What do I need to bring?

Things to bring to the Faded Fly Spey casting class with Larry Aiuppy:

First and most important is to wear eye protection. Sunglasses or prescription glasses, if you wear them, or safety glasses. Eye protection is absolutely essential in a fly casting class (or when fly fishing, for that matter). Even though we won't be using actual flies with hooks (we’ll use yarn tufts), the danger of eye damage from errant leaders or fly lines is very real. Please bring eye protection. I will not teach a student without it.

If you are bringing a two-hand Spey rod, be sure it is properly balanced with the correct line and reel, and with a leader about the length of the rod, 0X or 1X tip, attached to the line with a loop to loop connection is best, but not necessary. If you do not have a two-hand spey rod, but would like to work with one, we can provide a properly balanced outfit for you to use for the class.

For those interested in single hand spey, bring your favorite or most used rod, with matching floating weight forward, extended weight forward (distance or steelhead taper) or double taper line, and reel (preferably a 5 wt or heavier outfit). Slightly heavier is better, IF you are comfortable casting it all day long. You will be casting much more than you would in a regular day of fishing. Please also bring a leader that tapers to a 0X or 1X tip, preferably attached to the line with a loop to loop connection. The leader should be about the length of the rod.

Bring appropriate clothing. Rain gear if there is any chance of rain, and warm clothes for under the rain gear. Wear a hat. Best is something with a minimum brim. Knit cap would be best. Baseball hat with short brim, or hat whose brim can be snapped up out of the way would be acceptable. In Spey casting, it is necessary that one can see the rod tip throughout the stroke. A broad brimmed hat (Stetson, etc.) does not allow that. Bring sunscreen if it will be at all sunny. Please bring waders and wading gear. Hip waders are okay, as long as they have a good non-slip sole. We will be in the water to cast, as long as it can be done safely. We will not be deep wading.

Bring what you need to be comfortable. We will be out in the weather, whatever it may be, for several hours. Bring extra clothes. Being miserable, whether too hot, too cold or too wet, is not conducive to good learning, or fishing.

A note book or note pad and pen or pencil would be a good idea as well. Taking notes is smart.

Larry Aiuppy

The Speymeister