Switch rods/rigs
- This topic has 16 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Mar 2, 2010 at 1:35 pm by
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Who uses a switch rig? I have a few situations where I’d like to use a switch rod on big tailwaters and bigger steelhead rivers. Heck, it would be fun for smallmouth bass too. I’ll be travelling to the PacNW later this year and will get to use it on real steelhead.(sorry, Great Lakes steelhead, you know I love you but….)
……….anyway,
I have been reading up on switch rods, watching spey vids, etc…
those who switch, what do you use? What do you recommend and what do you steer clear from?
I have the Helios 8wt and suggest it financially possible. The rod’s weight is a feakish-abnormality.
I could not believe how light it was when I picked it up. That was the selling point.I have fished it for PacNW Salmon, Ny salmon + steelhead, Potomac fish, and Co trout. It can handle big fish and little fish don’t seem too small as compared to when I fished my 14′ two hander and hooked 10″ trout.
– The benefit of the bendable guides was not apparent until I fished in 8 degree temp last week. I didn’t have to worry about breaking guides when de-icing them.
– The thing effortlessly throws a lot of line and big flies with weight.
– Having a 4 piece rod helps on the airplane.
– I can mend line with ease, high stick etc with the 11+ feet.
– I can throw line or D loop the line based on my needs to get the fly to the fish with my surrounding.
– I’m not a fan of the uplocking reel parts, no hook keep, or the handle-less rod tube (i made a handle out of duct tape to attach to day pack) but those are minute complaints.
Still trying to sell a Redington 10′ 8wt to help pay for the Helios.
Any takers? 🙂I was reading up on The Fly Shop’s catalog the other night and was intrigued by the Echo model for its price the background of the designerhttp://store.theflyshop.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=23_35&products_id=1380
ps, your new rod will be twice the distance as the driver in front of
Dave,
Buying a switch rod is a lot like buying any other rod – if you want to be able to fish different situations ideally you’ll need more than one stick.
I’ve been fishing the Winston B2X 11′ #7 for a few years now and have nothing but good things to say about it.
Dave,
I have two switch rods. Between them and my two-handers, I haven’t fished anything else since October. My switch rods are the 6 and 8wt. Z-axis. That being said, the price range you are looking in I would select the Redington. I have cast and fished all of the switch rods you listed. Here are my reasons for suggesting the Redington. First off the rod casts great. Second, it has a lot of power in it to fight fish. Cause lets be honest any fish in the PNW would swim circles around a GL fish, even the Manistee fish.
The reasons I wouldn’t select the Scott A3 is that it has no power. I watched my buddy get smoked by a hot fish on that rod. He could never turn the fish. When I have casted that rod I never felt connected either.
The Echo feels like a dead stick too. Not to mention single foot guides. The TFO casts ok, but I just have a hard time supporting a company that makes a cheap rod in my opinion. Pretty bad when the guides feel like they were made out of paper clips.As far as line goes you have several options on the market. Scandi or Skagit. I myself use skagit lines on my switch rods. Also use the skagit short. The shorts work great on switch rods.
I’ve been fishing the Winston B2X 11′ #7 for a few years now and have nothing but good things to say about it.
I have only cast 2 or 3 switch rods…and this Winston was unbelievable.
Dave: Remind me to bring it and I will gladly throw it in the boat for you to cast. Careful though, these double handed things are addicting.
Mike: I was referring to the 8wt Scott A3, which actually felt pretty meaty to me. From what I understand, the 6 wt. is another story though and is quite weak with bigger fish.
Tim: The B2X line of rods seem to be real finicky with line choices and the 11′ #7 is definitely no exception. The reason why I got the rod was because the guy who sold it to me couldn’t find the right line for it…sucker. 😎
When I got it, I lined it with a #7 steelhead taper. With that line it fished ok in short on Elk and the other Erie/OH tribs but didn’t do the things a switch rod is so good for.
Going to a #9 steelhead taper definitely helped in that aspect and doesn’t seem to overload the rod at all. With the #9, I can turn over a polyleader or indy rig with a snap-t or double spey. It isn’t the line I use if I am dedicated to swinging flies all day, but is a good all arounder for those days when I am switching back and forth.
For swinging or even a bit of indy fishing, the SA Single Skagit 360 gr. (I mistakenly said 320 above) has been awesome. It loads the rod pretty deep (which I like) and I can reach out just about anywhere with a sink tip and good size intruder on the end. I took an old steelhead taper and cut it to leave about 10-15′ of back taper for a running line, which I loop to the skagit set-up. This is the line I grabbed 90% of the time this season.
I’ve also heard good things about the Beulah Elixir lines on the B2X, but I haven’t had the chance to throw one yet.
Budget doesn’t allow an $800 Helios.. But a Scott A3, Redington, TFO or Dec Hogan is in the range. I appreciate your comments.
Hi there – new here.
The Echo, Dec Hogan series are awesome and the price you can’t beat either. If price wasnt an option, Meiser makes an awesome rod as well.
“The reasons I wouldn’t select the Scott A3 is that it has no power. I watched my buddy get smoked by a hot fish on that rod. He could never turn the fish. When I have casted that rod I never felt connected either.”
Well granted I’m a rep for Scott, but I’d say it was the Indian and not the arrow in the case of getting smoked by a hot fish. Plenty of A3 switches floating around the PacNW and they’re very well liked in that part of the world. You can look around the internet and find a lot of positive reviews on the A3 switch.
I’ve fished the A3 switch rods a lot and have always felt connected and never underpowered. Just like any rod, you need to find the right line to feel connected, but the A3 really seems to like a wide variety of lines. For a solid, US made, bad a$$ switch, the A3 is tough to beat. Best thing to do is cast several and find one that fits you.
I’ve been fishing the Winston B2X 11′ #7 for a few years now and have nothing but good things to say about it.
An 11′ switcher is really all you need to fish all but the biggest Erie tribs at higher flows.
I use a #9 steelie line for indy fishing and a SA Single Skagit 320gr. multi-tip for swinging. It’s a killer rig and will turn over half a chicken if you get the timing right.
Swinging/skating popper for smallies on our local river can be fun, but I like crashing the banks and structure rather than just “fishing the water”.
FWIW, a friend of mine just picked up the Scott A3 before the big freeze and it is about as nice as they get for the price.
I hate to admit it, but I bought the Winston switch rod last winter and never got around to fishing it last season.
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