The flying Scotsman
Well-known member
Its the 7 weight and I've got the barrio switch 5/6 on it and its perfect. Overheads a 10ft tip, rolls, speys, snap t's the works.What barrio you use with this
Its the 7 weight and I've got the barrio switch 5/6 on it and its perfect. Overheads a 10ft tip, rolls, speys, snap t's the works.What barrio you use with this
Thanks, I have the #7 11ft ST switch, so must get one. Thanks for the replyIts the 7 weight and I've got the barrio switch 5/6 on it and its perfect. Overheads a 10ft tip, rolls, speys, snap t's the works.
I've got a rage line for it and an opst commando skagit. The opst can launch 15ft of t tip and a big brass tube.Thanks, I have the #7 11ft ST switch, so must get one. Thanks for the reply
Bloke XL50 #8/9 is also a brilliant switch rod. Coupled with a Barrio switch line it can put out a long line but is also good for delicate work. Love it!!I agree that a light switch rod rated for a #6 double hand or #8 single hand is useful in addition to a 13 ft #8 double hander. Less point in getting a 11ft switch rated for a #8 double hand line. I believe that a 12 ft #7 would be too close to the 13ft #8.
I would suggest an integrated line rather than a shooting head as you are often stripping line in low water and it can be irritating to keep pulling the join into the top ring. The choices are either a switch line, which is better for larger flies or a trout WF line for more delicate presentation of smaller flies.
Best switch rods are Loop, Sage and Guideline, but Shakespeare and Airflo switches are very good and a fraction of the price.
Can someone explain exactly what a switch rod is and what switch actually means?
I was under the impression it was a rod you could either use single handled or double handled?
Going back some years there were purpose built sea trout/ grilse rods of about 11ft with a longer handle or fighting butt, but they were never classed as switch rods?
This is a genuine question as someone who’s only ever used a full floating Spey line on a 15ft rod?
Hi there,My old man had a Bruce and Walker 12' #8/9single hander grilse rod, it was probably one of the first switch rods if it had the longer handle but was never called one because that term was never used back then,
I believe that switch rod that cannot be casted one hand is not a switch, it´s double hander. I cast my switch rods one hand when I need accuracy or ultimate distance (nothing compares to overhead cast with proper double haul).Forget the notion of a switch rod being "switched" to overhead casting - it's a misnomer and an utter nonsense for three reasons:
a) why would you not want to use two hands for an OH cast when it performs it better anyway;
b) there's way too much leverage in these rods to perform single handed OH casts for any length of time;
c) Spey casting is more versatile, safer and provides an excellent get out of jail option in overgrown rivers.
Hi Jiri,I believe that switch rod that cannot be casted one hand is not a switch, it´s double hander. I cast my switch rods one hand when I need accuracy or ultimate distance (nothing compares to overhead cast with proper double haul).
The problem is that manufacturers mislabel their products. I think that no rod with casting weight over +- 300grain/20 gram can called switch rod.
Jiri
Beautiful fishFor me true switch rod is very useful piece of kit. When 12,6ft. 7wt is too much I fish Sage One 5116 with Guideline ULS Multitip (248grain). For low water and fish up to 5kg it is perfect. Thanks to the light line I can cast single hand all day, so it is also my first choice for hitching and dry fly work. Casting using both hands is real pleasure and I don´t feel limited in distance.View attachment 53141
A rod with anything more substantial than a wee fighting butt below the reel seat is a double hander , no matter how much that view may upset some on here.
Get over it.
Agreed Brian - and having put a double handed handle on the lightest/thinnest rods available - misleadingly (imho) called "switch rods", I cannot see the benefit (for reasons explained above) in using a single handed cast on them. But if some anglers believe they gain something from that - then it's a free world. Mick
Yes and er no.A rod with anything more substantial than a wee fighting butt below the reel seat is a double hander , no matter how much that view may upset some on here.
Get over it.
![]()
Hi Richard,Yes and er no.
I question what was originally meant by ‘switch rod’. I believe it had nothing to do with single v double hand but more to do with overhead v switch (i.e spey) casting.
I have two so called ‘single handed’ rods to which I have fitted 4 inch extension handles. The first is a 9ft 7 weight and for that I always overhead cast single handed but for spey casting I prefer two hands even with this small rod.
The other rod is a Bruce and Walker 10.5ft rated 7-9 on which it is just possible to overhead single handed with a 7 weight line, but anything beyond that is far too much for me. So this rod is always used double handed for both overhead and spey casting.
But getting away from nomenclature debate one thing is obvious in this thread - that many anglers are putting the fun back into their fishing by using these lighter rods from time to time (when they feel like it or when circumstances seem to dictate) and that is the most important thing, not our disagreements about which cast or which name.
Mick