Spey: Lines, They Are That Important

Spey lines, yes they are that important. Spey lines are almost more important than the spey rod you are using them on but in reality the two work in unison as a fluid machine. A spey line is like the high performance engine in the aerodynamic body of a sports car. A lower quality, lower performance engine would still power the vehicle but very inefficiently and not nearly to the maximum potential. The same can be said for the correct spey line matched to the spey rod. The first consideration in finding the right type of spey line for your spey rod is to determine what you will use it for. The best line for a striped bass fisherman in New England may be a shooting line with interchangeable sinking, shooting heads. In stark contrast, the best line for a spey caster who is fishing summer steelhead with a dry fly on a large northwest river may be a long belly full floating line. The right spey line for the type of fishing that you are doing is essential for both effective casting and effective fishing. Once you determine the type of line that is best suited for your fishing and ability level, you need to select the correct line weight to match your spey rod. This isn’t as simple as buying an 8 weight line for an 8 weight rod. Many lines are rated for a range of line weights and many rods are rated in the same manner. As this is intended to be a simple explanation rather than an instructional guide, I will not go into detail about all of the different line tapers, line types and line weights. Instead, I recommend doing some research, and then discussing the options with someone who has experience with the type of fishing you are doing. This may be the fly shop where you are purchasing your equipment, the manufacturer who makes the line you are considering, a friend with a similar set up or any number of other available resources. Determining the correct line and line weight is an important consideration–possibly the most important. Choose carefully, as the line that you choose will greatly aid in making your spey casting experience a much more pleasant one