8th Annual "SPEY DAYS"

T.F.M. Reporter Rich Schaaff is at it again and sent along some copy with one of his "fly fishing still life" style photographs about the upcoming Spey Days held March 26-28 at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, Washington.

Just when I thought I was starting to take my single hand casting to another level after all these years. I moved to the Pacific Northwest and soon wanted to join the religious ranks of the two-handed spey rodders.

Living in the NW and flyfishing for steelhead only meant one thing would have to happen....I would have to humble myself and start a completely different style of fly fishing for Steelhead.
I would have go through the embarrassment & frustration of picking up a two-handed spey rod and giving it a whirl in front of experienced anglers. I could see the grimace in there face when I came within 50yds of them and they would move downriver at a frightening pace.. It was a tough pill to swallow for me and still has its moments to this day.

In the past I had fished the Deschutes River several times alongside my accomplished Spey casting buddy Mike O'Toole. The only difference was I was still not willing to jump out of my single handed- single minded comfort zone. But after you spend enough time taking photographs of your fishing partner holding beautiful Steelhead in the water with the sun setting on the canyon behind. It was a Kodak moment that I desperately desired to be part of.

So I decided to jump in feet first on our next float down the Deschutes. I struggled with it most the day but somehow through the grace of God I caught more Steelhead in one day than I had in a long long, long did I say long time...... needless to say I was converted that day..

The 8th annual SPEY DAYS presented by Kaufmann Streamborn will be the perfect event to get you up to snuff for the upcoming summer steelhead season

It is being held March 26-28 on the Skagit River at the Howard Miller Steelhead Park in Rockport, Washington. It is billed as THREE DAYS OF THRILL, CHILLS & SKAGITOPIA. The best in the Northwest will be there to guide you along.

I highly recommend that when you decide to enter the arena of the two-hander that you do whatever it takes to develop a solid basis for a proper casting stroke. I have been fortunate to spend some time with Mike Kinney one of the masters in the NW with a spey rod. A good teacher is a great way to get your feet wet and to keep you honest. Mike will be one many seasoned professionals that will be available to instruct you and get you off to a good start. Here is the link to the event schedule. www.speydaysnw.com. Due to low returns of steelhead the river will be closed to fishing which is a harsh reality to many including myself. But all the more reason to get out there and practice.

Congrats to Rich Schaaff for one of his stellar photographs being used on the official Spey Days poster!