Below is our club calendar of upcoming events. This calendar changes often so check back frequently.
Should you want to add an event to the calendar, please submit your request on the Event Request Submission Form found here.
GGACC's Spey Angler Program is unique, in that its primary goal is to teach anglers how to swing a fly with a two-handed rod for steelhead and other species. Preparing a student to fish from a boat with a two-handed rod using such tackle as strike indicators is NOT part of this program.
A “signature” of GGACC’s Spey training is that we train students to cast with both hands, from both sides of their body. Maximum class size is 6 in order to give each student lots of personal attention.
On Saturday we cover the fundamentals of Spey in a classroom setting, then quickly move to the ponds to learn the basic Spey casts. We meet Saturday @ 8:30AM in Anglers Lodge in our waders -- but leave spiked boots outside! We then move into the ponds from 9:30AM - 3PM with appropriate breaks.
On Sunday, river conditions permitting, we head to the American River in the Sacramento area and learn to fish the casts practiced on Saturday. Midday we add sink tips to replicate real world conditions. Also covered are rotation fishing, river etiquette, and fighting and landing steelhead as well as other species. On Sunday, we start at 8:30AM sharp ready to cast (rigged up, waders on, etc.) at one of several locations to be provided on Saturday. We finish at approximately 2PM.
You must be a current GGACC member to register, and there is a $150 registration fee for this class. The fee must be paid with credit card or PayPal when you register online. Failure to make this payment within 15 minutes of starting the registration process will cancel your registration.
Your FFI certified instructors for this class are Bill Gallogly (lead instructor) and potentially also Bob Pauli, Steve Morikawa, and Willy George.
Please note the following! The most successful Spey students possess certain casting abilities! With a single hand rod, you should to be able to false cast a straight top leg of a loop @ 35’ (both forward and back cast) and have the final forward cast roll out the line, leader and fly above the water. One also needs to be able to roll cast a loop @ 35', having the fly line, leader and fly “turn over” while airborne. For best success, we strongly encourage prospective students to develop these single hand casting abilities before taking this Spey Angler class. If you are uncertain as to your readiness for this class, one of the four Spey Instructors or any FFI CCI (certified casting instructor) you approach will be able to watch you cast and quickly determine your readiness. FFI CCIs wear printed name tags at the GGACC's monthly free casting lessons (when resumed). If you don’t possess the above abilities, please attend those free Saturday casting lessons and develop them.
The club has loaner Spey rods, reels, and lines available. Bring waders, boots, wading staff, eye protection, hat, and sack lunches for both days; and also a folding chair for Sunday at the American River. Again, students are welcome to use the club's high end, superbly matched Spey rods and lines each day. Students are responsible for their own transportation to both the GGACC casting ponds and to the American River training site. Arranging on Saturday for carpools to get to the river on Sunday is encouraged since parking may be limited at the river, and often requires a small local park use fee.
Registration for this two-day class is accomplished online using the GGACC Event calendar on the Saturday event only. Registration requires GGACC membership and paying a $150 fee. When the class is full (maximum 6 students), you will have the option of joining a waitlist for that class (any cancellations may be filled from the waitlist, and those waitlisted may be advised first of new class dates). Registrants and any members on the waitlists will be emailed an attachment containing Bob Pauli’s Spey Casting Manual and encouraged to purchase Simon Gawesworth’s 3-DVD set on “Modern Spey Casting”. These two resources are the corner stones of our education program. As such, the instructors expect you to read the manual and watch the DVDs multiple times. Students who don’t prepare are often frustrated and can fall behind.
Cancellation: If you cancel prior to 30 days from the class, your fee will be refunded. Cancellation inside the 30-day window which causes the class size to drop below 4 students (minimum class size) will result in fee forfeiture. Notify Bill Gallogly (Slazanger2@icloud.com) as soon as you know you need to cancel.
Please check the GGACC events calendar for Spey Angler classes. When possible, there will be at least two Spey Angler classes in the spring and two in the fall. (The Spey "Improver" classes are not for beginners!)
Bill Gallogly, Chairman, GGACC Spey Education Program, FFI certified THCI & CCI
Slazanger2@icloud.com
This 2nd session of the Spey Angler Program's class that began Saturday, January 23, 2021, will be held starting at 8:30AM on Sunday, January 24, 2021, EITHER in the GGACC's Center Casting Pond (reserved for this possibility) -- OR, if the river conditions permit, at a place on the American River in the Sacramento area to be announced in the previous day's class.
This 2nd session should wrap up around 1-2pm that Sunday afternoon.
Bring camp chair (to river) and a sack lunch in addition to the gear required for the previous day's class.
This program has limited registration. See the previous day's event posting for more details and registering for any open spots or joining the waitlist.
Spey Improver Program
The GGACC's Spey Improver Program's next class, likely on the American River, is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2021, starting at 8:30 AM. Registration fee is $50.
This is a one-day class directed at those GGACC members who have previously taken the GGACC Spey Angler program, or who have experience swinging a fly with a two-handed rod. This is a more advanced class than Spey Angler (which is meant for beginners). It is important to understand that students are expected to be able to safely and productively perform (with a two-hand rod) dead-line roll casts, overhead casts, double Spey, and snap casts. Additionally, you should be able to shoot one rod length of line performing these casts. If you have any concerns about your readiness for the Spey Improver class, please contact one of the GGACC Spey Instructors. Their contact info is on the GGACC website. When you are enrolled in a class you will be sent Bob Pauli’s manual and a recommendation for Simon Gawesworth’s DVD set for your study. They are the cornerstones of our teaching.
Items covered will include Single Spey, Snake Roll, Perry Poke, and reset casts. We will use both Skagit and Scandi set-ups. Expect to focus on non-dominate hand casting.
Spey Improver classes will be held on the American River (conditions permitting). Students will be notified of the access point several days before the class. Students should have Skagit and Scandi heads, tips (floating, intermediate, and fast sinking) as well as a 15’ tapered steelhead/salmon leader (Scandi set up). Use yarn flies only. Students should bring waders, boots, wading staff and belt, eye protection, sunscreen, hat, raingear, lunch, and a folding chair. Be ready to start (rigged up, in the water) at 8:30AM. The class will end between 2 and 3 o’clock. Students are responsible for their own transportation (carpooling is encouraged).
Your FFI certified instructors are Bill Gallogly, Bob Pauli, Steve Morikawa and Willy George.
Registration is accomplished on the GGACC website Events calendar. Registration requires GGACC membership and paying a $50 fee, which must be paid online by credit card or PayPal within 15 minutes of starting the registration process. If the class is already full, you will have the option of joining the waitlist. We strongly advise signing up for the waitlist, if only to be potentially advised first of the next scheduled class. Any cancellations made inside a 30-day window may result in fee loss.
Two Spey Improver classes are planned each year (Spring and Fall). Depending on instructor availability, an additional class may be offered when a waitlist contains 6 or more members.
Bill Gallogly
GGACC Spey Education Chairman, FFI certified THCI & CCI
slazanger2@icloud.com
The Golden Gate Angling and Casting club is pleased to invite competitors to the upcoming 17th annual Jimmy Green Spey-O-Rama World Championship of Spey Casting held this year from Friday, April 16 to Sunday, April 18, 2021, at the world renowned casting ponds located in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park.
The GGACC cordially invites competitors of all nationalities to register here for this Spey casting distance competition. For more information will be posted as we approach the dates April 16-18, 2021; or click on the "Spey-O-Rama" pull-down tab on the club homepage.
You will be required to register in advance of the 2021 Spey O Rama. If you have any questions, please contact us at SpeyORama.ggacc@gmail.com.
Questions? Please direct your inquiries to the appropriate mail box:
General Information:
club.ggacc@gmail.com
Membership:
membership.ggacc@gmail.com
Rondy Program:
rondy.ggacc@gmail.com
Events:
events.ggacc@gmail.com
Our Mailing Address: Golden Gate Angling and Casting Club · P.O. Box 591476 · San Francisco, CA 94159