Friday, January 8, 2010

The Scandinavian Spey Cast



















Several months ago a Chou Dog loaned me Henrik Mortensen’s video The Scandinavian Spey Cast. Although I have seen parts of this video in the past I was surprised the detail and cinematography used to convey the mechanics of this form of spey casting. Fishing rivers in Scandinavia, Scotland and Gaspé Peninsula in Eastern Canada, Henrik was also able to teach the viewer the proper way to fish for Atlantic Salmon at different conditions, using different techniques. All of which pertains to steelheading here in the Pacific Northwest.

Included in this video was a chapter on long belly casting done on no other then the River Dee in Scotland. In this scene Mike Donald, a well known Scottish Ghille and APGAI casting instructor covers the mechanics of the long belly. Henrik also applies the Scandinavian techniques to these waters in search of the Dee’s famous Spring Run Atlantics.

This 74 minutes DVD covers, techniques, presentations of both the wet and dry fly as well as casting mechanics applicable to both long and short casts. His review and demonstration of casting mechanics apply to all forms of spey casting in an easy way that provides both epic footage of Atlantic Salmon, the rivers they swim in and the casts needed to find them. Overall a badass video worthy of your viewing.

Henrik reviewing the dynamics of the Scandinavian spey cast. This scene is great because it reviews body mechanics and explains why with simple examples that makes the student see why, not just hear why you they should cast a certain way.


Here is a nice video with scenes from the movie.

3 comments:

FlySwinger said...

Yeah, Mortensen is a stud. My problem with videos like this is that I think I understand it while I'm watching it, and then I realize I don't understand s$%! when I'm standing in the river.

Apocalypse Now, Steelhead said...

I'm gonna have to agree with what the last guy said

Ian said...

Henrik is awesome! I've seen all his videos except Distance and Delicacy. His instruction is ridiculous. It couldn't be more helpful for steelhead fishing (and casting).