Switch Rod for Trout

[DH Drifter]

I posted about a Deschutes river rod but have also become interested in getting a switch rod for trout fishing. I was wondering if anyone has used them or had opinions they would like share with me. I have been looking at the TFO Deer Creek series. I think it would be a good rod for reaching some of those far out places during some of the hatches and for nymph fishing.



thanks,

DH

[ATao]

i have a sage 10' 4wt that i put a spey butt on and it is a perfect little switch rod i have even caught steelhead on it... i got it before switch rods came out so you might be able to find something similar that already has the spey butt on it

[EugeneFisher]

I recently picked up an Echo 5wt switch rod. It's a fun rod for trout; I hope to do a little summer steelheading with it as well.

I'd suggest Echo over TFO; they both have great products with similar price points, but Echo is local (Vancouver, WA), have some great folks working there and provide outstanding customer service.

[LunkerFish]

Majority of the switch rods are not build to load by AFTMA standards and more of them are built toward the spey end of the spectrum, so keep that in mind as you look for what rod suits your needs.

I have the Deer Creek 6 wt switch and it loads best for me between 280-400 grains depending on line style and circumstances (ie. spey/skagit, or overhead and single-hand type situations). Its' really more of a 9 weight rod by single hand rod standards and too much rod for my trout fishing tastes. It's fastest enough I can cast a WF 6wt single hand line but then it has no "soul" and I like slower rod actions.

[EugeneFisher]

LunkerFish makes a great point. My Echo 5wt switch loads best around the 300-330 grain mark; I keep a Skagit compact (330 grain) and Scandi compact (300 grain) for Spey casting, as well as a WF 7wt line for single hand applications.