A Scandi line is a longer head (20 to 40ft) and tapers to the tip, allowing for a delicate touch. The additional length of the switch rod translates into excellent roll-casting ability, and with just a few feet of backcast room for a d-loop, … Scott is known for his enthusiasm, passion, and sense of humor. Fly fishing is his passion or obsession, a way of life. How to Effectively Swing Streamers and Wet Flies. It should be slow, smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful, efficient, and effective. Depending on how you want to fish will dictate the line system needed. So next time you’re looking for a new challenge or approach to your trout water, take out your standard trout rod, add the line system and hit the water. Those are tapered leaders with tungsten coatings designed to get various sink rates. Yes, it’s hard at first, but fishing light, short switch rods will definitely make you a better spey caster, because you pay for your mistakes. I have also spent an hour or so test casting the Oracle EXP #8/9 rod with 450 grain Ambush line. Skagit casting isn’t really much different than any other style of Spey casting. My wife has a slower delicate style casting stroke and I have a more aggressive (beating a bear with a baseball bat) aka stuck in Saltwater surfcasting mode cast lol. The switch rod offers the option of single-hand performance and seems like a friendly way into the world of two-handed casting. They hear all the talk about two-handed casting and get to feel like they are missing something. Additional length of a switch rod amplifies movement, allowing the caster to use less effort and energy in overhead casting. Switch rods, as the name denotes are for switching between single hand and spey type casting. $139.00 $ 139. They come in various densities, such as T7, T8, T10, and T14 or light, med, heavy, and Xtra heavy. The integrated line has the same advantages, except you won’t get the distance that the head system gets, you can’t change out multiple lines and may need a larger reel or spare spool as the lines are thicker than your standard 5 wt floating lines. Also, they are the best for casting with little to no backcast. Scott Smith is an outdoor photographer, videographer and published writer. The three-weight Mystic is the only switch rod I have found that I can fish pain free. This is the most difficult challenge, deciding how you are going to fish or more importantly where. The tips required to cast Skagit heads are different than those for Scandi heads. He is always adapting to the ever-changing conditions in Southern Ontario. 1) Cut the hook off of your fly, stand in one place and practice for an hour, minimum! I have found that OPST, Rio have the best options to fish various water conditions and depths. You only need to purchase a few things, as you likely already have the most expensive part, a single-handed rod. Doing a little bit of everything does not do any one thing very well. Switch rods come in a variety of weights, usually, 5 through 8 WT, are shorter than Spey rods (usually between 10 and 12 ft), and can be cast with two hands or single hand/overhead. Switch rods at 11 ft are easier to deal with but if you already have a solid 8, 9 or 10 weight single handed rod there is no need to buy a two handed rod right away. This can be confusing, but luckily, companies like OPST, SA, Rio, and Airflo have made it easier than ever for everyone. Skagit casting has a long history before arriving here in North America in the mid-’80s. Through film, photography, and journalism we strive to make each story as unique as the person or place it’s based off. A better option would be the poly and versa leaders that can be added as well. Saltwater Rods; Nymphing Rods; Switch/Spey Rods; Spin/Casting. Enter the “D” loop and then the forward cast. The “T” is the tungsten material it’s made of and the “7” being the sink rate in inches. Designed for distance casting. I both use the "real" switch rods which are 11 feet and cast with single hand weight. 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. These were revolutionary and the fact that by just changing tips you could fish anything a river could throw at you such as; deep pools, pocket water, runs, and riffles with the same line. OPST has a series called “riffle run and bucket” (which have dual-density sinking lines built in S3/S4) and Air Flo has their Flo tips. :D I took that Grain weight to get a Feeling for the load of the rod. As with learning any new skill, two-handed casting comes with its own learning curve and terminology. They call them Trout Spey or Micro Spey and they range from 1-5 WTs, however, they are still 10.5 to 11.5ft long and can be lined up with up to 390-grain lines. Switch Rod Features. Whether you fish it single hand or with two it has its advantages and opens up areas that were unfishable with traditional casting. Currently the Oracle EXP range of Switch rod comes only in #7/8 and #8/9. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. a true spey taper is considerably different starting with a stiff tip for line control and quick load transfer, slow middle for casting rod feel and stong butt section for the core of the two hander power. Their Switch Rods seem to cast any and all of our lines and is a dream to cast. I wish Shakespeare would consider making a #4/5 and #5/6 version which I would buy in a heartbeat. It seems to work well all around and I can make farther casts with that Switch rod than I can with any of our 14 Spey rods. Spey vs Switch Rods and Spey Casting AdvantagesEver wondered why one would Spey Cast in certain situations versus traditional single hand rod techniques? A MOW (Mike McCune, Scott O’Donnell, and Ed Ward) tip is the same length, but it has a section of the floating line integrated to the sink tip. A monofilament running line gives you more distance and takes up less room on your reel, however, some don’t like the feel of mono and opt for a running fly line instead. Scott is known for his enthusiasm, passion, and sense of humor. Two-handed casting has many advantages, longer cast, casting in confined areas, like high banks or trees overhanging, if you have shoulder or arm issue, casting with two hands may keep you on the water longer. Here is another great video of How to Effectively Swing Streamers and Wet Flies. Terms like “shooting head”, “running line”, and the variety of tips can get quite confusing to the uninitiated. Your new switch rod. The M-3113-4 has a butter-smooth medium action which rewards a delicate touch. The beauty of a seven-weight switch stick is that it’s big enough for steelhead, sea run dollies, sea run browns (once landed a 22 lb brown on the Rio Grande on the O.G. A switch rod is a style of fly rod. These can range between 5-12 feet in length. Full Spey are rods 13ft and longer available in 6 to 10wts and capable of casting huge lines, flies, and big fish like Taimen or Atlantic Salmon. Great for larger rivers and longer casts, the switch rod comes into its own in the brush-choked small streams of Southeast Alaska. Targeting big fish in tributaries, ponds, lakes, creeks, and rivers are all part of the game while chasing carp, migratory species or whatever the hot bite is. So, let’s learn some terminology that will help you decide your set up. Spey casting used to be traditionally for salmon and steelhead, but that’s not the case anymore. 4.4 out of 5 stars 12. 00. Basically, if you can roll cast, you can single hand Spey. If streamers are your thing, then you will need a Skagit line. With close proximity to the Colorado River and the Cache La Poudre casting a switch rod can be an appealing alternative for Northern Colorado Fly Fisherman. Leads a heavy intruder fly to the point with smoothness. Switch rods are usually between 10 and 12 feet long. Other manufacturers have made their own versions of these tips and they work similarly or better depending on who you ask. Once proficient at casting a switch, you’ll cast much farther, use less energy and be prone to improved accuracy. The easiest way is to decide how and what you are going to fish for. You can easily use a switch rod for salmon, that's what I do most of the time. Making the Switch, a Light Introduction to Single Hand Spey Fishing, Reds Fly Shop’s Spey Line Selection Chart. The names of the casts, Perry poke, Snake Roll, Double Spey, Single Spey, Snap “T”, or the Circle “C” all enable and angler to move the line in 180 degrees of where you want to cast. Rod: Guideline LPXe 1167 Head: Airflo Scandi Compact 390 Airflow Running line - still have problems with the anchor but it is fun! You will want to try either a Switch rod or a Spey rod, both have their advantages and disadvantages. Targeting big fish in tributaries, ponds, lakes, creeks, and rivers are all part of the game while chasing carp, migratory species or whatever the hot bite is. A great way to fish switch rods is in small streams and tributaries. In recent years the rod manufacturers are trying to keep up with the trends and anglers. If you have an extra spool, you can quickly switch from conventional to Skagit line or for that matter overhand cast the Skagit line. It’s easier to watch it than describe in words for sure. If you fish big waters with high banks where you’d need a long cast, or you’re chucking big flies, a Spey rod may be a better choice. If you want to fish dry flies then you will need a Scandi line. Through film, photography, and journalism we strive to make each story as unique as the person or place it’s based off. If you want to use the switch rod to its maximum potential, I recommend having two spools for your rod, one for indicator/nymphing fishing (integrated line), and the other for swinging flies (with a head system). In a river, after swinging the fly we need a way to move the line 180 degrees of where you want the fly to land and we need a backcast area. Switch Rod Casting Class: Liarflies is proud to offer a Switch Rod Casting class. There is no need to overpower the rod. It’s the ultimate combination where adaptability is concerned and allows the angler to carry one rod and switch quickly from dry flies to streamers and everything in between, simply by changing the head, tip, or both. This is the problem of why people don’t make the switch. Integrated Lines are a good option for those who do a little of everything and don’t want the mess around with the running line or loop-to-loop connections going through their rods. Our goal is simple: inspire the next generation to get outdoors and hit the water! Enter Spey casting, long rods designed to be cast with two hands offering the best solution to your problem at hand. A sinking tip added to the tip and is required for the line to cast properly. Two-handed casting has been around as long as single-handed rods, but other than salmon and steelhead applications, they were not used by non-steelhead or salmon anglers until recently. Brands such as Rio, OPST, S.A., and Airflo all have good options. It’s in the manufacturing process, when they make a switch they lean to a little more single hand type or Spey type blanks. Sure, some of our favorite rod series have rang in at premium-level prices, but not all of them. It’s a great tool for Great lakes steelhead on small tributaries, confined areas, they have the ability to nymph fish, fish an indicator, cast streamers, and swing flies, etc.. It’s good at a little bit of everything, but some rods are better at nymphing while others are better at swinging. Even within the brand the grain weights or actions can be different. They’re especially useful for summer steelhead, smallmouth, and walleye in rivers. With a Scandi head, they struggle to throw large heavy flies and strong winds. Or, better yet, take some lessons, or hire a guide to shorten your learning curve. Today we will be breaking this down into simpler terms so that you have more options to fish in different conditions and situations. Within those styles of lines, there are many options and a few nuances that give you the option of adapting to changing conditions. eg. It is a very versatile rod and worth considering for your next rod. Enter the Skagit head, it was made to throw large flies and heavy sink tips. Some have loops built-in and others need you to make a loop to loop connection with perfection loops. Single hand Spey fishing is the best way to get started and is a budget-friendly option when diving into this awesome way to fish. Our goal is simple: inspire the next generation to get outdoors and hit the water! Freshwater 6-10wt. Learn how your comment data is processed. These trout friendly switch rods are gaining in popularity with fly fisherman in Colorado. But, they all have one thing in common, the back cast or the “D” loop and the forward cast. Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 19. SKY G Rod Series; SKY Rod Series; DXF Rod Series; LRS Fly Rod Series; Upstream Rod Series; Upstream PLUS Rod Series; Fly Reels. So how do you choose the right switch rod for you? Designed with a medium/fast action, this hollowed mini spey rod has lots of backbone and provides a slightly longer lever with which you deliver your flies and yet still be able to single hand cast or two hand cast as the conditions change. Even the casts have odd names like; the Perry poke, double Spey, single Spey, Snap “T”, Circle “C”, Snake Roll, and Dragon Roll to name a few. However, these were not the best for various water types, so the MOW tip was evolved. FREE Shipping by Amazon. For instance, a 2.5ft floating then 7.5ft sinking, 5ft float and 5ft sink and 7.5ft floating to 2.5ft sinking. Double-handed, Switch, and Single-Hand Spey setups have made a resurgence, as lighter and shorter rods … There are two ways to set up a single hand Spey rod 1) the head system, or 2) an integrated line. April Vokey’s 3 Tips for Improving your Spey Cast, Tips for Small Water Great Lakes Steelhead. 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