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View Full Version : Thinking of Buying a Switch Rod



FlyBum
01-08-2011, 12:37 AM
Last twos days a lodge owner and a couple guides from the Trinity River came to the CFFU meeting. I plan to make a trip up there, but in the mean time I'd think I'd like to buy a Switch Rod. There's a guy in the club that told me he could teach me Spey Casting and I may also talk to Jeff Putnam about lessons.

I want to go up there for both the steelhead and sea run browns. However, unless I'm being to optimistic whichever rod I buy I also like to use surf fishing. I don't necessarily mean Stripers in the surf, but maybe surf perch and the like. I'd also like to use it for steelhead in the American.

I saw a video with Jeff Putnam surf fishing I believe he said he was using an 11' switch rod. So for what I'm thinking about what would likely be the best 6wt or 7wt or? And which rods should I look at in the $450 or less range.

Also just for curiosity sake in another of Jeff's online videos he was talking to someone who was showing a rod that had a lower section that could be unscrewed and then pulled down and it went from being a fighting butt to the lower handle for 2 handed casting changing it from a single single hander with a fighting butt into a two handed switch rod does anyone know what that rod was.

Tom

Lance Gray
01-08-2011, 09:34 AM
I been fishing Switch Rods only for some time.

I also did a presentation at CFFU this fall. I had a TFO Switch Rod and a Sage switch rod with me. Both rods are great. I fish the 11' 6wt's. I also use these rods in my Switch Rod & Steelheed Schools.

Gary Anderson is making a rod that is two rods in one. One has a short Butt Section on it that 10' and is a single handed rod the other is a standard butt section that has a piece that is hidden in the reel seat that slide backs to make the rod spey cast worthy. This rod is 11'.

Switch Rods are great. I have a school coming up soon. Check it out.

Lance
530-517-2204http://www.lancegrayandcompany.com

SPG
01-08-2011, 11:07 AM
The switch rod in the Putnam video is from Anderson Custom Rods, a super rod builder.The drop down seat is Gary's own design and is produced only for him. steve

Bill Kiene semi-retired
01-08-2011, 11:54 AM
For trout and light Steelhead many are using a 6 weight Switch rod.

A 7 weight Switch rod would be better for throwing any larger flies though....

**We have Gary Anderson's 6 weight Switch rod in stock that has the drop down butt on the reel seat if anyone locally want to see it.

A 6 weight Switch rod is merely a longer (10'6" to 11'9") 8 weight single hand fly rod for a reality check. The butt and fore grip are longer too.

Under $450 would be the Anderson, Beulah, TFO, Echo, Redington and Ross Switch rods.

High end would be mostly Sage and Orvis Helios. These are lighter though....

We might have the largest on hand selection of Switch rods in the world? For sure in California.

We also have the largest on hand selection of fly lines for Swtich rods...

Switch rods:

http://speyshop.kiene.com/switchrods.aspx

Switch lines:

http://speyshop.kiene.com/singlehand/switchflylines.aspx



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