Switch rods are changing the face of Spey

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Switch rods are selling like hotcakes right now.

A few years ago we thought they were not that practical but now we see them as a great fishing tool.

For some they will be a way to get into the two-handed fishing world but for other already there they will be ultra light Spey rods.

Switch rods are usually 10'6" to 11' long in 4 pieces. Recently they are from 10' to 11'9" too.

Switch rods come in a wide range of line sizes.

The lightest we have seen is #4 and the largest being around a #9 line size.

Just like in regular single-handed fly fishing the line size is mostly to do with how large the flies we are using are.

#4 to 5 line sizes are for smaller flies for light Steelheading (Half-pounders) and trout. The smaller sizes are also excellent for indicator nymphing for trout and light Steelhead.

#6 to 7 line sizes are for larger Steelhead flies and streamers for game-fish. Medium size Switch rods are also great for single-handed indicator fishing for Steelhead.

#8 to 9 line size Switch rods are for throwing big sink-tips with large Steelhead flies and larger streamers for game-fish.

Switch rods can be cast single-hand, two-hand with Spey techniques and over-head style for distance while wadding in rivers, lakes and the surf.

Different lines are needed for these three different types of casting.

Our on-line Spey Store has line recommendations for all the rods we carry which is pretty comprehensive.

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

If you need any advice on Switch rods please call or email us or come in the shop.

We are open 7 days a week.

1-800-400-0359 toll free USA

[Don Powell]

Switch rods seem to fill a niche between the single handers most have felt comfortable pursuing small trout on 3 wts to 30+ lb Atlantic salmon on 8 wts to the 12' 6" 5 wt Speys many like to chase John Day summer runs to 15' 10 wts some insist are necessary to land the same Atlantic salmon I refer to...
For me, switchers are the "bridge"...

I personally treat each and every switch as a "mini" spey rod because I tire when casting 10' 8 wts all day. It is so much easier to use two hands to propel similar "payloads" to a variety of species while expending far less energy by using two hands.

I still prefer a 5-8 wt single hand chasing steelhead on small, densely vegetated streams in BC for < 8 lb'ers, but give me a switch when I can cast farther "swymphing" on a big river like the Skeena where the fish travel lanes not more than 50' out, or on a coastal stream with wide gravel bars where I can launch a 70' cast into the bucket.

Big rivers = big rods when fishing for medium to big fish, Switch rods for most else, single handers for medium and small streams is what a lifetime of fishing teaches most of us to use when the goal is to provide the most pleasure in pursuing the fish we love to chase...