I simply could not over estimate the importance of the incline exercise progression in learning how to Spey cast correctly in this style with either a single or double-handed rod. It is also actually in itself an absorbing and rewarding exercise. One that develops great precision, control and understanding. It is one of the real keys to greater understanding.


I personally believe the incline exercises, or incline exercise progression to be the single most important series of exercises in learning or refining Spey Casting technique off both sides of the body.

It is a magnificent technique perfecting exercise devised by James Chalmers who is one of the best Spey casters in the world and Manager of the highly successful Carron Casting team. I have been fortunate indeed to have had some mentoring and instruction from James Chalmers and other members of the Carron team including Andrew Toft and Ruairi Costello, thanks to the kindness of Jimmy Jack.

James Chalmers has produced some of the best Spey casting I have ever witnessed anywhere and I can say that standing beside him on the Spey and watching his line V loop perfectly across that magnificent river from his own 'Chalmers Chop' final delivery style is a sight to behold. The incline exercise comes from Carron expertise and training methodology.

It is an exercise progression that has been incorporated into Fulcrum Fly-Casting technique as it is so important for correct understanding of Fulcrum style. This technique teaches many things about Spey casting and rod loading and unloading. It is the basis or fundamental building block of this style.



The practice of this exercise sequence leads the caster through a logical progression towards efficient Spey casting. Through a process of minor variations on the theme the caster eventually is able to correctly execute the 'climbing curve' basic Spey casting movement while maintaining a straight anchor. Then to the basic 'tilted oval' single Spey cast using a change of direction, and the climbing curve loop formation for a double Spey cast.

That this exercise, and its natural progression into other exercises that are variations on the theme, is the single most important exercise in double-handed rod Spey casting has been made evident to me beyond any doubt whatsoever on many occasions. Most especially when I have seen how it has utterly transforms peoples Spey casting in general as far as anchor placement and anchor shape is concerned and the nature of its contact with the water. Also in particular how it rapidly gives them mastery of Spey casting on their off side which is really very important. In fact it turns people into accomplished casters on their off side. Also in how it shows the importance of and difference in effect of the correct use of first class leverage. The versatility it allows in loop formation and in 'shaping' the D loop.

It is a basis for many key aspects of Fulcrum Fly-casting style as it teaches a reliance on the top hand remaining as the fulcrum at all times, an absolutely essential aspect of technique for efficient casting with economy of effort. Reliance on body movement, on an ergonomically efficient position of the rod (closely held and compact with elbows bent), and reliance entirely on the rod’s own loading and unloading action to place the line rather than swinging the arms about or any tugging. Any type of reaching (outward, upward or sideways), or excessive swinging of the arms, tugging and sharp erratic movements are not a part of Fulcrum Fly-casting style as they are not efficient smooth, steady or controlled movements. The technique relies on the cumulative effect of combined simultaneous, steady, smooth movements. The cumulative effect of compound movements and sequences of compound movements all made in plane. An increased acceleration and pressure in a controlled way towards the end of the stroke to create an extra unloading pop is permissible but that is not an uncontrolled tug, however it will not used initially for this teaching technique where initially smooth steady movement is required.

Steady, ultra smooth, simultaneous compound movements with a correct overall tempo that, most importantly, allow the rod to load and unload itself efficiently are used, and are in fact necessary for this style. The first incline exercise in the progression or series uses no lift. The reason is that it is partly about gaining the control necessary to ignore the resulting resistance and rod loading pressure, then the sudden release of pressure into a zero resistance situation when the line breaks free from the water surface and releases the tension. It is about allowing the rod to unload itself without forcing or tugging, without speeding up because of a sudden release of all resistance. Allowing it to load without any hesitation in overall tempo because you feel a lot of resistance initially. You maintain a steady position and angle change of the rod at the right tempo and in plane no matter what, this allows the rod to load and unload itself smoothly and perfectly without undue or sudden interference.

There is no lift initially so that the resistance and rod loading is at a maximum and yet you ignore it to make a steady movement within an overall tempo, learning what steady rod loading and first class leverage from opposing hand movements feels like. The net or overall effect of those steady, directed, simultaneous compound movements on the rod loading and unloading in a certain way, and in a certain overall direction is what matters.

With the correct movements and trajectory the anchor will land more gently and have a straighter shape and yet there will be tautness and tension maintained from the rod unloading pointing and correctly channelling all the energy as much as possible in the one direction. With a straight line incline there is no deviation of the direction that the loading and unloading rod is kept to and no dissipation of the energy or line momentum in other directions. Working along one tilted plane is critical so that all the energy is then very directed and confined.

The rod is best thought of as a machine that is better at placing the line than we are as due to its taper it unloads perfectly and smoothly and the same way each time, it is a constant. The fulcrum style allows the rod to place the line for us at a smooth and steady tempo rather than using any unnecessary force. This has many implications as to how the part of the line forming the anchor touches and sits on the water, especially when combined with continuous motion jump roll or single Spey casting. Correctly done the anchor will often be seen to slide into place as the unrolling bottom leg of the line has still directed energy back and upwards from the rod unloading, even though gravity is bringing the whole loop and line down steadily. The caster will have done very little, and will have freed up his top arm completely from tugging or acting as the driving force to place the line on the set up. The hand will move and steer with upper body rotation. The aim is to maximise, direct and control the energy available from the rod unloading rather than forcing placement with a top hand tug.



To see relaxed precision and control being used by an experienced practitioner of any skill is a thing of great beauty for me. To be able to feel and experience the effect of correct technique based on fine tuned precision in Fly-casting is extremely rewarding.

That's exactly what great fly-casting is to watch, precision and control being used fluently in a relaxed fashion. That precision coming from a fundamental understanding of how everything interacts and works together interdependently and where the optimum use and blending of each aspect of technique is. That's why it look easy and graceful.

The truth is that it is then easy in terms of economy of effort when fluent relaxed control from precision, timing and familiarity from practice is there. Then the cumulative effect of the combined technically correct movements that apply directed leverage cause the rod and line to work extremely efficiently, with their inherent properties being utilised fully. The properties of the rod combined with correct directed leverage and power application from the caster creating correct loop formation, trajectory, rod tip paths, line resistance and directed line momentum in an ultra smooth, efficient, flowing and fluent manner.



The greatest problems in learning to Spey cast in this style are (a) learning how to allow the rod to load and unload itself to place the line without interference in the form of tugging - (b) and in keeping to and combining the two fundamentals which are 1. that the rod tip does not drop behind while 2. that the top hand remains as the fulcrum or axis on a double handed rod.



In other words people are usually very used to casting by tugging at some point, or placing the line on a sweep by tugging with the top hand, to such an extent that it is a muscle memory, one which has to be broken for proper full control of a double-handed rod and fly line, and for full choice to be available to the caster. You should only tug if you want to, and not because you cannot do otherwise. Full choice must be available or normal for you to find the optimum use of a rod from experiment. To decide to smoothly move the rod in one overall direction at one overall tempo during the application of leverage and power will only be in your control when you are able to do that with precision. When you are able to do that no matter what you feel or what the rod and line does. Or to slightly, but ultra smoothly and progressively increase tempo throughout a movement. If you cannot do that smooth overall tempo movement then you are a slave to your muscle memory. A muscle memory which prevents you from making a choice as to exactly how you lever or manipulate the double-handed rod. Until you are able to fully control and master yourself and your movements, you simply cannot master the double-handed rod or exploit or realise its full potential for economy of effort practical fishing casting.


On a double-handed rod when one pushes the bottom hand out to maintain the top hand as the fulcrum and to oppose the top hand so creating the most effective leverage, the novice Spey caster will generally drop the rod tip behind - unless it is tilted well over to the side early in the sweep. Hence the 30 degree incline, a 30 degree incline from the water of the rod tip as it travels back ensures that the correct tilt of the rod over to one side is made. This will then be an automatic feature of a correct sweep when jump roll or Spey casting.

One of the most critical things in not dropping the rod tip behind is the actual tilt of the rod to the side over the first half of the sweep after the lift. (the most critical tilt of the rod to one side early in the sweep clearly seen in the third picture below of the first sequence of casting on the pier and also in the second picture of the second sequence below in the river),


If it is tilted over to one side enough as the efficient first class leverage is applied using the body and bottom hand movement, one can then elevate the top hand to the key position over the second half of the sweep as the bottom hand continues to push out, thus creating a climbing curve with the rod tip.

The curve will be a concave or dished curve so the furthest back position that the rod arrives at it will have risen to that position.

This is perhaps one of the greatest benefits of all in learning the incline exercise, it makes the correct tilt of the rod to one side a normal or automatic part of the sweep for the first half of the sweep. However its teaching of allowing the rod to load and unload itself without interference in the form of a tug is of equal importance. It is a fact that people will actually live and die and never feel the double handed rod unloading itself as they will not ever master using the rod smoothly without tugging. Its too subtle and counter intuitive, the control to allow this to happen properly is best learned through the practice of the incline exercise.
































The Incline exercise has a series of steps so it is a few exercises that follow a logical progression, one leading into the other. There is no rush though. This is really important and it is best to get it right. It is the building block of the entire Spey casting technique and for understanding and feeling how the rod works. The steps are as follows -

1. Applying efficient leverage (bottom hand dominant) in plane on a straight line Incline of approximately 30 degrees using no lift. Executed on both right and left hand sides placing the anchor correctly by adjusting the overall tempo. steady smooth movement with no tugging is essential. Top hand remaining as the fulcrum, forearms and thus reel turned to plane. Rod not dropping or pulled in out of plane, perfect straight line incline combined with efficient leverage and upper body rotation. The furthest back position the rod tip arrives at it rose to that position along a straight line incline. Eventually during the period where the line glides through the air from the rod unloading poking the line backwards in a V loop shape - the rod can be raised casually staying in the same plane and a forward cast made to replace the line.

 leading to

2. A shotgun lift and then shallower straight line incline on both right and left hand sides, leading to
3. A shotgun lift and climbing curve jump roll with continuous motion on right and left hand sides, leading to

4. A lift and an ultra smooth climbing curve basic single Spey cast with the direction change from body realignment creating a tilted oval, practiced on right and left hand sides leading to

5. A formation of a D loop from the line lying on water surface as the final part of a Double Spey or any water borne on right and left hand sides

6. An in swing single Spey on right and left hand sides leading to

7. A lift and V loop single Spey on right and left hand sides







































Practical Steps
1 The first exercise is sometimes called a 30 / 30 incline exercise. The first need is to be precise, a straight line incline is a straight line incline, therefore not an arched convex curve with a pull in or pull down behind. The furthest back position the rod tip reaches was arrived at by the rod tip rising to get there no matter how slight the incline. The rod unloading when the line breaks free will then be all in the one direction and at the right trajectory, the rod tip moving a long way in the one direction overall, directing the line momentum efficiently in that direction.
The upper body turning and a simultaneous pushing out of the bottom hand provide the loading, with longer lines both hands must also poke the rod in one direction just before stopping to keep the momentum and energy release in one direction, therefore using the second part of the fulcrum definition while ensuring the furthest back position the rod reached it stayed in plane and rose to that position. The top hand is the fulcrum and remains the fulcrum. The top hand does not pull in at the end which would pull the rod tip around into a deflection which was not in the same direction as the overall movement. Make sure the energy is directed in the one direction.

The basis of the exercise is that there are no left or right hand rods so the rod is going to work exactly the same way on either side as long as we change its position and angle and apply pressure in the same fashion so that it is a mirror image of the other side. Also that anyone can turn their upper body or torso from their ankles through. All body movement starts at the ankles, saying we turn our upper body is a bit of a misnomer although that is what we do but perhaps not literally, all of the body is on the move from the ankles up. So anyone can turn their body. If before we turned our upper body, we placed a hand out in front of us slightly and turned the body, our hand will turn with the body of course. The hand is then moving in relation to a position on the ground or in relation to your toe but you are not moving your arm to do it, you are turning your body. So as Mr Andrew Toft once pointed out, the hand can move independently of the body and the body can move independently of the hand or arm but bring the arm with it, this is still stroke length. To a fixed point on the ground body movement moves the hand, in relation to the upper body however it is not moving. Now anyone can also push out their bottom hand steadily. Both movements – upper body rotation and the bottom hand pushing out can be done at the same time, both movements can be spread out so that they happen simultaneously throughout the stroke. The top hand can ensure steering along the approx 30 degree incline desired

It is made along a shallow angle gradient. That angle is about 30 degrees as Patrick Steenhout an FFF Instructor from Belgium who is a carpenter and rod builder confirmed by eye. It is necessary to absolutely ensure this constant straight line incline at the beginning, the caster must ensure two things, that the rod is steadily rising until the stop so that it does not pull in behind or down behind at any time, it remains on a steady gradient. As there is no lift there will be serious water loading of the rod taking place
It is best to put the reel into plane first to be aware of the plane used and the tilt over the river used which is low. The greatest awareness is of the rod travelling in a perfect straight line incline and of no tugging whatsoever occurring. The angler must feel the rod load and unload without reacting to that by hesitating or tugging. He must use a steady overall tempo and disregard what he feels. The tempo will become apparent as there is a correct position for anchor placement. too little speed or overall tempo fails to break the line from the water usually or perhaps it just managed to break the line from the water but it drops too far below the caster causing an excessive anchor. Too much speed and we do an overhead cast to the side. Just right and the anchor placement is perfectly positioned just below and outside of the caster.

The caster starts off with right or left foot forward stance, the rod tip is touching the water in front. If 12 o’clock is directly in front of the caster then the rod tip is touching the water at 1 o’clock, it is going to rise on a 30 degree incline and swing round to 5 o’clock. If only the body turning was used it would go to about 4 o’clock, because the bottom hand pushes out it can go to five o’clock. He turns his body and starts pushing out the bottom hand simultaneously, the top hand will raise the rod along the incline as the body turns.

The first, no lift, incline exercise on the river. Sorry about the pic quality as it is taken from a film, as was the top sequence on a pier on Lough Cullin one evening.
However this sequence on the river does show the resulting V loop formation. The top sequence shows weight shift and upper body rotation.
Anchor touch down and slide into place with a double-handed rod on the River Nore. Starting here with the first stage of the incline exercise using a medium belly Spey line, (Carron Pro Line 65ft head). Also the resulting V loop formation from the inclined rod tip path.
The last part of the incline exercise progression, a basic climbing curve single Spey with a straight anchor and curved D loop formation.