting, but casting is, of course, central to it, Like Lynde, the Maxwell method is more bal- letic with an emphasis on grace and timing, All of these experts use supple rods. A rod as stiff as a broomstick can be spey-cast, but not well, and not easily. A good spey-rod will have a soft, even action from rod tip to reel seat. Orvis, Sage, Loomis, Bruce and Walker, Daiwa, Gold ‘n’ West, and Fisher all manufacture two- handed rods. Some models arc superb, while others are suitable for overhead casting only, Look for the limber ones and, ideally, consult someone profi- cient at spey casting before you shell out the hundreds of dollars necessary to acquire a two- hander. : Logger sports spectacular WOOD CHIPS were flying and poles were falling as the popular Logger’s Sports got underway at the Skeena Valley Fall Fair this past long weekend. Hundreds of people tumed out to watch as local and visiling loggers showed their stuff in events ranging from axe throwing, to pole falling and log burling. Here are a few of the win- ners: Gerry Lambert took the local, and open, power- saw bucking contests and the obstacle pole-bucking event, John Walker won the local underhand log-chop and the local axe-throw, Meanwhile, Brad Lauglin won the underhand log chop, the double-hand buck- ing competition and the pole-falling event. Brad and Sandy Lauglin together took the Jack and Jill crosscutting competition. Sandy also won the ladies’ nail-driving contest and teamed up with Mary Lou Cail to win the Jill and Jill event. Greg Karran took the single-hand bucking compe- tition and in the chokerman’s race, it was Wayne Olney taking top spot. Harry Starrett won the axe-throwing open and Gerry Lambert tossed the competition in log burling. - TERRACE S’ _. SPORTS .. DARD CLOCKWISE FROM top: the crosscutting competi- tion required a little lubrication, some cooperation and a whale lot of muscle to pull through. Practicing the axe-throw. The popular pole-falling contest needed accuracy and strength to drive the stake home. The power-saw bucking competition was quick and im- prassive as loggers zipped through wood like a hot knife through butter. And the chips were flying as men altacked logs in the double-hand bucking event.