Living in the Pacific Northwest, many anglers have solely been using Spey rods for all their steelhead and salmon fishing over the last two decades. The ease of casting big flies and extra distance comes effortless when compared to the single hander. For me, the dance of Spey casting and the constant movement of stepping down river, casting and feeling the water around my ankles is like the rhythm that dancers must feel with the music. Combine that with the thrill of the grab and it’s orgasmic; catching me by surprise every time.
Evolution, a natural progression for any sport, whether it be golf, skiing or fishing, keeps the sport growing and alive. As a person’s performance develops; equipment changes also help you go bigger and faster, sending the ball further or making 100 foot casts painless. From silk lines, to hooks made from a needle and a rod made from bamboo, tackle has changed over time to fit the need of the angler and the size of the fish.
The first Spey rod was built in the late 1800’s. Alexander Grant, who had a deep passion for fishing, started making his own rods out of Greenheart wood. His rods were known as "The Grant Vibration Rod" because he used a tuning fork in finishing the rod. The rods were built with a constant taper. Eventually, he invented the spliced joint which allowed the rod to flex along its entire length. Now, fast forward 120 years and rods are being constructed from bamboo, fiberglass and graphite. Length, tapers and shape variations evolve with the demand for efficiency and ease of use.
Dec Hogan recalls the first Spey rod that he and his fishing buddies Ed Ward and Scott O’Donnell got their hands on was a 14 foot 9 weight from overseas. For years the only sizes available in North America were big, clunky, nine and ten weights with long belly lines. Over time, the need was realized to change to accommodate casting big, winter flies and sink tips. Shorter rods and lines came about to meet these needs.