Keeping It Simple - Ambush Line

[OceanSunfish]

I've been studying the application of the JW Ambush Line. There are a lot of nice video tutorials on the internet regarding the use of this line on single handed rods.

So, what can someone with a switch rod do with all the various gyrations of lines that an accomplished caster using the Ambush line with a traditional 9' or even the venerable 9'-6" 'sticks' cannot do?

Is "Switch" the fly guys "game improvement" golf club.....?

As an aside, I keep wondering what the manufacturers are doing by making some of this stuff so complicated..... At the 'end of the day', it's still the "Indian" not the "arrow", right?!

Side bar: I am not a crumudgeon with regards to all the development of fly gear over the past 10 years... I think it's great. I understand that "new" products stimulate new sales, etc. I think traditional spey is wonderful and has its place. My MO in all this is knowing what I can really do without as I clean out the rod rack further...... I've either quit some kinds of fishing altogether from lack of interest and/or FISH, or I am going minimalist....

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

As I get older I am going the minimalist way myself.

I don't get to go out as much as I would like so I plan my trips around the types of fishing where I can cast more.

For most everything I can, I use a weight forward floating line and like mostly top water fly fishing.

I have fished a full floating line with flies on or very near the surface for Silver salmon, stripers, LMB, trout, Steelhead, Atlantic salmon, rooster fish, trevally, bonefish, permit, snook, tarpon, Smallmouth and Peacock bass.

This type of fishing lets me do what I like, which is mostly fly casting.


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I am a really old steelheader using single hand rods for most of it but after about 5 years of two-handed dabbling I think the longer Spey rods are best for larger rivers.

For smaller river I think we can go both single and two-handed Spey casting.

The new Royal Wulff "Ambush" line will let someone single hand Spey cast on tight rivers like the Trinity that in places have no back cast room.

Until last year I was not completely sold on Spey casting with two-handed rods but I did enough of it with some top people that I am over the hump now.

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[pvsprme]

I'm with you, buddy. No doubt, the long rods are beneficial for distance and tips, especially on the bigger rivers. However, Trey Combs and Frank Amato were taking steelhead on the Deschutes with 4-6 weight single hand rods years ago. I just can't see the fun in using a 5-7oz. rod on 6-10 lb. fish, but that's just me. Not denegrating the DH guys, hell, they are way better casters than I am, but to each his own.