Spey and/or Switch Rods

[dna]

Anyone into this here? Gonna take the dive...

[beachbum]

For the first time I used one and landed my first Atlantic Salmon on a spey rod last year. It was really easy to shoot a long line, and playing the fish was a lot easier on a 14 ft rod. The downside was how heavy it was, and casting one all day gets tiring. What rods are you considering?

[Sasha]

Just getting into the whole spey thing myself. I messed around with one when I went steelhead fishing and decided I wanted one. I plan on using mine mostly for steelhead on rivers like the D (this summer), Clearwater, Grand Ronde and other chrome spots up here. I might have to head over to the Rogue sometime this year as well. So here I sit waiting for my rod to get here so I can go use it.

[NorcalBob]

Yeah, I've got 'em and don't use them much. For me, the jury is still out. My biggest problem is that I am a very good single handed caster, and IF I have the backcast room, I can throw a single handed rod using shooting heads just as far as Chris can cast a spey rod. So, I suck at spey casting and have the inability to properly execute spey casts. And when I go fishing and actually want to catch a fish, I always use my single handed rods instead of the spey rods. And while you can use single handed casts with these rods, the extra length & weight makes it very sore and tiring on my poor old body. But I must say, I really do need to learn how to properly cast these rods because I definitely see the benefits of using spey casts when there is no backcast room. Plus spey casts are a very efficient way of delivering a wet fly long distances.

OTOH, Chris absolutely loves his rods, uses them frequently, and catches a ton of fish on them. He is an excellent spey caster in addition to an excellent single handed caster. And when we get into situations where I don't have backcast room, absolutely kicks my butt. Also, he uses a lot of the spey casts while fishing a single handed rod and that makes him a much better angler.

I really do need to use these rods more often and learn how to properly cast them!!!

[Pete]

Quick hijack here. Anybody have any links to spey/ switch rods and the various setups? Like dna, I am thinking about taking the plunge. I am thinking switch rod in the surf. But, I don't even know what gear other than the rod is required.

Ming offers lessons. Check out his web site. I will be running to the central valley to learn from him. That is if I ever get setup.

Sorry for the hijack.

Pete

[Sasha]

Don't know if this will help you. But this is where I got my spey setup from.



http://www.meiserflyrods.com/

[Danny McB]

I just ordered a scandi line and leader system for my 7wt TFO ticrx conversion rod that was suggested by Nor cal Bob and Kienes........ havent gotten it out to the yard yet so Ill let you know.

[dna]

Yeah, it looks like I may be moving near bigger rivers with big fish--steelies and salmon-- and very little backcast room. I have just really started my research, and I must say have been really enjoying learning yet another aspect of FF!

I'm with Bob in that I am very weary of learning a new style as I feel proficient with my single hand cast. But, I think it could be a very useful technique and system to use for certain species.

At this point, for the area where I may live, I am leaning to a 11' 7wt switch rod. But, I want to learn properly and not develop bad habits, so I am contemplating just getting a full on 13'+ spey rod and starting there. Any thoughts? I am also interested in Scandi and Skagit setups as they are popular for the area.

Sasha,
I want a Meiser!! I'm contemplating his Switch rod or the "S" series...but I haven't called to talk to him yet. What rod did you get?

Hey Pete,
There is a dedicated spey forum...http://speypages.com/ Tons of info.

There are many setups, and at this point the details are over my head...But from what I understand the newest advances have been in line development such that the rods are working a lot better now and there is less cutting and splicing to get a line to work for you. Scandinavian (Scandi), Skagit, Traditional Spey, are different styles of casting and different kinds of lines and rods.

For the surf, it seems you would prob want a switch rod as you will most likely be "overhead casting" (you don't really overhead cast with a regular spey rod). Cool thing about the switch rod, you can do both!!

Some companies: R.B. Meiser, Beulah, Burkheimer, Loop, CND All the big names have them, too but the most popular seem to be TFO, Echo, Sage, Winston, Loomis, etc...

Anyway, looking forward to it...

[dna]

here ya go, Pete:

http://flyanglersonline.com/features/spey/

[Sasha]

Sasha,
I want a Meiser!! I'm contemplating his Switch rod or the "S" series...but I haven't called to talk to him yet. What rod did you get?

Well the buying process is a little different for his rods. Basically you call him and he asks you a bunch of questions. Things like species you are going to target, rivers you intend to fish, what your favorite one hand rod is and why is it your favorite, how much fly fishing you have done and what type of fly fishing do you like the best (there were more questions but you get the idea). After spending quite some time discussing things he recommended that I get a 13' rod with a grain window of 450-750 in a classic taper (S2H13068C-4).

[dna]

Sasha,
I want a Meiser!! I'm contemplating his Switch rod or the "S" series...but I haven't called to talk to him yet. What rod did you get?

Well the buying process is a little different for his rods. Basically you call him and he asks you a bunch of questions. Things like species you are going to target, rivers you intend to fish, what your favorite one hand rod is and why is it your favorite, how much fly fishing you have done and what type of fly fishing do you like the best (there were more questions but you get the idea). After spending quite some time discussing things he recommended that I get a 13' rod with a grain window of 450-750 in a classic taper (S2H13068C-4).

Dude...I can't wait!!!!