SKAGIT CASTING: KEY TIPS

SCANDINAVIAN SHOOTING HEADS TO SKAGIT SHOOTING HEADS

Written by Deschutes Angler Guide Evan Unti

Transitioning from Scandinavian Heads to Skagit Heads

It is now that time of year to pull out the Skagit Head, Sink-Tips and Big Flies and start chasing those stunning Winter monsters.  The heavy rains, swollen river and variable conditions are few things that make Winter Steelhead fishing so attractive. But I often find the transition difficult from casting elegant and effortless floating lines to the heavy and often clunky Skagit heads .  I understand it's commonly stated that your casting stroke shouldn't change from Scandi to Skagit, but the fact of the matter it does and has to, to utilize the power of the Skagit head.

Shortening the Casting Stroke

The number one thing to remember is that your Skagit head is shorter and heavier which means you have less line to move and you don't need to move very quickly to generate tremendous load on the rod. This is one of the many reasons Skagit heads have become so popular among Steelhead anglers. Because the line is short, it is necessary to slow and shorten your stroke to maintain a continuous load on the rod from start to finish.  As opposed to a Scandi head, you don't want to hesitate between the sweep of the cast and the forward stroke.  With a Scandi head, a hesitation is required to make sure the line and leader are in a straight line pointed at the target. Because Skagit heads are short when you sweep the rod around to the forward casting position, the line, sink-tip and leader will be in a straight line so just move into the forward stroke with no hesitation. If you hesitate between the sweep and forward cast, your D-Loop will collapse and thus you will lose the load on the rod.

Sustaining the Load for Maximum Skagit Head Power

Another key component to sustaining the load throughout the cast is making sure you let your sink-tip sink after setting the line up either for a Double Spey, Snap-T or Perry Poke. By letting the sink-tip sink you are ensuring that the Skagit head has a lot of resistance as you sweep the rod around to ensure maximum load. The amount of sink needed is largely based on the tip and fly you are using.  A heavy fly and sink-tip don't require much sink time, while a light tip and fly require more sink time to get the same amount of resistance.  You will have to play around with the various set-ups you use based on river conditions to gauge how much sink time is required for each set up. 

Use Your Body to Move the Spey Rod

The last ingredient to making a smooth transition from Scandi to Skagit is to fight the urge to lift your arms as you sweep the rod around your body.  Remember that the line, sink-tip and leader follow your rod tip.  This means if you begin to lift the rod during the sweep, the line, sink-tip and leader will also begin to lift translating into a blown anchor. Be sure you sweep the rod around your body smoothly on an even plane ensuring that the anchor will not leave the water during the sweep.  I typically try to keep my elbows glued to the side of my body and use my body rather than my arms to move the rod.  If you focus on using your body, the rod has no choice but to travel smoothly on an even plane which translates into consistent casting.  The more consistent you cast, the more efficiently you will cover the water which usually means more fish. 

Let Your Spey Cast Rip

Now get out on the river with your skagit line and ease yourself back into the game by keeping the cast shorter and controlled so you can focus on the fundamentals of the cast.  Once you are dialed back in then begin to the lengthen the cast to the necessary length and fire your way into a beautiful Winter Steelhead.