Switch Rods

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Switch Rods There is a lot of interest in Switch Rods throughout the fly angling community. We are asked many Switch Rod questions every day. We will try to answer those questions here. "Switch" is a classification like: single-hand, two-hand, Spey, saltwater, freshwater. Switch Rods fit all of these previous categories, but "Switch" is usually defined as a cross between single-hand and two-hand rods, and a marriage between the two casting styles. Switch Rods can be used with either one-hand casting or two-hand casting. They are equally adapted to over-head or spey casts.
Sage	TFO	G. Loomis	Winston	Beulah

As an example:
If you own a 5-weight Switch Rod, you can use it to your advantage over a wide range of applications. On a certain day on a big western river, you might encounter trout sipping tiny mayfly emergers in the center of an eddy 80-feet from the closest casting position. They are far out of range of most anglers, yet they are not safe from you, because with you is your 5-weight Switch rod. Long rods allow you to fish dry flies at incredible ranges and control slack in your line with maximum authority. The long slim rod also protects fine tippets, because it will absorb shock very efficiently. A 10 1/2' to 11 1/2" rod allows you to control much more line than a standard 9' rod because it's about 20% longer. Switch rods may be the best of all "nymph" rods for: "high-stick", "indicator" and "Czech" nymphing. Your 5-weight Switch is also excellent for half-pounder and one-salt steelhead. That is only a very few examples of the diverse capabilities of one size of Switch Rod.
Advantages in a wide range of applications:
The most popular line-sizes for Switch Rods are #5, #6, #7, #8. Some manufacturers also offer #4 and #9 sizes. Generally #4, #5, & #6-wights are used for trout, #7 & #8 are for steelhead, and #9 & #10 are used for salmon and saltwater much the same as single hand rods. Switch rods can also use lines that are commonly used for both single-hand and two-hand rods. Each series can lean toward single-hand or two-hand weights depending on the manufacturer. We will try to include line preferences in grain weights.
Proven history:
In the time of Izzak Walton, when the Complete Angler book was written, anglers regularly used long rods for fishing for trout because they felt that that they were an advantage. The fact that English anglers had already had two-hundred years to refine their tackle and techniques probably means they were pretty well thought out. These long rods were use under a wide range of situations. You might go as far as to say that they were using Switch Rods then. So, although Switch Rods are new to our angling scene, they have had a long time to develop and refine.

Sage Z-AXIS Switch Rods FOR 2010
11' #5	11' #6	11' #7	11' #8

Strategic - Effective - Fun
By: George Cook/Ryan S Petzold

Application for Switch Rods in the Pacific Northwest stretches both far and wide. Switch Rods allow the Northwest Angler to pursue a multitude of specific fisheries as well as fishing methodologies with one tool. Examples of this abound;

· Small stream steelheading, particularly in Oregon and Alaska

· Beach overhead casting on Puget Sound

· Single hand nymph fishing for both trout and steelhead

· Small rod spey casting for steelhead, sea run brown, sea run dollies, silvers and chums

· Strategic, tight-corridor Spey use

Specific examples of these methods and the applicable versatility could be seen as…

Alaska-Spring Rainbow fishing, spey or overhead, swinging sculpins or leeches. Transcending to fall fishing with indicators for both rainbows and dollies as well as fall steelhead fishing in South Central Alaska.

Washington-Lots going on in the Evergreen State-overhead casting on the beaches of Puget Sound for resident coho, sea-run cutthroat, migratory coho and chum salmon; nymph fishing trout on the Yakima transcending to nymph fishing for steelhead on the Klickitat or Methow; strategic single-hand spey-use for summer-runs on the Stilly; tight corridor Spey-use on the Sol Duc in February; bombshot cast with AFS lines on Eastern Washington lakes.

Oregon- Nymph fishing for steelhead on Saturday on the Rogue transcending to single hand Spey or tradition spey casting swinging flies on the Umpqua for steelhead on Sunday.

All in all the “Switch Rod” concept allows for a single tool for multiple tasks. Versatility is at a premium particularly for the angler looking for the dual mode function of both overhead as well as a spey type tool. Spey rod enthusiasts should view these rods as a small spey rod or strategic spey approach. Single hand casters can view these as transition tools bridging single hand casting to spey techniques.

The following rod/line match up conversation is based on both specific test sessions along with multiple angling experiences over several years. The test sessions focused on three application formats.

Straight single hand over head casts.
Single hand, single spey and snap T type casts.

All around, all purpose two handed spey cast

5110-4 Z-AXIS			Length: 11' Line: 5 Pieces: 4

The smallest of the fab-four. The 5110-4 will mainly see duty as a trout switch rod, with both nymphs and streamers, along with the occasional desire to fish hoppers on the “other bank”. Sea-Run Cutthroat and Sea-Run Dollies, both beach and stream round out the menu. Oh yeah, not to be overlooked; the super-mega lake fishing tool with an AFS 5/6 coupled with various 10’ Spey Versileaders. Reel Match: Sage 6080, Tibor Everglade, Sage 4580, Redington Rise 9/10 Sinktip Use: 10’ Spey Versileaders, all ‘types’. 15’ 95 grain sinktips in type III & type VI. Line Matches: Rio Skagit Short 275 A shorten Skagit type line for both single hand and 2-Hand Spey. Rio AFS 4/5; sweet spey setup. Rio Outbound WF-6-F; Killer overhead. The “Beach Choice”, also lake applications. Rio AFS 5/6. A really nice overall choice for both beach and spey, along with the lake game. Rod weight: 5 1/16 Ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
5110-4	Z-AXIS	5	Fast	E	$715

6110-4 Z-AXIS			Length: 11' Line: 6 Pieces: 4

The all around Northwest performer. From the beaches of Puget Sound coupled with summer run pursuits from the Rogue to the Stilly. Long over head casts transcend to spey style techniques covering both nymph and steamer fishing. The versatility of this rod will earmark this as a Northwest favorite. Reel Match: Sage 6080, Tibor Everglade, Sage 4580, Redington Rise 9/10 Sinktip Use: 10’ Spey Versileaders, all ‘types’. 15’ 95 grain sinktips in type III & type VI and 15’ 109 grain type 8 cut back to 12’. Line Matches: Rio 5/6 AFS Floater; Proven spey approach along with wicked lake and beach application. Rio Outbound WF-7-F; Good pure over head line. Skagit Short 325. A shorten Skagit type line for both single hand and 2-Hand Spey. Can combine with #7 Skagit 15’ Floating Tip for nymph fishing. WindCutter 5/6; Lovely pure floating line set up, both trout and steelhead. Single hand spey or two handed spey format Rod weight: 5 1/8 Ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
6110-4	Z-AXIS	6	Fast	E	$715

7110-4 Z-AXIS			Length: 11' Line: 7 Pieces: 4

For those in pursuit of Steelhead, outsized Sea Run Dollies, big Alaskan Rainbows along with TDF Browns this rod is a true trout-anadromous cross over, “the .30-06 of switch”. Reel Match: Tibor Everglade, Sage 6080, Sage 4580 Sink Tip Use: 15’ in 109 grain type 3, 6 & 8 densities. T-8 & T-11 in 9’, 11’ & 13’ lengths. Line Matches: Rio AFS 6/7; The Vision style head improved. Rio Skagit Short 375. A shorten Skagit type line for both single hand and 2-Hand Spey. Can combine with #7 Skagit 15’ Floating tip for nymph fishing. Rod weight: 5 3/8 Ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
7110-4	Z-AXIS	7	Fast	E	$725

8110-4 Z-AXIS			Length: 11' Line: 8 Pieces: 4

A true anadromous performer, the 8110-4 is ideal for Alaskan rainbows, Steelhead and Silvers alike. Couple this as a true “double threat” switch rod covering such diverse environments as Oregon’s Rogue one day and the Umpqua the next. The TDF crowd has its Sea Run Brown rod, along with a wide range summer run and Alaska cross over stick. Sink Tip Use: 15’ in 129 grain type 3, 6 & 8 densities. T-8 & T-11 in 9’, 11’ & 13’ lengths. Reel Match: Sage 6080, Tibor Everglade, Sage 4580 Line Matches; · New for 2010; Skagit Flight 425 grain “the new player has arrived!” Can combine with #8 15’ Skagit Floating Tip for Nymph fishing. · Rio Skagit Short 425. A shorten Skagit type line for both single hand and 2-Hand Spey. · Rio AFS 7/8; Oregon style spey gig. · Rio Skagit 400 + 15’ tip; Has been the line for all forms of spey (single hand and traditional). Good Overhead Rio Steelhead/Atlantic Salmon WF-9-F; Superb, smooth overhead line. Really nice with single hand single spey. A good trout choice. Think of it as the PowerSpey for switch rods. Rod weight: 4 1/4 Ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
8110-4	Z-AXIS	8	Fast	E	$725

Temple Fork Deer Creek Switch Rods
11' #4	11' #5	11' #6	11' #7	11' #8	11' #9

Two handed rod designers Mike Kinney and Bob Meiser continue to expand the TFO Deer Creek series of fly rods with the introduction of the Deer Creek Switch Rod Series. Bob Meiser has been in the forefront of popularizing and refining blank designs for the Switch Rod concept of fly rods since the mid 1990s. His expertise with this unique family of rods is well established within the two handed rod community. Bob’s original concept has been universally accepted over the past decade and teaming with Mike Kinney in design and application for these rods has now taken the concept to the next higher level. We have used our proprietary Axiom material lay-up process for these blanks. These are extremely light weight, durable, thoughtfully designed fly rods with superb performance … Best defined simply as: “Totally efficient delivery tools.”

TF 4 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 200-400

Mike's Remarks: Trout and single hand spey. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 4/5 Skagit: SA ST-5 <> Tips to +-85 grains Short Belly Spey: CND 4/5 Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 7/8 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 6.50 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 4 110 4 DC	Deer Creek	4	Med	Deer Creek	$324.95

TF 5 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 250-450

Mike's Remarks: Trout, small steelhead and salmon. Single hand spey. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 5/6 Skagit: Rio 350 or SA ST-6 or ST-7 <> Tips to +-100 grains Short Belly Spey: 5/6 CND Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 8/9 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 6.55 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 5 110 4 DC	Deer Creek		Med	Deer Creek	$324.95

TF 6 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 300-500

Mike's Remarks: Large trout, salmon and steelhead. Spey and overhead. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 6/7 Skagit: Airflo Skagit Compact 420 <> Tips to +-115 grains Short Belly Spey: Delta 6/7 Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 10 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 6.65 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 6 110 4 DC	Deer Creek	6	Med	Deer Creek	$339.95

TF 7 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 350-550

Mike's Remarks: Large trout, salmon and steelhead. Spey and overhead. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 7/8 Skagit: Airflo Skagit Compact 450/480 <> Tips to +-130 grains Short belly Spey: Delta 6/7 Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 11 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 7 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 7 110 4 DC	Deer Creek		Med	Deer Creek	$339.95

TF 8 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 400-600

Mike's Remarks: Steelhead and salmon. Small saltwater species. Spey and overhead. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 8/9 Skagit: Airflo Skagit Compact 510/540 <> Tips to +- 145 grains Short Belly Spey: Delta 7/8 Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 12 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 7.25 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 8 110 4 DC	Deer Creek		Med	Deer Creek	$349.95

TF 9 110 4 DC		Length: 11' Sections: 4 Line Weight in Grains: 500-700

Mike's Remarks: Large salmon and saltwater. Spey and overhead. Mike's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 9/10 Skagit: Airflo Compact Skagit 570/600 Short Belly Spey: Delta 8/9 Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 13 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: 7.60 ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
TF 9 110 4 DC	Deer Creek		Med	Deer Creek	$349.95

G. Loomis RoaringRiver GLX Switch Rods
11' #5	11' #7	11' #8
When you'd like the flexibility of making a traditional single hand cast, a roll cast or a full-on spey cast, our new switch rods offer it up like no others. At 11' they are a little more than traditional single hand rods giving you the ability to throw long casts with one or two hands. From a nice light 5-weight to a 8-weight, you'll be able to cover almost all water from your favorite trout streams to large steelhead drifts.

FR1325-4NRGLX Switch				Length: 11' Line: #5 Pieces: 4

Steve's Remarks: Medium trout and steelhead. Great Nymph rod.. Spey and overhead. Steve's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 5/6 340-grain, Airflo 5/6 330-grain Skagit: Rio Skagit Short: 325-grains, Airflo Skagit Compact 360 <> Tips to +-130 grains Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 7 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: ? ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Power	Taper	Handle	Price	To Top
11740	Native Run	5	Med-Stiff	Med-Fast	1010	$740.00

FR1327-4NRGLX Switch				Length: 11' Line: #7 Pieces: 4

Steve's Remarks: Large trout, salmon and steelhead. Spey and overhead. Steve's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 7/8 460-grain, Airflo 7/8 450-grain Skagit: Rio Skagit Short: 475-grains, Airflo Skagit Compact 450 <> Tips to +-130 grains Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 9 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: ? ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Power	Taper	Handle	Price	To Top
11741	Native Run	7	Med-Stiff	Med-Fast	1010	$750.00

FR1328-4NRGLX Switch				Length: 11' Line: #8 Pieces: 4

Steve's Remarks: Largest trout, salmon and steelhead. Spey and overhead. Steve's Line Recommendations: Scandi: Rio AFS 8/9 520-grain, Airflo 8/9 540-grain Skagit: Rio Skagit Short: 525-grains, Airflo Skagit Compact 510 <> Tips to +-130 grains Two Hand Overhead: Rio OutBound 10 Comes with Cordura covered hard case & sock. Rod Weight: ? ounces
Item	Series	Line Wt	Power	Taper	Handle	Price	To Top
11742	Native Run	8	Med-Stiff	Med-Fast	1010	$760.00

R.L. Winston BIIX Switch Rod

B2X7011			Length: 11' Line: #7 Pieces: 4

An extraordinary lightweight medium-action Switch Rod that may be cast with one or both hands. Andre Scholz Scandinavian Shooting Head Recommendation: 401-432 grains. Floating Line Recommendations: Airflo Scandi Compact 420, Rio AFS 400, Rio WindCutter 5/6 Use: 420-grain Skagit Compact for sinking tip work. Rod weight: 4 3/4 Ounces.
Item	Series	Line Wt	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
7011	B2X	7	Medium Fast	Spey	$735

Beulah Switch Rods Special Report on Beulah 6/7 Switch
4/5	5/6	6/7	7/8	8/9
Beulah Switch Rods are constructed of IM8 graphite using bias ply roll up for maximum strength and lightness. The Beulah Switch rod is a series of fast action 10'6" rods we cary in the following sizes.4/5, 5/6 wt, 7/8 wt, and 8/9wt. These four models are basocally tow trout sizes and two steelhead sizes. The 8/9 wt is also a great beach rod for fishing big lakes or saltwater. Because of their size and relative lightness, Switch Rods have unlimited potential in a variety of casting and fishing applications. The Switch Rod allows an angler to cast with double haul, spey cast, roll cast, and two handed cast. The two handed cast is basically bringing the line back with a back cast and swinging the rod overhead with two hands, allowing the line to shoot forward. Two-hand overhead casts with the larger Switch Rods may reach out over 100-feet with power in reserve. These casts are easy to master and open many new opportunities.

SR1064/5-4			Length: 10' 6" Line: #4/5 Pieces: 4

Dedicated trout nymph and dry fly rod for fish 8"-18". A perfect spey rod for trout.
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
SR1064/5-4	Switch	4/5	Fast	Standard	$380

SR1065/6-4			Length: 10' 6" Line: #5/6 Pieces: 4

Dedicated trout 10"-24" ish range , and small summer steelhead rod for nymphing, larger dry flies and streamers . This rod has some good spey ability and is great in lakes with sink lines for large trout .
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
SR1065/6-4	Switch	5/6	Fast	Standard	$386

Beulah Switch Rod -10’6” 6/7 4-piece
Put More Fun and Versatility into your quiver for this summers Steelhead season!

Beulah is a comparatively new line of rods coming out of Southern Oregon. They first appeared at the Sandy River Spey Clave in 2007. We started getting requests for them shortly after the event. Their popularity has been building ever since. Like most companies, they offer both single-hand, two-hand rods and "Switch Rods". Switch rods are designed to be cast either with one hand or both hands. Beulah makes a full range of Switch Rod models from 4/5-weight to 10/11-weight. All are 10 1/2' long. The Switch 6/7 is first stick in Beulah’s line-up that can be considered an everyday summer steelhead rod, but can also serve as a trout rod. Progressive in nature, the rod is strong enough to cast for distance and handle windy conditions, yet delicate enough to make the short, ten cast buckets much more enjoyable to fish. This is a short two hander that naturally makes small energized “D” loops. Tough casting situations are when this rod really comes alive. Imagine solving common casting problems such as: two steps in the water with a steep boulder strewn bank, line catching overhead tree branches and other common obstructions call for no changes in style or technique with the Switch 6/7.

Two steps out deep wading with a steep rocky bank and a normal D-loop not a problem.

Deep wade with a "line catching tree obstruction" and a normal D-loop not a problem.

The versatility comes about because the Switch 6/7 covers a variety of species and fishing situations. Of course we’re talking steelhead but the Switch 6/7 is an incredibly diverse fishing tool. Smaller streams to large river trout fishing, fishing lakes from a float tube, Small Mouth Bass, Large Mouth Bass, Grayling, Silver Salmon and Steelhead. Any fish from a pound to twelve-pounds will put a good bend in this rod and smiles on many fishermen’s faces. Even the occasional trout that forgets you’re Steelhead fishing will be appreciated by the wiggling the Beulah Switch 6/7. Nymph it, Swing it, Overhead cast it, just match the correct line for the job and get to it!

This Sea Run Cutthroat forgot we were Steelhead Fishing, still good fun on a Switch 6/7.

This steelhead did not forget we were Steelhead fishing! Skater and a 6/7 super fun.

Setting up your Switch 10’6” 6/7 to maximize performance!
Scandinavian Shooting Heads: We recommend a line for summer steelhead fishing that is roughly 2.5 x rod length and a leader that is 1.5 x rod length. The grain window for this rod/line combination will fall between 350-450 grains including your Poly Leader or sink tip of choice. For Example, Beulah Elixir Shooting head for the Switch 6/7 starts 28’ and 335 grains. Add a 10’ Airflo Salmon/Steelhead Poly Leader or Rio VersiLeader, floating through fastest sinking option. These leaders will range from 35-95 grains, giving you a ready to fish system that falls between 370-430 grains. This will cover all of your down and across presentation situations from full floating lines to moderately weighted size #1/0 flies sunk deep in the water column.

Recommended Line List: Beulah Elixir 335, Rio AFS Outbound 6/7 F 400 grain (dry line standard 9’ tapered leader, can be cut back to accept full range of Poly leaders or up to 95 grain max. Rio T8 tips).
Skagit Shooting Heads: Just a hair over 2 x rod length will be the ticket for getting the groceries to the fish. These lines will excel casting moderate to heavy sink tips, large heavily weighted steelhead flies and large streamers when getting down and getting down quickly is essential to success. Sink Tips from 6-12’ and 80-120 grains will amaze with a properly chosen Skagit line/tip system.
Recommended Line List: Beulah Tonic 320, Scientific Anglers Skagit Spey Single Hand ST-6 (320 grains @ 22’, those who prefer a deeper rod load might look at the ST-7 360 @23’)

Specialty Line Tapers: These are recommendations for fly fisher’s who want a line more specific to overhead casting (single or two-hand), nymph fishing, and some Spey ability.
Recommended Line List: Rio Outbound 7 weight: 37.5’ Head makes a great overhead shooting line and close in control nymph line. Rio Steelhead/Atlantic Salmon 7 weight: 59’ head makes a terrific nymph line to run out long drifts with control. This is also an excellent overhead line for maximum distance casting. Try this line in an 8 weight if your style is turning over nymphs that make spark plugs seem light! Scientific Anglers Mastery Steelhead line 9 weight: This line is a long time classic of Scientific Anglers and maybe does not belong in the specialty line category, but this is another excellent choice for general overhead casting situations, nymph fishing and is probably the best of the bunch for cross-over Spey ability.

SR1066/7-4			Length: 10' 6" Line: #6/7 Pieces: 4

Trophy trout, Sea-runs, lighter Summer Steelhead rod. Has excellent spey fishing ability, and can throw Clouser's overhead beach fishing. This rod has a fuller flex, is excellent for roll and spey casting and moves a lot of line overhead casting with only a few false casts. Nymphing for Winter Steelhead on really small coastal streams good as well.
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
SR1066/7-4	Switch	6/7	Fast	Standard	$390

SR1067/8-4			Length: 10' 6" Line: #7/8 Pieces: 4

Good crossover Winter/Summer Steelhead rod for Spey or Nymphing. Excellent indicator and nymph fishing from boat or bank. Great for spey work. Would make a terrific dedicated everyday Deschutes river dry line Steelhead rod.
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
SR1067/8-4	Switch	7/8	Fast	Standard	$394

SR1068/9-4			Length: 10' 6" Line: #8/9 Pieces: 4

The first 10'6" Switch rod that can do the work of 12'6"-13'0" Spey rods. Legitimate Spey rod that has no problem with any wind, sink tip, and requires virtually no back-casting room. Also excellent for two hand surf casting.
Item	Series	Line Wt.	Action	Handle	Price	To Top
SR1068/9-4	Switch	8/9	Fast	Standard	$398

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1(800) 266-3971

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