Regular fly line on switch rod

[jimmiemac]

I recently purchased a Wildwater 11 foot 7/8 switch rod. I ahve a new Wulff Ambush 6 wt line that I plan to use on the new rod. Any suggestions as to this idea or suggested lines for this rod. Most of my fishing is nymphing on local Ohio and PA river for steelhead. Thanks in advance.

[Possum]

I'll repeat my PM for others. You will find that line too light for that rod. the 6 wt line is in the 150-160 grain weight window. If you are doing overhead cast or roll cast the line will work. But you will be happier with something in the upper 400's. This will let you feel the rod loading which will make spey casting easier for the newbie to spey casting.

For the casting you will be doing you may like a skagit around 500 grain.

Possum

[JR SPEY]

I know of no rod that has a grain window from 150-500grains. I don't know that particular rod series, but the first thing I'd do is contact the maker and find out what the grain window is for the rod. If, for some reason, that information is not known, at least find out if the 7/8 designation for the rod is for single-handed or double-handed use. In any case, a 6 weight line is very unlikely to load any rod marked 7/8 adequately enough to be pleasing to cast. It could be fished that way, but I doubt you'd be happy. If the rod turns out to be a 7/8 in single-handed terms, then an Ambush or other SH line in an 8 weight would probably work best. If the rod is a 7/8 in DH terms, then Scandi heads in the upper 300gr range or Skagit heads closer to 400gr or more will likely work quite well. One can spend a lot of money on lines before determining what will work when we're talking a range of 350gr as stated in my first sentence. Either contact the maker or find someone who owns the same rod, or something very similar, and find out what he/she found that works.

[Possum]

I know of no rod that has a grain window from 150-500grains.

If your going to overhead cast you can get way with a grain weight way lower than the rod. With the overhead cast the float, shot and flies will add to the grain weight to load the rod.

Possum

[TFO]

Jimmiemac,

The line recommendations from the manufacturer for the 7/8 switch rod you have are: shooting head - 340gr to 380 gr, short belly - 510gr to 550gr, mid belly - 550gr to590gr. If you are primarily going to use your outfit to nymph/indi-fish with I would go with 35' to40' shooting head because most nymph fishing is done close-in and you still have the option of long casts and swinging flies if you find the need on some larger systems. Using the manufactures guidelines for a shooting head I would try and find a line in the 350gr to 400gr range. Try and borrow some lines to try in that grain window to see what feels comfortable with your casting style.

TFO