The Foundation of Modern Casting
Welsh Throw
The earliest documented Welsh cast, developed for tight banks
Spey Cast
Developed on Scotland's
river Spey
Metropolitan
Straight Cast
An early English D-loop method developed for trout fishing
Scottish Underhand
Cast
The earliest documented D-loop cast, developed on the river of Scotland
Why These Casts Matter
These early casting methods were developed to solve real problems on the river — limited space, high banks, fast currents, and the need for control without a back cast.
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The Welsh Throw, Spey Cast, Metropolitan Straight Cast, and Scottish Underhand Cast form the foundation of modern D-loop casting.
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Understanding their origins helps anglers improve efficiency, control, and consistency on the water.
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This site brings these historic techniques to life through practical demonstrations and historical research.
The Complete History
The full story of the Welsh Throw, Spey Cast, Metropolitan Straight Cast, and Scottish Underhand Cast is brought together in Celtic Salmon Casts: Origins and History — tracing the origins and evolution of D-loop casting.
Welsh Throw - Origins
The Welsh Throw developed on narrow valley rivers of Wales, where high banks and tree-lined banks made a back cast impossible. Anglers adapted by forming an early D-loop against the bank, creating an efficient forward delivery in confined spaces. A key feature of the technique was the use of a continuous tapered shooting head, which allowed the cast to turn over smoothly. Without this taper, the cast could not be performed effectively.
Spey Cast - Origins
The Spey Cast evolved from the earlier Scottish Underhand method and takes its name from the River Spey, where salmon anglers adapted the technique for fishing wide, fast water. By forming a longer, shallower D-loop, they were able to reposition heavy lines and deliver the cast efficiently without a back cast. The method became recognised by name during the 1860s and went on to shape the development of modern salmon casting.
Metropolitan Straight Cast — Origins
Developed in the early to mid-1800s, the Metropolitan Straight Cast was practised by trout anglers on the rivers of southern England, particularly around the London districts. The technique required more space behind the angler and allowed long lines to be fished with control and accuracy. Forming a straight-line D-loop for efficient delivery, it represents an important early English development in practical river casting.
Scottish Underhand Cast — Origins
The Scottish Underhand Cast developed during the early 1800s on the rivers of Scotland. In its original form, the technique used a sideways delivery with a relatively large, extended D-loop, avoiding the need to carry the line fully behind the angler. Early descriptions show it was used primarily for repositioning the line and fishing downstream. Spey anglers later adapted and refined the method, reducing the loop and applying it to upstream casting on the great salmon rivers.
The Evolution of Early D-Loop Casting
The Welsh Throw was developed as a specialised river method for confined conditions, using a tapered line designed to deliver efficiently where space was limited. Early descriptions note that the cast could be performed directly from the bank, making it well suited to the narrow, tree-lined rivers of Wales.
In Scotland, early Underhand techniques used longer lines and produced elongated loops that extended behind the angler. On the River Spey, fishermen gradually adapted this method to form a more compact and controlled loop. Contemporary accounts suggest that anglers typically stepped a few yards into the river to create the space needed to perform the cast effectively. During this period, the technique evolved from upstream repositioning methods toward the more dynamic downstream delivery that became recognised as the Spey Cast in the 1860s.
The Metropolitan Straight Cast drew on the mechanics of the Welsh Throw but introduced additional movements to lengthen and preload the D-loop, allowing greater line speed and distance when fishing open banks with trout tackle.
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