River Right? River Left? Right Shoulder? Left Shoulder?

When starting to learn how to spey cast, one of the most confusing and in the end most important things to understand, is to figure out what spey cast you should be using and why. The why is very important. It is necessary to recognize that your decision as to what cast to use is based upon and tied to;

(a) Which side of the river you are fishing from

(b) Which shoulder you are throwing the cast over

(c) Which way the wind is blowing

River Right  

River Right is the "Right" side of the river that you are standing in when looking in a downstream direction. So simply put, if you are standing in a river facing the center of the river and the water is flowing from your left to your right. You are on the right side of the river, "River Right". Pretty simple.

(1) Looking Downstream
(2) Standing of the right side
(3) "River Right"

River Left

River Left is the "Left" side of the river that you are standing in when looking in a downstream direction. So simply put, if you are standing in a river facing the center of the river and the water is flowing from your right to your left. You are on the left side of the river, "River Left".  Also pretty simple.

(1) Looking Downstream
(2) Standing of the Left side
(3) "River Left"

Right and Left Shouldered Casts

Wind direction plays into your decision as to which shoulder you wish to cast over. There is a "Spey-Speak" for this.

For a right handed caster your right shoulder would be your "Strong" shoulder. Your left shoulder would be referred to as your "Off" shoulder.

For a right handed caster a spey cast thrown over your "Right" shoulder can also be referred to as your "On-Hand" or "Strong Shoulder or "Natural Shoulder"

For a right handed caster, a spey cast thrown over your "Left" shoulder can be referred to as your "Off-Hand" or "Cack-Hand". A cast thrown over your off shoulder is referred to as "Cack-Handed". This is also often referred to as your "Reverse" side.

Believe me this will all make sense eventually.

Wind Direction

Wind direction plays into your decision as to which shoulder you wish to cast over. Why? You don't want to be wearing the fly you are throwing as an earring. This is what could happen.

• You are standing in the river and the wind is blowing hard upstream.
• You choose to throw a cast over your downstream shoulder.
• You circle up to make your cast and come to your set position and make your forward cast
• The wind blows your line and fly upstream as it unfurls.
• You now are wearing an "Intruder" earring.
• Ouch!

To avoid this you need to throw a cast over your upstream shoulder when you have an upstream wind. That way the wind is blowing the line and fly upstream and away from you when it unfurls.

Right Choice = Fly hopefully in fish's mouth

Wrong Choice = New Earring! and "Ouch"!

In the next Spey Blog Post I  will explain the various spey casts and when to use them when considering; 

(1) Which side of the river you are standing on and 

(2) Which way the wind is blowing.

It all matters and it all makes sense when you put it all together.