I am with you Tyrone on the advancing and learning as many different styles.
I recently bought a 13' 7/8 for the same reason you are talking about, plus someday I am going to go up to the Salmon;)
There are times while camping out that I really don't want to go out ON the water, so I cast from shore. This particular lake is great for this in that there is no trees, just a gradual hill of gravel.
I have several DVD's on Spey Casting plus got to play on a pond with Dec Hogan. I do have a natural feel for the butt in the stomach and the swinging with the right hand, in fact, a friend commented once on the river that I do cast like a spey caster.
I agree totally with Buddy also, that spey casting on Stillwater is allot different than a river, you really do need that current straightening out the line.
But at the pond the other day, I was getting 60' to 70' of line out in a whip, so I think it will be fun on this lake.
I lucked out in that I got the ROD for around $80. and the Spey Line on the Orvis clearance for $29. So for a little over $100., I couldn't loose.
I do know several that use their regular fly line on their switch and do just fine.