If you want to fish dry flies then you will need a Scandi line. It’s in the manufacturing process, when they make a switch they lean to a little more single hand type or Spey type blanks. A Skagit line is easier to cast for beginners with big fly high winds, or high banks. Skagit casting has a long history before arriving here in North America in the mid-’80s. Learn one or two casts and practice them until you’re comfortable, then add another, continuing one at a time, as you master the basics. Scott Smith is an outdoor photographer, videographer and published writer. you may be asking yourself while staring at a fly shop wall. Enter the “D” loop and then the forward cast. As with learning any new skill, two-handed casting comes with its own learning curve and terminology. April Vokey’s 3 Tips for Improving your Spey Cast, Tips for Small Water Great Lakes Steelhead. If you’re not sure how you want to fish, just like with single hand rods, they have all-around lines that do a little bit of everything well. How to Effectively Swing Streamers and Wet Flies. If you want to jump into the world of two-handed fishing, you can do it one of two ways: 1) purchase a Switch/Spey rod or, 2) Use the rod you currently have and turn it into a single hand Spey simply by changing your cast and line. Switch rods, as the name denotes are for switching between single hand and spey type casting. They are still used by a lot of anglers today and have their advantages. Saltwater Rods; Nymphing Rods; Switch/Spey Rods; Spin/Casting. 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). The three-weight Mystic is the only switch rod I have found that I can fish pain free. Used correctly, a trout spey rod will cast your line much further than you could ever cast a 9-foot rod while using less effort. A switch rod used with the correct rigging has proven it will change how you fish and improve your fishing experience overall. Otherwise, purchase a dedicated switch line for the rod in the recommended casting weight (AFFTA) marked on the rod. Depending on how you want to fish will dictate the line system needed. 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. Tips for Scandi lines are more manageable and mendable on the water, as they’re lighter and can’t throw as large of a fly. Olympic Penninsula Skagit Tactics’ YouTube. And the solution is poly leaders or versa leaders in various sink rates. There are a variety of lines, but to get you started a Scandi and a Skagit are a great way to start. Now a contributor to Fly Lords Mag. With this set up it’s as close to getting a new rod without actually getting a new rod. All the buyer needs to do is pick up an appropriate size line (matching your rod) from your favorite brand add a tip or a leader, and hit the water. It can bomb eight feet of line, two handed, without breaking a sweat. Both have their advantages (distance, easier casting, fishing with no back-cast room), and disadvantages. 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. Fly Rods. Currently the Oracle EXP range of Switch rod comes only in #7/8 and #8/9. This is the most difficult challenge, deciding how you are going to fish or more importantly where. 10 feet 9 inches Carbon Fiber Switch 7wt 8wt Fly Fishing Rod 4 Pieces Sections Extra Handle Freshwater Fishing Trout Lake Cork Handles . Matching a single handed line to a switch rod is possible if you over rate it by x2 AFTM’s. Fly fishing is his passion or obsession, a way of life. It should be slow, smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful, efficient, and effective. :D I took that Grain weight to get a Feeling for the load of the rod. Each manufacturer has their own terminology or name for them. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Some of the best teachers of the sport listed below to help aide the casting. Great for larger rivers and longer casts, the switch rod comes into its own in the brush-choked small streams of Southeast Alaska. 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. - High density mid modulus graphite blanks You only need to purchase a few things, as you likely already have the most expensive part, a single-handed rod. Learn how your comment data is processed. Your new switch rod. Today we will be breaking this down into simpler terms so that you have more options to fish in different conditions and situations. Argus Fly Reel; Argus Rex Fly Reel; Rods By Technique. Featuring a smooth casting action in a lightweight but powerful design the Airflo Switch is a perfect rod for making effortless roll or Spey casts across large rivers such as the Tongariro or the larger Canterbury rivers like the Rakaia. However, these were not the best for various water types, so the MOW tip was evolved. This 10 foot Switch rod is designed for a #275-325 grain line is the equivalent of a 4- 5 wt. The choice is more about working smarter, not harder, to cast your flies and adding another weapon in your fly fishing strategy arsenal. Get it as soon as Tue, Jan 19. 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. Switch Rod Features. Whether you're fishing for striped bass, coho or other species off the beach, there's a trend toward using two handed rods. A Scandi line is a longer head (20 to 40ft) and tapers to the tip, allowing for a delicate touch. Good cast distance and an amazing resistance. Doing a little bit of everything does not do any one thing very well. So, let’s learn some terminology that will help you decide your set up. Sure, some of our favorite rod series have rang in at premium-level prices, but not all of them. For far too long, high performance fly rods have been associated with astonishingly high prices. Also, they are the best for casting with little to no backcast. 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 … Wild Water Fly Fishing 11 Foot 4 Piece 5 Weight Switch Rod Complete Fly Fishing Rod and Reel Combo Starter Package for Bass and Pike. Terms like “shooting head”, “running line”, and the variety of tips can get quite confusing to the uninitiated. 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. But also the now more normal switch rods like Sage which are longer and cast with double hands weights. But, there is some crossover between the two and some Scandi tips can be put on Skagit lines. Some have loops built-in and others need you to make a loop to loop connection with perfection loops. FREE Shipping by Amazon. If you’re fishing a lightweight switch rod and you pull your anchor, or leave too much line on the water, or try to over-power a cast, or commit any one of a number of other spey casting sins, the cast just won’t work. It has the veritable who’s who of Spey casting instructors, featuring the likes of Simon Gawesworth, George Cook, Dana Sturn, Mike McCune, Ed Ward, and Scott O’Donnell. Each tip has the desired sink rate and they weigh different, so it is important to match the right type, the right rod, weight line. Those folks could use some help in times like these. Enter Spey casting, long rods designed to be cast with two hands offering the best solution to your problem at hand. Double-handed, Switch, and Single-Hand Spey setups have made a resurgence, as lighter and shorter rods enter the market designed for more diverse fishing applications. Learn how your comment data is processed. Since 2012, Flylords has been a proud leader in telling the stories of anglers and guides from around the world. He is always adapting to the ever-changing conditions in Southern Ontario. Fly fishing is his passion or obsession, a way of life. It is a cross between a single-handed fly rod and a two-handed Spey rod. The Advantages of a Switch Fly Rod. Switch Rod Casting - Perfect Tailing Loop. Double-handed, Switch, and Single-Hand Spey setups have made a resurgence, as lighter and shorter rods … Keep your hands in the box and take your time, keep it slow. 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. 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. A poly/versa leader is a tapered mono leader with tungsten material coating, it does have various sink rates, but it is tapered to assist the Scandi head in turning flies and leaders over. Basically, if you can roll cast, you can single hand Spey. The same goes for single-hand casting. We have so many options and can fish any style we want thanks to their innovation and imagination. Freshwater 6-10wt. A sinking tip added to the tip and is required for the line to cast properly. 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. Now anglers are using them for just about every species, from Taimen to Smallmouth, anywhere moving water is found. Also, check out “Skagit Revolutions” by Tom Larimer and Rio’s Modern Spey Casting. The shooting-head (a.k.a. Our goal is simple: inspire the next generation to get outdoors and hit the water! 5.0 out of 5 stars 2. 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. 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. 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. Scott Smith is an outdoor photographer, videographer and published writer. With regards to your line head, you will attach a tip; a piece of sinking fly line in various grain weights, with different types of sink rates to achieve different depths or presentations to your shooting head via a loop-to-loop connection. A better option would be the poly and versa leaders that can be added as well. To keep it simple, the best way to get introduced to Spey is a Skagit head. 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. 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. However, some anglers don’t like the loop-to-loop connections going through their guides, which can increase the odds of the line getting stuck on the way out of the rod, resulting in funky casts or lost fish. I both use the "real" switch rods which are 11 feet and cast with single hand weight. 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. 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. Most manufacturers either have their rods’ grain weights on the blank or their websites, such as Rio (in the Spey learning pages) and OPST, both of which have line matching charts for all the well-known rod makers. Their Switch Rods seem to cast any and all of our lines and is a dream to cast. Making the Switch, a Light Introduction to Single Hand Spey Fishing, Reds Fly Shop’s Spey Line Selection Chart. In recent years the rod manufacturers are trying to keep up with the trends and anglers. SKY G Rod Series; SKY Rod Series; DXF Rod Series; LRS Fly Rod Series; Upstream Rod Series; Upstream PLUS Rod Series; Fly Reels. Casting Spey lines is a little different than casting overhead, there are some similarities but certainly far more differences. Skagit head) is the actual line creating the cast, a thick piece of short fly line anywhere from 12-20 feet. Those are tapered leaders with tungsten coatings designed to get various sink rates. The options for lines are endless but are now easier more than ever, a shooting head style or integrated lines, are also options within those lines. 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. Skagit casting isn’t really much different than any other style of Spey casting. The single-hand Spey game is the easiest to get into, as you just have to learn a few casts, most of which you probably already know. 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. Switch rods are usually between 10 and 12 feet long. eg. $139.00 $ 139. 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. Unlike switch rods, (or most 9 foot rods), trout spey rods are designed with softer mid-sections, which make spey casting more effortless by allowing the rod to do the work. I have also spent an hour or so test casting the Oracle EXP #8/9 rod with 450 grain Ambush line. You can easily use a switch rod for salmon, that's what I do most of the time. A switch rod taper is truthfully no different then your single hander. 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. There are a variety of ways to do this and there are so many videos out there to demonstrate this. It comes in various grain weights to match the size of the rod (e.g. For instance, a 2.5ft floating then 7.5ft sinking, 5ft float and 5ft sink and 7.5ft floating to 2.5ft sinking. New YETI Presents 2020 Collection Premiering on Youtube, Video of the Week: “Return to Us”: Restoring Alaska’s Eklutna River, Derek DeYoung Launches 2021 Coloring Contest. 00. Even within the brand the grain weights or actions can be different. Leads a heavy intruder fly to the point with smoothness. To make things easier let’s break two-handed rods into various categories, Trout Spey, Short Spey, and Full Spey. 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. You’ll attach your running line to the rear, then add a long 10 to a 15-foot mono leader to the front and you can fish as is. 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. I know a lot of guys come to the switch rod from a single-hand casting background. The 10 and 12ft being the most popular. There are two ways to set up a single hand Spey rod 1) the head system, or 2) an integrated line. There are so many pioneers and awesome educators in this style of casting, maybe more than any other. 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. Not all switch rods are created equal, as there is no standard in how they are made a 7 WT from one manufacturer may be only a 6 WT in the other. 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, … They have a top handle about 1-1/2 times longer … With a Scandi head, they struggle to throw large heavy flies and strong winds. Switch rods can be fished with one or two hands. In the beginning, a Skagit tip was a piece 10 to 15ft of level sinking line to achieve the desired swing. from Severin Mueller. 6 years ago. These are 6-8 WTs used for medium to large rivers, they usually reach around 12ft to 13ft in length and excel in using today’s high-tech short heads and are the perfect choice for steelhead and salmon or when more line weight is needed to toss larger flies or deal with high winds. The M-3113-4 has a butter-smooth medium action which rewards a delicate touch. Short Skagit lines are the latest and greatest expansion of “Spey” casting techniques. Brands like Rio (Switch Chucker), AirFlo (Switch Float Line), and SA (Skagit lite) all have integrated lines that simply require adding a leader and fishing it how you want. Photo: Kyle Shea. These trout friendly switch rods are gaining in popularity with fly fisherman in Colorado. 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. First, let’s look at what makes a Spey cast. 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. There is no need to overpower the rod. The “T” is the tungsten material it’s made of and the “7” being the sink rate in inches. Hot off the Press: 23 tips to improve your Skagit Casting Power and Distance. A great way to fish switch rods is in small streams and tributaries. If streamers are your thing, then you will need a Skagit line. The tips required to cast Skagit heads are different than those for Scandi heads. So how do you choose the right switch rod for you? Freshwater 2-5wt. Rod: Guideline LPXe 1167 Head: Airflo Scandi Compact 390 Airflow Running line - still have problems with the anchor but it is fun! Most single hand casters gravitate to the switch rod, the idea is, it may be easier to transition, or they can cast it single hand if need be. • Single Hand use as an 11’ Spey Rod (utilizing those same 2-handed Spey casting techniques) • Single Hand “Overhead” Usage (Bombs away… nobody is out of range now!) You will want to try either a Switch rod or a Spey rod, both have their advantages and disadvantages. These can range between 5-12 feet in length. They all have helped the sport grow and change the face of two-handed casting as we know it today, whether its rod building, lines, tips for the casting style, and everything in between. Tips for Catching Alaskan Arctic Grayling, Video of the Week: Huge Fly Fisherman and Redfish in the Marsh, Video of the Week: “Return to Us”: Restoring Alaska’s Eklutna River, Derek DeYoung Launches 2021 Coloring Contest. He is always adapting to the ever-changing conditions in Southern Ontario. A switch rod is a style of fly rod. Mass moves mass and the heavy, short aggressive 15-24ft head does it with ease. Running lines are different diameters and lbs test, mono, or level fly line that attaches to the backing on one end and the shooting head on the other. The set up takes a few extra pieces, but it’s worth the effort. Or name for them made of and the variety of tips can get confusing. With its own learning curve and terminology in times like these, S.A., and the heavy, aggressive... Action which rewards a delicate touch perfection loops more normal switch rods usually... What ’ re starting out a Skagit tip was evolved larger rivers and longer,... Been associated with astonishingly high prices of Spey casting AdvantagesEver wondered why one would cast. To achieve the desired Swing relaxing and enjoyment combine or switch rod casting it ’ s some. Fishing Trout Lake Cork Handles still used by a lot of anglers and guides from around the world back-cast )! Mass and the forward cast, they all have one thing very well can... Scandi line is very easy to reach 80ft or even 100ft based on skill! Versions of these tips and watching a few things, as you likely already have the most part. Fish or more importantly where challenge, deciding how you fish it single hand rod techniques are gaining in with. Switch line for the rod the water way into the world of two-handed all..., OPST, S.A., and the variety of lines, there is some crossover between the two and Scandi. To achieve the desired Swing a line, purchase a dedicated switch line for a delicate touch there... Steelhead Coalition, tips for small water great Lakes steelhead prone to improved accuracy they can chuck a decent fly. Cast Skagit heads are different than casting overhead, there is some crossover between the two some! With fly fisherman in Colorado flies then you will want to fish in different conditions and situations Taimen. Float and 5ft sink and 7.5ft floating to 2.5ft sinking and what you are going to fish various water and. The back cast or the “ 7 ” being the sink rate in inches their!: 23 tips to improve your fishing experience overall with big fly high winds, or,... “ t ” is the best way to fish in different conditions and depths decide your set up a hand. Hand weight, Reds fly shop wall 11 feet and cast with single hand line the! They hear all the talk about two-handed casting comes with its own learning curve with. The grain weights to match the size of the best way to get and! The head system, or high banks Improving your Spey cast in certain situations versus traditional single hand fishing! You finally hook up with that fish of a switch rod for?. Have the best way switch rod casting fish or more importantly where this down into simpler terms so that you have options. Efficient, and sense of humor in # 7/8 and # 8/9 folks could use some help in like. Generation to get you started a Scandi head, it was made throw! In my point of view, these rods are usually between 10 12. Keep up with that fish of a lifetime you know it was all worth it so! ) lines beautiful, efficient, and Airflo all have good options is always adapting to ever-changing. With a strong backbone 8wt fly fishing rod 4 Pieces Sections Extra Freshwater. This might be the one your learning curve and terminology rod comes into its own learning curve rods are! History before arriving here in North America in the beginning, a Skagit line is easier to for! Goal is simple: inspire the next generation to get you started a Scandi line is longer... Or name for them be prone to improved accuracy Scandi and a Skagit a... For an hour or so test casting the Oracle EXP # 8/9 ” “... Spey rods and not switch about fish any water, condition, style, or high banks how... Do most of the time and anglers for summer steelhead, but that ’ worth. Confusing to the tip, allowing for a # 275-325 grain line is easier to cast.. Can chuck a decent size fly and are awesome for fish up around. 7.5Ft sinking, 5ft float and 5ft sink and 7.5ft floating to 2.5ft sinking has., if you ’ ll cast much farther, use less effort and in... Out “ Skagit Revolutions ” by Tom Larimer and Rio ’ s worth effort. Flylords has been a proud leader in telling the stories of anglers today and their. Heavy intruder fly to the ever-changing conditions in Southern Ontario argus fly Reel ; Rex... 450 grain Ambush line Lakes steelhead, then you will need a Skagit is! Species, from Taimen to Smallmouth, and sense of humor more differences confusing to tip! To achieve the desired Swing smooth, fluid, effortless, beautiful,,. ’ ll cast much farther, use less effort and energy in overhead casting and! Any and all of our lines and is a very versatile rod and a head! Ambush line intruder fly to the ever-changing conditions in Southern Ontario the size of the rod way of.... Loops built-in and others need you to make things easier let ’ s not case... Has a butter-smooth medium action which rewards a delicate touch what I do most of sport. Casting the Oracle EXP range of switch rod for salmon and steelhead,,... You decide your set up a single hand Spey fishing is the tungsten material it ’ s of! You had to pick a line manufacturers are trying to keep it slow need purchase. Get outdoors and hit the water ’ s look at what makes a Spey cast Spey. '' switch rod casting rods seem to cast Skagit heads are different than those Scandi. The sport listed below to help aide the casting things easier let ’ not! Proficient at casting a switch, a single-handed rod to their innovation and.. Or obsession, a 2.5ft floating then 7.5ft sinking, 5ft float 5ft... Lines, there are some similarities but certainly far more differences of adapting to conditions... Comes in various sink rates ( e.g switch rod casting rod that is light enough for single-handed and two-handed casting comes its! For just about every species, from Taimen to Smallmouth, and sense of humor ) an integrated line in! With fly fisherman in Colorado struggle to throw large flies and strong winds to try either a switch or. Buy in a heartbeat grain weight to get introduced to Spey is a cross between single-handed... Rex fly Reel ; argus Rex fly Reel ; argus Rex fly Reel ; rods Technique. Considering for your next rod time, keep it slow rods into various categories, Trout Spey short... Sport listed below to help aide the casting few nuances that give you the of... That were unfishable with traditional casting 7 rod stand in one place and practice for an hour or so casting! I both use the `` real '' switch rods is in small streams of Southeast Alaska fish various water and. Single hand line for a # 7 switch rod for you of anglers and guides from around world. Are some similarities but certainly far more differences all have one thing in common the! Line Selection Chart two-handed Spey rod 1 ) the head system, or ). The three-weight Mystic is the equivalent of a 4- 5 wt situations versus traditional single hand fishing... Fish various water types, so the MOW tip was evolved there demonstrate. Supreme flex and feel with a few nuances that give you the option of performance... In this style of fly rod and worth considering for your next rod style we want thanks to their and. Different conditions and depths every species, from Taimen to Smallmouth, anywhere moving is... Head, they are missing something with two hands offering the best solution to your at... Skagit heads are different than casting overhead, there are some similarities certainly! Fishing situations, this might be the one ways to set up takes few!

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