Spey casting is one of the hottest new fads in fly fishing. Using either single or two-handed rods, anglers with knowledge of Spey casting techniques have the ability to cast further, present flies in hard-to-reach places, and ultimately keep their flies in the water for longer periods of time, all of which can lead to more hookups.

The Fly Shop® is excited to once again offer a Spey Casting and Fishing Clinic on the Sacramento River in Redding. As well has having guided anglers for over twenty years in pursuit of steelhead and salmon in northern California and Alaska, Chris avidly swings for chrome all over the north american continent. Chris also holds the Fly Fishing International Two Handed and Master Casting Instructor Certification.

Each day’s program will start at 9:30 am at a broad gravel bar on the Sacramento River just south of Redding. The morning program will start with some informal discussions on Spey casting, followed by several hours of Spey casting demonstrations and one-on-one instruction.

We will break for lunch midday, which is a great opportunity to relax and pick Chris’ brain about all things related to anadromous fish. Specifically, we’ll discuss the important – and often mind-boggling – aspects of gear in Spey fishing, with a focus on rod, reel, and line combinations.

After lunch, the afternoon session will focus more on actual fishing applications when targeting steelhead (or other anadromous fish such as salmon or sea-trout). Topics include (but aren’t limited to): heavy vs light flies, mending line, controlling your swing, presenting the fly to the fish, how a fish takes, and setting the hook when a fish takes on the swing, fighting and landing fish with a two-handed rod, and more.

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Reservations & Rates

The cost of the 1-Day Spey Casting School package is:
• $295 - per person / per day

Included in your spey clinic package are lunch, as well as the use of the finest fishing tools available (from Scott, AirFlo, Winston, Ross, Echo, Scientific Anglers, Sage, Rio, Simms, Galvan, Loon Outdoors, and The Fly Shop®). Every fly, leader, tippet, rod, reel and drop of fly floatant is included in the package, as well as The Fly Shop's souvenir hat and notebook.
Items needed for your day are a California Fishing License and Steelhead Report Card, waders, wading boots, sunglasses (polarized is best), rain jacket/windbreaker (brief fall storms are possible), sweatshirt (it is cool in the mornings and evenings), clothes (whatever you like to wear under your waders), sunscreen, and a camera if you would like
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Dates for Spey Casting Clinics

2024 Dates:
• November 8, 2024
• November 9, 2024
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Lodging for Spey Casting Clinics

There is no specific lodging for the Spey Casting Schools as it is a day school only. However, with it being so close to Redding and Anderson there are many wonderful motels and hotels to choose from. The following list of hotels/motels have been used for years by anglers fishing with The Fly Shop® for both guide trips as well as daily fishing adventures.
Best Western Plus Hilltop Inn
2300 Hilltop Drive
Redding CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-6100
Website: www.thehilltopinn.com
• The Best Western Hilltop Inn is a long-time standby for fly fishers staying in Redding, and one of our favorites. It has one of the best restaurants in town - CR Gibbs Restaurant & Bar - and a great Angler's Package specially catering to guests of The Fly Shop®.

Gaia Hotel & Spa
4125 Riverside Place
Anderson, CA 96007
Phone: 530-365-7077
Website: www.gaiahotelspa.com
• The Gaia Hotel and Spa is located just 3 miles south of Redding and The Fly Shop® directly off of Interstate 5. We are a contemporary hotel with 120 guestrooms and suites and are located on the Sacramento River. We have an outdoor pool, Jacuzzi, Fitness Center, Living Waters Spa and a Full service Woodsidegrille and Lounge open 7 days a week. We offer discounted guest room rates for Guests of the Fly Shop.

Oxford Suites
1967 Hilltop Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-0100
Website: www.oxfordsuitesredding.com
• Oxford Suites offers discounted rates for guests of The Fly Shop®, has big, clean, comfortable rooms for a good price, along with complimentary buffet breakfast, central location, and a short walk to some great Redding restaurants.

Red Lion
1830 Hilltop Dr
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-221-8700
Website: www.redlion.com
• The Red Lion has been hosting fly rodders in Redding for decades. They offer a discounted rate for guests of The Fly Shop®, and they also have airport shuttles, a good restaurant and popular lounge, and a central location within walking distance to many great local eateries.

Hilton Garden Inn
5050 Bechelli Lane
Redding, CA 96002
Phone: 530-226-5111
Website: www.hiltongardeninn.com
• The Hilton Garden Inn is conveniently located near The Fly Shop® and Bonnyview Boat Ramp, and even have rooms with views of the river.

Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge
820 Sundial Bridge Drive
Redding, CA 96003
Phone: 530-364-2800
Website: www.marriott.com
• Discover Northern California's newest hidden gem, Sheraton Redding Hotel at the Sundial Bridge - and experience contemporary elegance, resort-style comfort, and unmatched natural beauty. Nestled within the grounds of the 300-acre Turtle Bay Exploration Park in Redding, CA.
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Getting to Spey Casting Clinics

Getting to the Spey Casting School is easy from the I5 corridor. Please follow the directions below:

From Redding:
• Travel South on I-5 to Exit #667 (Deschutes Rd/Factory Outlets Dr)
• Take Exit #667 (Deschutes Rd/Factory Outlets Drive), then turn left at the stop sign onto Deschutes Road
• Turn Right at Balls Ferry Road -- 2 miles.
• Turn Left on Ash Creek Road (Note Brown signs to “Coleman Nat’l Fish Hatchery”) – 3 miles
• Cross over the Sacramento River at Ball’s Ferry, then turn Right onto Gover Road/Jelly’s Ferry Road – 1.2 Miles
• Follow Gover Rd (turns into Jelly’s Ferry Rd) for approximately 6.4 miles as it winds through agricultural land, then turn right onto a dirt road in a thick grove of trees (just after the 25 MPH sign). If you cross over another bridge at Jelly’s Ferry, you’ve missed the turn and gone too far.
• Follow the dirt road for approximately 0.1 mile until it opens up at the Barge Hole Gravel Bar.

(Total Distance: 12.3 miles from Outlets, 6.4 miles from Balls Ferry Boat Ramp)
(Estimated Drive Time from Redding: approximately 20-30 minutes

From The Bay Area:
• Take Exit #667 (Deschutes Rd/Factory Outlets Drive), then turn left at the stop sign onto Deschutes Road
• Turn Right at Balls Ferry Road -- 2 miles
• Turn Left on Ash Creek Road (Note Brown signs to “Coleman Nat’l Fish Hatchery”) – 3 miles
• Cross over the Sacramento River at Ball’s Ferry, then turn Right onto Gover Road/Jelly’s Ferry Road – 1.2 Miles • Follow Gover Rd (turns into Jelly’s Ferry Rd) for approximately 6.4 miles as it winds through agricultural land, then turn right onto a dirt road in a thick grove of trees (just after the 25 MPH sign). If you cross over another bridge at Jelly’s Ferry, you’ve missed the turn and gone too far.
• Follow the dirt road for approximately 0.1 mile until it opens up at the Barge Hole Gravel Bar.

(Total Distance: 12.3 miles from Outlets, 6.4 miles from Balls Ferry Boat Ramp)
(Estimated Drive Time from Redding: approximately 20-30 minutes
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Itinerary for Spey Casting Clinics

The schedule shown below is an approximation of time and may be adjusted when necessary.

9:00 - 9:30 am: Meet at the gravel bar, wader up, begin introductions and informal discussion
9:30 - 10:00 am: Discussion history of spey casting, how it evolved in the US, practical applications. Discussion of lines and equipment. Opportunity
for informal question and answer.
10:00 - 10:30 am: Demo and Discussion: Spey Casting Basics, the 3 Principles of all Spey Casts
10:30 - 11:00 am: Demo and Discussion: The Double Spey Cast
11:00 - 11:30 am: On the Water casting, individual instruction time.
11:30 am - 12:00 pm: Demo and Discussion: Snap-T Cast
12:00 - 12:30 pm: On the Water casting, individual instruction time
12:30 - 1:00 pm: Lunch break
1:00 - 1:30 pm: Demo and Discussion: Off-Shoulder Casts
1:30 - 2:00 pm: On the Water Casting, individual instruction time
2:00 - 2:30 pm: Demo and Discussion: Snake Roll, Single Spey
2:30 - 3:00 pm: On the Water Casting, individual instruction time
3:00 - 4:00 pm: Demo and Discussion: Fishing Applications: Casting Sink Tips, shooting line, how to swing flies for steelhead and catch more fish.

Additional Information

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Making Reservations to Spey Casting Clinics

To make a reservation, please give us a call at 800-669-3474 during business hours any day of the week, or email us at bryan@theflyshop.com or chris@theflyshop.com anytime. We can give you the answers you need, detailed explanations to questions you might have, or check on availability and confirm your reservation in minutes.