Traditional Spey vs Scandi vs Skagit

Here is a good video that clarifies the difference between traditional long belly Spey vs Scandinavian Spey (or Scandi spey) and Skagit Spey.

Spey Casting a long belly line

Here is a good video by Andrew Moy showing how to spey cast a long belly line. Short belly line like Skagit and Scandinavian line cast a bit differently from traditional long belly line. The stroke required for casting long belly line is longer and that usually means incorporating body motion to assist the cast. Andrew Moy shows us the way here.

Competition Spey Casting

Click this link to the video >> http://vimeo.com/40955484

Watch the masters at work and be inspired. This video shows some of the very best Spey casters in the world pitting their skill in Spey-O-Rama 2012. Watch how Gerard Downey, James Chalmers and Ruairi Costello from team Carron cast to hit 177ft. Take note of their highly energized D-loop, wide casting arc and pointy V-loops penetrating the distance.

Gerard Downey preparing for the forward cast.

Note 1) both arms raised with top arm fully extended. 

Note 2) Rod tilted far back beyond 45 degree for a wide casting arc

Gerard Downey launching the forward cast.
Note 1) Top arm remain fully extended as the rod is chopped forward
Note 2) Bottom arm powers the rod by pulling towards the stomach
Note 3) Firm stop at 45 degree to allow rod to unload

Champion Spey Caster in action

Click on this link to watch this video from Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/26901357

Here is a very nice video clip showing champion distance spey caster from team Carron in action. These are some of the very best distance Spey casters in the world - James Chalmers, Gerard Downey and Ruairi Costello among them.

Here is another video clip from YouTube showing Gerard Downey making a world record 231+ ft (70.63m) cast in CLA game fair. Notice the very firm stop of the rod at about 45degree when his upper hand is fully extended and bottom hand putting on the brakes (at 0:18s).

Andrew Toft, another world champion Spey caster from UK also talks about the importance of a firm stop with emphasis on the the lower hand to stop/block so that the rod can unload efficiently. You can read more about Andrew Toft's fulcrum fly casting style / technique here: http://www.andrewtoft-flysport.com/tutorials.html

Long belly distance Spey casting generally requires bigger casting arc and longer stroke length to aerialize the line This is in contrast to the Scandinavian style casting where the strokes are more compact since the head (or belly) is much shorter. Regardless, both style seems to have settled onto an efficient technique whereby power is applied through the bottom hand, with the top hand being the moving fulcrum / pivot.