Two handed fly rods for surf fishing

Thanks guys.  This particular fly is nothing special.  Patterned roughly after an orange Gotcha -- #8 or 6 saltwater hook (barb crushed), fluorescent orange thread, orange rubber or silicone legs, orange Krystal flash, bead chain eyes. 

Another one I like is the Clouser darter in perch color (it is probably the orange that works).  A bit heavier,  but sometimes that's good, I think.

Weirdly, I bought some orange and rainbow Czech nymphs in size 8 a while back and those work too sometimes.  Think big fat scuds.

How do you load your two-handed rod on the surf? Do you load it the same way you would when casting in a river, or do you false-cast? The last time I tried my switch rod on the surf it was a circus with line running all around me, and I couldn't load the rod up due to the moving waves just wouldn't give me enough time to load up. I now use a basket and a 9ft 8wt because I don't know how to deal with a two-hander in the surf.

I don't know if I'm doing the two-handed rod thing "right".  I have no idea what you do on a river.  I just overhead cast, though usually a bit off to the side -- a little less risk of taking a hook to the back of the head that way   First I get the sinking head out of the water, either by roll casting or false casting.  Then I usually do another false cast to get a feel for the rod loading, and finally shoot.  I try to do the push-pull thing with the two grips, too.  There is kind of a lot going on, and I still find myself struggling with it sometimes.  Have to breath, feel the force flowing through you (where is that Yoda emoticon)

I'm not very good at explaining these things, and I'm sure I'm either leaving something out, or misrepresenting my level of (in)competence.  Believe me, I can still create a good circus myself

Yes, the stripping basket is pretty much essential, or else you end up with line going all over the place.  I bought one of those Linekurv things and drilled some drain holes in it.  I think the Orvis ones are similar.

What you do sounds exactly like what I do with my single handed rod. I don't know what benefit you get out of fishing the 2-handed rod the way you use it, but if it works for you, that's all that matters. 

No idea what you do, but for me no double haul required to get distance; less effort and less pain afterwards.

But hey if you like how you surf fish don't fix it if it ain't broke

What I originally tried to say was, I tried my switch rod in the surf and made a mess because when I do a Snap T, many times the line get washed up and wrapped around my legs. After that experience I went back to a single hand 9ft with sinktip and shooting line. All I have to do is make a roll cast to load up, then one back and forward cast to shoot out the line. I don't normally need to false cast unless I'm trying time the wave.

I actually haven't seen people use a two-hander in our norcal beaches. Hope I run into you next time so I can observe.

ernest

I think the key thing is to use the two grips to push-pull, but I'm hardly a person to take lessons from.  There is a casting pool nearby where I can practice, and some guys from the local fly fishing club who do lessons and so on.  They encouraged me to experiment.

I honestly don't know how to do the snap T and other spey casts, but reading about them I don't see how they would work in surf conditions.  Again, I hardly know what I'm doing, let alone what you should do

It also occurred to me that you could probably take a lesson from a guide, if you don't have a local fly fishing club.  The shop I talked to earlier (see above), Lost Coast Outfitters, seemed to have someone who knew their stuff.  I lost track of the name of gent I talked to, but I bet if you call them up they would be able to steer you right.

And if you do, let me know who you talk to, so I can take a lesson from them, too

I think the key thing is to use the two grips to push-pull, but I'm hardly a person to take lessons from.  There is a casting pool nearby where I can practice, and some guys from the local fly fishing club who do lessons and so on.  They encouraged me to experiment.

I honestly don't know how to do the snap T and other spey casts, but reading about them I don't see how they would work in surf conditions.  Again, I hardly know what I'm doing, let alone what you should do

Yeah, a spey cast is never going to work in the surf because you don't have a chance to anchor the line. You might try looking for salmon fishing videos made in Scotland.  Standing in fast-moving water, they use two-handed rods to make a fast, simple-looking (I've never tried it so I don't know), roll cast (maybe it's a poke cast) and they can shoot line a surprisingly long distance with what looks like very little effort.

I'm encouraged by your experience now that my shoulder starts to cry and carry-on about halfway through a day's fishing.  Thanks for being the guinea pig!

I thought I'd share this topic/ forum directly related to this one (see below).  If any one wants to shoot some line let me know we can.try for a hook up. Weekend best for me. 
Currently single handed but itching for a double.......
Yea.... and it catches crabs to if you retrieve slow enough

J. Ice

https://www.billkiene.com/forums/showthread.php?43028-Overhead-Two-handed-fly-casting-for-Stripers-near-Monterey-and-Santa-Cruz

I saw that post, too.  Quite interesting.  Yes, I've caught sand crabs, too

I can't believe I didn't see this video earlier.  I'm going to try some of his tips -

Ha! Just got one.! As posted in the perch topic line. 
He he.... just stoked now time and a line are all that's needed.