Switch Rod...

[surfnfish]

I picked up a 14' 9 wt. spey package (now for sale on Craigs list Portland and here on Ifish), and then shortly after bought a used drift boat, and no longer need or want to deal with the length of a spey rod on the boat..

So plan on selling the spey rod and picking up a Switch style rod, 9 or 10 wt., in the 10.5 to 11' range. This rod will be used primarily for tidewater and upriver kings and silvers..

don't want to spend in the Sage Axis range, so any feedback/reccomendations on some of the more reasonably priced switch style rods by those who have used them?

thanks..

[Slow and Low]

Keep the spey rod. They are no problem in a driftboat.

Here's how I set mine up. Since these pics I have added a second row beneeth the rod butt holders for an offset. I can run five spey rods on the left side. Two on the right below the enachor. That's a lot of rods and more than you need but 3 is quite comfortable.





Swirtch rods live in between two worlds, they are no good in either, just stuck in the middle. But if you have to have one Gloomis makes a nice switcher for the money. I reccomend call in Bob Meiser (he is kind of the inventor) and having him send you one to try out. Odds are you won't like them. I had him send me a couple 2 years ago...he also sent me a 11'7" spey with them. I bought the 117.

Anyhow. Snowed in and sharing my dubious opinions...as always.

[AndyK]

Originally Posted by surfnfish

So plan on selling the spey rod and picking up a Switch style rod, 9 or 10 wt., in the 10.5 to 11' range.

If you decide to go with a switch rod, try out Beulah:

http://www.beulahflyrods.com/switchrods.html

River City Fly Shop is a local dealer.

[surfnfish]

Originally Posted by Slow and Low

Keep the spey rod. They are no problem in a driftboat.

Here's how I set mine up. Since these pics I have added a second row beneeth the rod butt holders for an offset. I can run five spey rods on the left side. Two on the right below the enachor. That's a lot of rods and more than you need but 3 is quite comfortable.





Swirtch rods live in between two worlds, they are no good in either, just stuck in the middle. But if you have to have one Gloomis makes a nice switcher for the money. I reccomend call in Bob Meiser (he is kind of the inventor) and having him send you one to try out. Odds are you won't like them. I had him send me a couple 2 years ago...he also sent me a 11'7" spey with them. I bought the 117.

Anyhow. Snowed in and sharing my dubious opinions...as always.

appreciate the feedback. The river I fish most of the time is a smaller sized coastal river, so from the boat really don't need the length of the Spey for any casting advantage...on the other hand, find whipping a 9' 10 wt. for the salmon runs we get overworks these old shoulders..

[2/0Dee]

Witht the right line a switch rod is the most versitle system you can own. Where they fall short is at distance, they don't mend as well as a spey rod when you are fishing at distance. It really comes down to the line. If you spend some time finding the right line and you will nver go back to single a single hand rod.

Mike

[FLGator]

If you're going with a switch rod take Slow and Low's advice and call Bob Meiser. His switch rods are the benchmark in the industry and you get what you pay for. You can have him put together a standard build and get a line recommendation from him for your application and be done.

Yes, you can buy cheaper. His rods are worth the price.

Check out his web site and the specifics described in the narative on the switch rod pages. Also, pick up the phone and give him a call to discuss your needs. He's a great guy to talk with and has a world of experince. No hard sell and no obligation just the price of the phone call and a little time.

[Bighorn12]

I'll second AndyK. Check out the Beulah Switch Rods at River City. I picked up an 8/9 weight and I really like the way it handles sink-tips, heavy flys and minimal backcasting room on medium sized coastal rivers. With that said, it was my first two-hander, so I don't have a lot to compare to. However, it is definitely effective and fun. My .

[Nuchal Rouge]

For the type of fishing you are talking about a switch rod may work better then a 14 ft rod. We generally use 13 ft and sometimes 12ft rods. Sierra Trading has an 8wt 13ft Albright that works well and is less then $200. The 12ft 7wt works well too.