Lightweight Spey/Switch rods for trout.

[Alex Contino]

Recently, I replaced my 6wt 10' 10" Echo switch rod for a 4wt 10' 6" Echo switch rod. I lined it with a 7wt Royal Wulff Ambush line. I have been exploring new ways to fish for trout using two handed techniques.

 I am curious if anyone else is into this style of fly fishing.

Let me tell you, the forest is getting thick and with limited backcasting room everywhere, I am loving it. I was even able to roll out some fairly small dry flies... but mostly I have been fishing streamers and wet flies.

[Clyde Olson]

I started in 1995 with once a year trip to the PNW steelheading and long story short, although beginning with a 16'/10wt Sage Spey rod, now have transitioned to a pair of switch rods---a Meiser 4106 and an Anderson 3119(and with a shorter custon butt it morphs into a 3108).  I must admit I'm having difficulty finding water(trout) here in the SE to really utilize these rods, when I do, there is nothing to matich them.  And I'm not talking about just being able to cast into the next county with them.  More importantly, a switch rod will allow you to cast in situations where a SH just won't allow it--- with the comfort(read: ease) of using two hands and being able to get longer drifts  using the added mending ability of the longer rod.  They also nymph well, but I have just received an EchoPE Shadow 3106 to do this because the switcher held at arms length gets tiring after an hour or so.  But for swinging streamers and wets---and don't forget swinging #14/16 Princes and HEs---switch rods are really a lot of fun.  Would recommend getting Ed Ward's DVD on Skagit Casting to really help shorten one's learing curve.