The spey is strong out here
The Sandy River Spey Clave is a reminder of why the PNW is the North American epicenter of two-handed fly fishing.
Salutations, CFStrians,
Several hundred anglers and dozens of exhibitors turned out this weekend and proved the Sandy River Spey Clave's comeback is no fluke.
Why it matters: The spey community is one of the tightest-knit in fly fishing. For all the frustration and heartbreak in pursuing anadromous fish, a flourishing community is there for support.
Events like this are where beginners find their footing fastest. Clinics, gear demos, and conversations with rod builders will do more for your casting in a weekend than months of solo practice.
In 2025, the SRSC had its first year back after a layoff, and a robust turn-out this time around shows the word's getting out. Big congratulations to Marty and Mia Shepherd and all the volunteers who made it happen.
WTF is a "clave"? It's a shortened form of "conclave" and for some reason has stuck around to describe formal gatherings of spey casters. No relation to the papacy or theology, except perhaps in the minds of the more self-important.
New to two-handed rods? Listen to the organizers on the In The Bucket podcast, then put next year's SRSC (or one of other spey claves happening around the continent this year) on your calendar.
Fly fishing and mental health
Catch up on our four-part series on fly fishing and mental health:
Nick Parish
Nick Parish
Nick Parish
Nick Parish
🎥 Film pick of the week
To get more of that two-handed soul, step into the waders of Oly Hickman, a lodge kid who spends his summers on the Dean in British Columbia chasing toads (and steelhead). Some wisdom from the river?
"Sometimes the worst cast can catch the best fish," says Oly.
"Parenting is only hard for good parents," says his dad, Jeff.
Leaders
Fishy links to start your week. Got one to share? Send it over! 🪝
City rivers ⛪
Urban trout fishing in Treviso, Italy (nytimes.com)
Casting practice 👐
George Revel offers a dynamite double haul drill (Loon Outdoors on YouTube)
Salt tactics 🏖️
Back to bonefish basics with Brian O'Keefe (epicflyrods.com)
Dream ranch 🏘️
The house your eBay fees built. I'm $18.4m shy, wanna chip in? (activenorcal.com)
Solo adventure 🧘
Stop time just by sitting in a forest (theguardian.com)
Flying fish 🐠
Salmon injected with cocaine swim twice as far (earth.com)
Clean-up hitter 🤿
Salvage diver Archer Mayo deserves a medal (gold) (columbiainsight.org)
Stranded sturgeon 🌧️
Speaking of city rivers: Wild on the streets of Shiocton, WI (WWMT News on YouTube)
Events 📆
Got an event you want the community to know about? Send it over, and I'll include it here. You can see all of our upcoming CFS events on Luma.
April 30, "Running Wild" Tour, Seattle
(Wild Salmon Center)
May
NEW May 9, Women's Fly Fishing Day, West Linn, OR
Portland fly shop Royal Treatment curates a special day for female anglers (royaltreatmentflyfishing.com)
CFS: May 16, Fly Fishing and Fly Tying, OR
I'm excited to be teaching a workshop with Landdd gallery here in Oregon. we're going to be doing a waterside fly tying and fishing event at Frog Lake. Sign up if you're interested! (landdd.org)
May 20, Portland, OR
"Running Wild" showing (Wild Salmon Center)
CFS: May 28-31, Maupin, OR
It's our annual Maupin Meetup! Register now, before it fills up. (CFS Events)
NEW May 30, San Francisco, CA
CalTrout's Fish Water People Film Festival launch event (CalTrout)
June
June 23, "Running Wild" Tour, San Francisco
(Wild Salmon Center)
June 26-28, La Pine, OR
Tenkara Oregon's Tenkara Bugout (Tenkara Oregon)
NEW June 27, West Yellowstone, MT
Big Sky Anglers 10 Year Anniversary (Big Sky Anglers)
That's it that's all! Current Flow State is a weekly newsletter from me, Nick Parish.
What's your favorite spey cast? Tell me on Bluesky 🦋, Instagram 📸, YouTube 🎥, or the Fishcord 💬.
If you enjoyed this, please share it with a friend. We all need more fishing buddies. 💌
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