OPST Commando Heads and Tips

Re-supplied our Commando Heads and received the new Commando Tips from Olympic Peninsula Skagit Tactics
Just in time for Steelhead Season

Simon Gawesworth Spey Clinics

We are excited to welcome Simon Gawesworth back to do three days of Spey Clinics this weekend.

Couple of spots left for the Advanced Clinics on Saturday or Sunday. Give us a call if you want to learn from the best.

Saturday Seminar-February 21

Spey Explained 

Saturday, February 21, 10 AM

Terry Antoniuk and Kelly Robertson cover everything Spey. Keeping it simple, they explain rods, reels, lines, and tips. The will also explain when to use different systems, and how.

Ideal seminar for those wanting to give it a try as well as those who just need someone to make sense of it all.

All seminars start at 10:00 am and will end between 11:00 and noon. There is no charge and no pre-registration required. 
Simply drop by the shop and enjoy the seminar.

Figuring Out Todays Spey Lines

Two recent videos from Rio explaining the
new Spey Lines and Running Lines.

As usual, Mr. Gawesworth explains things so us dummies can figure it out.

Lines On Sale In Time For Steelheading



While quantities Last!
All Rio Skagit Versitip, Flight, and iFlight lines are 50% OFF



Learn to Spey Cast with Simon Gawesworth

We are excited to welcome back Simon Gawesworth to instruct both beginner and intermediate/advanced spey casting schools this summer. A great idea to get ready for Steelhead.
 

Saturday, August 25 - Introduction to Spey Casting

Sunday, August 26 - Intermediate/Advanced Spey Casting

Cost for each clinic is $325. Clinics are limited to 6 students each. Only a couple spots left in each!

Give us a call if you wish to register.

Simon is a fantastic instructor with an uncanny ability to help us understand the intricacies of spey casting. By the end of the day, spey casting won’t seem so complex anymore! Simon did two clinics for us in 2011 and, in our opinion, he is maybe the most talented instructor we have seen!

Simon is a leading authority in the fly fishing industry, he has fished and taught fly casting around the world. Simon has written numerous articles for leading magazines, published a best selling book on spey casting, created multiple instructional videos and DVDs, appeared on numerous TV and radio shows and demonstrated casting techniques at fly fishing shows around the world.

Simon is a Master Certified Instructor and Two Handed Casting Instructor, is on the two handed casting committee for the Federation of Fly Fishers in the USA. He also holds a number of other international fly fishing certifications. Simon has been teaching fly casting professionally since he was 16. Simon is the Vice President of marketing for Rio products, helping to design and test fly lines. He lives in Idaho with wife and two children.

Helpful Information

Intrepid Steelheader, Scott Runciman sent us this chart this morning.

Thought it might be helpful for those who seek knowledge.

Thanks to Scott!



Product Field Review - Helios Spey Fly Rod 1368-4 Tip Flex

Helios Spey Fly Rod 1368-4 Tip Flex

I'll likely get into trouble for saying this but after a long period of Orvis being somewhat inept at designing and building a Spey rod, I was a little hesitant to get too excited about the new Helios Spey Rods. 

I got my hands on the 13' 6" 8 weight 4 piece late this summer and used it during a Spey Casting Clinic. I was quickly impressed with this rod and decided to use one for my fall steelhead trip. I fished it for 3 weeks straight this past October/November with the intent of finding anything I didn't like about the rod.....I couldn't find anything I didn't like!

The first thing you will likely notice about this rod is it incredibly light, like all of the other rods in the Helios line. I had been using a TCX 12' 6" 7 weight for most of my steelheading as it was so light and a pleasure to cast. The Helios is certainly as light, maybe lighter in the hand.

Like a lot of the Helios rods, the 1368-4 is very easy to cast, very forgiving, but has a quick, powerful feel. This rod will not only please the beginning spey caster, but also the advanced. It has very nice feel when casting short (only a Skagit head out the tip) as well as the jam to throw long casts.

Butt and blank strength checked out all good with lots of power for fighting fish. The blanks seem to be sound as a couple of very nasty sections of overhanging alders led to a few pretty good whacks on the blank when not paying attention. Other rods would have likely broken, either immediately, or on the next fish. The Helios held up just fine.

The 1368-4 will cast a dry line with finesse, as well as handle tips out to 18 feet of T17. I made sure I tried it and it handle even the heavy tips with no problem. Other light rods I have tired tend to power out when you start getting heavier than 12-15 feet of T14. Not this rod!

Fittings (reel seat, guides, etc.) are, like all Helios rods, absolutely stunning. Stripping guides are high quality, with all other guides being recoil style. The reel seat style is akin to all of the Helios saltwater rods and the reversed locking style is different but easy to use and works just fine. The one thing I would comment on is the secondary lock ring sometimes loosens a little, but the primary stays right where it's supposed to.

I fished a Rio Skagit Flight 525 grain on the rod, which seemed perfect but of course everyone has different preferences. For dry line/light tip use, I would recommend the Rio Scandi Short around 500 grain.

Overall rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Simon Gawesworth

So sorry we've been cavalier in Blog updates! This past weekend saw us hosting Simon Gawsworth and Ruben Breitkreutz, who instructed our 2-day Spey casting clinic.

Simon did a presentation here at the shop on Friday night, on fly lines, that was excellent. had no idea I could stay interested in a 90 minute presentation on fly lines. I did!

Simon and Ruben were both incredible instructors! Everyone came away as significantly better casters .

For those who haven't sat and watched Simon cast, you need to! It is absolutley amazing....

Thanks again, to Simon and ruben, for doing such an amazing job, and also all of the students who came out. You all did great, worked hard, and were a lot of fun!

Spey Casting

It is kind of cool to watch. Thankfully, with digital photography, we can shoot enough frames to find one or two that don't make us look like hacks!

 

New school: Spey Casting with Simon Gawesworth

We are very excited to announce a Spey Casting school with Simon Gawesworth, world renowned instructor, angler and writer. Simon has been fishing since the age of 6 and teaching fly casting professionally since he was 16. Simon has a number of casting certifications from the UK and the USA including CI Master and THCI.

Simon works for RIO products in Idaho where he designs and tests fly lines, as well as being the marketing manager for Rio. He conducts fly casting classes and seminars around the world.

Available schools and dates:

Introduction to Spey Casting

Learn the basics of spey casting.

Limited to 6 students, gear is required.

$325/student

August 27 2011 3 SPOTS LEFT!!

 

Intermediate Spey Casting

The next step, for the intermediate to advanced spey caster.

Limited to 6 students, gear is required.

$325/student

August 28 2011  SOLD OUT!!!

Book early to reserve your spot as these schools will fill up quickly!