The Metropolitan Straight Cast, a very old D loop cast dating back to1850. Roots, South of England in the metropolitan counties, London trout anglers. This cast is a joint effort between Welsh and English collaborators. 

The Underhand Scottish Cast

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The underhand Scottish cast, known as the underhand throw, emerged in the early 1800s. The purpose of this writing is to provide a more comprehensive look into the evolution of the modern Spey cast, starting with a focus on the underhand cast as described by George Kelso (fig 3). 

 

In this particular casting technique, as the fly strikes the water's surface, it undergoes an initial movement backward, trailing behind the caster momentarily before ascending vertically and eventually rising above the angler's head. Through the utilization of this method, anglers are able to achieve a casting angle beyond 90°, thereby effectively categorizing it as an upstream or downstream cast. But to achieve an up stream cast this particular throw commands more distance to the side of the angler.

The Spey fishermen adapted this cast to accommodate their unique fishing method, which required casting upstream against the natural flow of the river. According to Edward Fitzgibbon, Spey fishermen aimed to approach a fish from behind, effectively fishing from the tail to the head of a pool. They efficiently reduced the length of the D loop by securing not just the fly but also the leader and a portion of the fly line in front of the caster. This adjustment minimized the space required on the upstream side of the caster, akin to the underhand cast depicted in Figure 3 when executed in its typical manner.

In Figure 1, the Spey caster demonstrates the adaptation of this style for upstream fishing. This can be achieved with a single motion cast known as a single upstream sweep, capable of achieving an angle of up to 180°, albeit challenging to execute.

So, the shift from the underhand cast to the beloved Spey cast (fig 2) we know today was essentially a minor adjustment, transitioning from a sweep upstream at an angle, from zero to 90°, anchoring the fly, leader, and a small portion of the fly line. This adjustment occurred primarily because fishing upstream for salmon was not well-regarded and considered unsporting. Interestingly, the Welsh throw was also capable of casting at a 140° angle, likely practiced in Wales. However, it's far easier to cast upstream against the river's flow with a single motion cast, compared to the double motion cast used in the 1800s. Personally, I still employ the adopted Spey underhand fishers' cast for trout fishing, not only because it's an effective upstream cast but also to keep the up tradition.

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To nearly finalize this conclusion, let's return to Figure 1. To execute this upstream underhanded throw effectively, several crucial elements come into play. Around 20 years ago, we dedicated ourselves to mastering upstream casting using only a single motion cast, albeit through trial and error. The primary factors include controlling the sweep of the cast, primarily with the bottom hand, and keeping your hands close to your body to generate a centrifugal force. This ensures that your anchor point remains as close as possible to your body on making 140° change in angle, preventing it from flying out too far to the side. Otherwise, you risk widening the angle of your D loop to your casting target.
By employing this method, we were able to achieve a shift of up to 180° in angle from the initial line position downstream parallel to the bank with the shooting line forming an aerial loop. I believe it's imperative to demonstrate that a specific outcome can be attained before explicitly detailing the associated expenses in writing.