Switch Rods

[Celtic Angler]

Has anyone had some experience using a "Switch Rod"? I have been reading about them in some of the overseas fishing mags and websites but haven't heard much about them in SA.

Apparently they are designed for both single-handed and double-handed casting depending on your need at the time. They can even be used for spey casting and are apparently also good for use on a boat on still-water where you may need to change tactics but don't want to have to change rods.

I make an annual trip to the north of Scotland where I do some typical loch fishing for brown trout, sea trout and also salmon. A switch rod (about 11 foot length / 7 weight) sounds ideal for this purpose. I expect they may also be useful for local fresh and possibly salt water fly fishing. Does anyone know if they are available in SA? Any help or guidance would be appreciated.

[fly_mike]

Hi, I see stealth has just released their own switch rod. I saw it being advertised in this month's fly fishing mags.

It's not up on the stealth website yet. No idea price either.

[Michael]

I've got zero experience with switch rods...but I think it's not that popular in S.A. as we don't have a huge need for spey-type fishing here. (So no need for a rod that can cast spey style).

There are a lot of switch rod blanks available in the States...most are 10'8" in length, 4 piece...so you can always have it built up. The blanks are around $ 95.00 or so, so not bad.

I've seen the Stealth ads about switch Rods...no idea on price, but I bet the prices would be quite attractive too...so it may be a great place to start. Maybe phone them and ask which dealers in your area has them, and go check them out. I see they do them in 3wt right up to 12 weight, lengths between 10' and 12'.
Imagine a 3wt, 12 foot rod...that will be interesting...

[Ryan]

Hmmmm... well, well... What I think! A rod that does it all...... ''Jack of all trades, master of none''.. That saying sums it up for me!

Once again, not for me.... money making idea/con... We entitled to our opinions and that's mine... Just like Tenkara fishing! Not for me.. Fly fishing shops roping people into ideas.. BUT as mentioned earlier.. opions! Everybody has one..

No need for Spey fishing here in SA, and as for Tenkara...what a waist of money....just not fly fishing!

[chris williams]

Switch rods - I do have some experience of using them (or their antecedents) both in saltwater and fresh in various continents. In fact I am having a specialised one (11'/7wt) made up for me locally primarily for estuary fishing, doubling up for some heavy-duty freshwater purposes including fishing big dams with lots of wind/turbulence. Remember the name is 'Switch' - which as it implies does not restrict it to single or double handed casting - you use it for the appropriate conditions. Being lightweight rods, you can chuck a deceny double-handed cast, yet retrieve single-handedly with attendant more sensitivity.When you've lots of standard type rods, a Switch gives a bit of Vooma as well as nostalgia along with control over distance for an old frat like me. I've caught Aussie salmon and tailor on double-handed Spey rods (heavier version of the current Switch rods - bot we could retrieve them on 'single-handed' style) thirty years ago in the Victorian and NSW surf. Did't do much for the split-cane between the cracks on the rod varnish, but it did work wonders for my fragile ego!
I would'nt pooh-pooh these as trendy one-night wonders. In the right place (often a broad river) and right time they will probably put the fisher into fish and holding spots otherwise inaccessible by standard single-handed gear. For someone starting out flyfishing personally I'd recommend rathe rhandle the basic rod weights single-handed before progressing on to Switch rods for their specialised applications. Unless of course you are lucky enough to live next to a large river (including Vaal LM's?..)/dam or sheltered beach with the right conditions.

Celtic Man (not Rangers?..), please send me a PM in case I can try help further from my experience ?

Cheers,
Chris

[schloshd1]

Switch rods - I do have some experience of using them (or their antecedents) both in saltwater and fresh in various continents. In fact I am having a specialised one (11'/7wt) made up for me locally primarily for estuary fishing, doubling up for some heavy-duty freshwater purposes including fishing big dams with lots of wind/turbulence. Remember the name is 'Switch' - which as it implies does not restrict it to single or double handed casting - you use it for the appropriate conditions. Being lightweight rods, you can chuck a deceny double-handed cast, yet retrieve single-handedly with attendant more sensitivity.When you've lots of standard type rods, a Switch gives a bit of Vooma as well as nostalgia along with control over distance for an old frat like me. I've caught Aussie salmon and tailor on double-handed Spey rods (heavier version of the current Switch rods - bot we could retrieve them on 'single-handed' style) thirty years ago in the Victorian and NSW surf. Did't do much for the split-cane between the cracks on the rod varnish, but it did work wonders for my fragile ego!
I would'nt pooh-pooh these as trendy one-night wonders. In the right place (often a broad river) and right time they will probably put the fisher into fish and holding spots otherwise inaccessible by standard single-handed gear. For someone starting out flyfishing personally I'd recommend rathe rhandle the basic rod weights single-handed before progressing on to Switch rods for their specialised applications. Unless of course you are lucky enough to live next to a large river (including Vaal LM's?..)/dam or sheltered beach with the right conditions.

Celtic Man (not Rangers?..), please send me a PM in case I can try help further from my experience ?

Cheers,
Chris

Nice answer Chris but Ryan has already confirmed that these rods are a money making con and I am sure that he is speaking from years of first hand experience

[chris williams]

May I send Ryan's address to the multi-millionaires who recommended Switch rods to me so that their bouncers can go along to his house and personally demonstrate the rod's outreach - or insertive depth?

I do however agree with Ryan on Tenkara. I'm sure along with myself, many others in formative years were fishing rudimentary Tenkara-style with a length of bamboo and a piece of string. All this without the prior benefit of DVD's, trendy/pricey flyshop advice and Western culture's belated awareness that there are indeed pocket of flyfishing civilisation in other continents other than Europe.

PS anyone tried Switch casting with Tenkara tackle on a medium-sized stream?

[Ryan]

I do however agree with Ryan on Tenkara. I'm sure along with myself, many others in formative years were fishing rudimentary Tenkara-style with a length of bamboo and a piece of string.

As I said we all have opinions... Tenkara for me is not fly fishing at all... You summed it up Chris... 1 x stick & 1 x string..

As for switch rods, will there is a bit of value in that I suppose..As Schloss sarcastically mentioned, I have no experience with them.. perhaps my opinion would change some day, but for now I'm happy using my simple fly rod..

[chris williams]

Ryan,

You're spot-on, I reckon Switch rods for specific applications certainly for me anyways. Possibly Tenkara for those who look forward to experimenting with that traditional style in the right surrounds.

Meantime I will probably fish 95% of the time with my stock/standard stuff such as 10'/5wt for the Vaal and 9'/4wt for smaller streams. Then the extremes from the one end heavy rivers/estuaries/beaches down to the smaller end of the scale using little jobbies for mountain streams as/where appropriate.

PS 100 pct of these will be using reels..

[poppernel]

As I said we all have opinions... Tenkara for me is not fly fishing at all... You summed it up Chris... 1 x stick & 1 x string..

As for switch rods, will there is a bit of value in that I suppose..As Schloss sarcastically mentioned, I have no experience with them.. perhaps my opinion would change some day, but for now I'm happy using my simple fly rod..

You guys are getting testy.
WELL!! THINK HOW F@CKING TESTY I MUST BE AFTER SUCH A LONG DROUGHT, sorry!!! must be lossing it, F@CKING GOT THAT RIGHT, so whats the problem here, can I help. NO SHIT CHIRPS FROM SHAMMERS O.K!!!!

DAVE