Reasons to get a Two-Hander

[btree]

With the steelhead season fast upon us and boxing day sales and holiday deals already popping up, I'm betting more and more of us are contemplating getting into spey. And those of us that have already made the conversion are likely considering "the next rod" because, well, there is always another rod, line or reel on the list.

I was an easy convert to spey. Anything that makes casting and line control easier for deep winter steelheading just makes sense to me, plus the casts can be pure works of art, as are many of the rods and reels. But what really reminds me of the painful realities of steelheading is pain itself. I had long forgotten about the week I spent on the Skeena and tribs around Terrace some 4 or 5 years ago when I first put in a serious amount of time and energy into those pesky steelhead.

I had recently purchased my first high end single hander at what became my new local fly shop in Bowser, a 9'6" #8, paired up with a reel and line. Got a sweet deal, and with a smile on my face and gear in the back seat, I headed to Kleanza Creek where there is a nice little camp site right near the confluence of the Copper and Skeena. Fortunately I packed a full bottle of iboprofin and a couple bottles of scotch as well as a tarp.

In late August, the days are long. One can fish around sixteen hours non-stop if the fever for steelhead is running strong, and it was. This trip was a first for many things. My first for serious steelheading on big water, first time to watch spey casting in action, first time to get spooled by a fish, first time to cast heavy sink tips, first time to loose over 100 flies in a trip, and first time to experience nearly crippling shoulder and back pain from casting.

At the time I was in my early twenties and had done many trips into trout country around BC where casting a 5wt all day was the norm, and shoulder pain was not. But there is a real difference between casting ~150 grains all day and casting over 300 grains all day, plus having to lift heavy tips and big flies to the surface before even starting to think about casting.

On the Skeena, many of the bars were shoulder to shoulder with fly fishers, but it was a good place to learn and watch. These "old" guys seemed to be way too relaxed with their 13-16ft two handers, just lifting the line and then flicking it out with tip and big old fly in tow. And they did this all day long without much need for resting, doing river-side yoga, or even complaining. I on the other hand felt fine until the morning of my second day. Perhaps sleeping on the ground didn't help, but if there was someone to complain to at my camp, I would have moaned a sorry tale. Instead I added a snort of scotch and three iboprofin to my breakfast and headed out. By lunch I needed three more of those wonderful little pills, and so it went for the rest of the trip. I drank my pain away in the evening, and popped pills every 3-4 hours while I fished.

Fast forward a few years and a return to the Island where I now live, and I rarely find the need for painkillers as a result of fishing, with today being an exception. I made my start to this winter steelhead season with my trusty old single hander, and with two days off work before heading off to do family holiday stuff, I headed out to my new favourite rivers on the North Island. Day 1 was un-eventful. Just a nice fat rainbow to show for my efforts. For some reason resident rainbows can't resist 3" prawn patterns. Day 2 on a different flow provided a mid-morning fish for my efforts, though I fished the rest of the day. Big smiles.

This morning I awoke to a feeling I have not had in some time. Any slight movement with my right arm sends electric pain down from the tip of my shoulder to my elbow. Oh the memories of my Skeena trip. And so with that, I dust off the two-hander, down a couple pills with my coffee and Bailey's, reminded that heavy tips and big flies are mean to big rods and two hands.

So, reasons to get a two-hander:
- it's more relaxing, and is usually easier on the body (with good casting technique)
- you can cast massive flies and the heaviest tips with a well balanced setup
- once competent at casting, it looks pretty awesome
- greater control of the drift and swing
- longer distances can be acheived compared with a single hander
- it opens up new casting styles that can be used with your single hander
- there's a two hander for fish of nearly every size
- I'm sure there are more reasons out there - hope to hear more!

Reasons one might not choose to get a two-hander:
- the cost
- it can seem complicated and intimidating
- there are so many lines, rods and reels to choose from
- it can take a while to learn the new casts
- it's not really necessary for smaller water or smaller species of fish

I find it hard to come up with many reasons why not to get a two-hander really, but there always seem to be questions about spey. Is it a fad? Probably not. Does it result in more fish caught? Debatable. Cure what ails you? Possibly, especially if you get elbow or shoulder pain from casting T-14 with your single hander.

Now if only a spey rod could fit into my stocking. Always room for another rod in the arsenal.

Happy fishing over the holidays.

[herkileez]

[QUOTE=btree;37906]. And those of us that have already made the conversion are likely considering "the next rod" because, well, there is always another rod, line or reel on the list......Always room for another rod in the arsenal.[QUOTE]

I told my wife I needed only one rod when I started fly fishing....now I have seven, and I only need 3 more..

And I agree with everything you've said....Two-handers are a lot easier on the body...Speycasting was hard work to begin with, until I learned that; if it's hard work, you're working too hard...much like a golf swing: Let the club/rod do the work.

[BCBound]

Is it terrible that I don't even have my first Spey rod lined yet, and I'm already starting to plan on the next set up? LOL.

[fredaevans]

Is it terrible that I don't even have my first Spey rod lined yet, and I'm already starting to plan on the next set up? LOL.

"Welcome to the Dark Side young Luke Skywalker, Welcome!"

[Blackgivesway2blue]

well santa was nice this morning, got me a Fin nor #3 fly reel, i attached a link to this post and its the same reel i got under the tree, was just wondering if anyone has some info or stories on this beauty reel, im gonna use it as my first spey reel. Merry Christmas

http://www.stripersonline.com/t/7812...nor-3-fly-reel

[BCBound]

That's a nice looking reel. I don't know anything about them, but I like the brass look to it. Very slick.

[fredaevans]

They're an excellent reel; you've "Scored!"

fae

[SalaR]

The Slippery slope might get steeper..!

[fredaevans]

The Slippery slope might get steeper..!

SR, there are a few things you can just 'take on faith,' that's one of them.

[sixguns]

I think the most important advantage to two handed rods is that if the line is paired properly to the water, they can be much more efficient than other fly tackle choices.