Which Switch

[prybis]

I am wanting to get a switch rod mainly for fishing Indiana waters with an occasional trip to Ohio. I would be interested in either a starter or mid range rod under $400. I am not even sure where to begin my search and all help is appreciated.

Mike P.

[FK]

I really like the TFO Deer Creek series.

My 11ft 7wt is balanced with a Airflo Scandi Compact 390gr and Rio Skagit Flight 475gr and any of the T-8, T-11 or T-14 tips.

Well within your budget and if you accidently break it,,,,,,, ship it back to manuf. with a check for $25 and the rod will be quickly repaired or replaced in less than one week.

Regards,
FK

[thegreatscout]

I agree on the TFO deer creek switch. I have the 5wt that I use for smallies. Great rod for the money. I would call the action moderate.
Rich

[Prosteel]

What kind of set up would you suggest for the PM and Mani? Mostly be fishing rivers the size of the PM but would like to swing on some bigger rivers as well. This is something i've been wanting to get into more and more through the last couple years. What kind of reels are your better choice as well, looking more for cermic drag washers not cork, want something to last and not warp. I have a few friends that suggested a few things and they all said a scandi line would be my best bet but don't know what weight to go with either 8 or 9? They all said scientific anglers was the best line for the job as well. Any help would be appreciated on a switch set up.

[thegreatscout]

Reels can be tuff. There are so many choices based on what you want to spend. For example you can spend anywhere from like $200-$1000 for a Hardy. My personal choice for spey reels would be the Spey Company. I have one of there click pawl reels that I love. They run around $400 for a completely machined reel made in the US. There is also Tibor, Lamson, TFO as well as many others that work fine in all price ranges. My first spey reel was a Tica 10/11(Chinese), it worked fine until I dropped it and bent the spool, I think it cost about $75-$100. You really need a reel that will balance the rod you are using it on. The best example would be that I have a Loop Yellow Line 9140 that my Spey Co reel is actually not heavy enought to keep the tip of the rod off the water. So I was looking on fleabay and saw a Smith & Wall Salmon reel(old made in the early 1900's) cheap. So I bought it. The thing is huge, it took 250 yards of backing, 50 yards of shooting line a skagit or scandi head as a tip to fill the reel up. But it balances the 14' rod nicely.
Tight Lines,
Rich

[shotgunner]

What kind of set up would you suggest for the PM and Mani? Mostly be fishing rivers the size of the PM but would like to swing on some bigger rivers as well.

I have a few friends that suggested a few things and they all said a scandi line would be my best bet but don't know what weight to go with either 8 or 9?

Always set your kit up for primary intent. Looking at swinging medium tribs like the Pere Marquette, I* would lean to rods of 10'6" to 11'6.. If I was certain of spending significant amount of time on bigger waters also [Manistee - Muskeegon, etc] a 12' - 12'6" rod would be BIG benefit, depending on how much room you'll have to swing one on the medium sz waters [high / low in the system] Ideally you get the switch and add another longer rod at some point to cover the larger waters rather than suffer a single rod comprimise.

Swinging for Steel on the Pere Marquette: Smaller COLD water.. pocket troughs on outside bends & short mid current pools.. You need a head that will turn over heavy tip and fly with limited D-loop room. Skagit heads are taylor made for this task.

Unsure where you got the idea that cork drags won't last and a prone to warp? I've fished quality cork drags round & round the calander for 15+ years and have never suffered a single problem.. A lot of it is marketing hype. There is such an abundance of quality reels available now, at varied price points, that it would be hard to go wrong. Do some research and get your hands on as many as possible, then buy. Go fish. Your the guy it's got to please so make an educated call rather than be sucked in by peanut gallery recommendations alone.. and wind up frustrated later.

7 or 8wt Switch rods are ball park for Steel.. a 9 would be overkill.

Good luck

*following content is personal subjective opinion.

[prybis]

I ended up ordering a Redington CPX 8113-4 switch rod with a Greys GRXI+ 9/11 reel. Got both on sale for under $400 so I think it was a good buy. Hopefully they will be here by the end of the week and I can get it lined and ready. Hope to catch my first steelhead on it this year.

Mike P.

[Prosteel]

Thanks for the feedback guys, looks like I'm goign to try and get my butt to the Spey fest and try a few set ups to find the one I think will load up best for me. Between research and talking to people I think I've narrowed my set up to an 11 1/2 ft 8 wt switch with a skagit line. Sounds like this will be best suited for the rivers I will be on most of the time. Just have to start looking for some good deals ... I look forward to swinging flies this winter...

Now comes some other ???? since I'm basically a newbe in this area, I mostly centerpin... As far as sink tips go is thier a chart that tells you sink rate for certain lines versus current speed, I know you can find out how fast a line sinks in calm water but that all changes in current. What would be the best way of determining this on the water, do a simple test of putting line in the water and count 5 secs or 10 secs and that gives you the rate of sink? Also do you want to feel your line tick bottom every now and then? I know from experience if my stuff aint in the zone it aint getting bit... And i know on those mich rivers how those steelies love to hug the bottom.

Thanks for any help

[markellis51]

I ended up ordering a Redington CPX 8113-4 switch rod...

I have that same rod and really like it, caught my first steelhead on it this spring. I will be interested in what line you buy... I had so much advice and read so much stuff my head was spinning. Finally bought a line but didn't try it for 6 months (buyers remorse). When I did try it I loved it! Now I need to work on my D loop...

[prybis]

I am not even sure what line to use. My head has been spinning since I started looking. I was thinking of getting Rio's AFS Spey Shooting Head Kit, the Skagit Versitip Fly lines or the Skagit Mow Tips Kit. Not really sure which to get. I do not usually fish for steelies but once or twice a year. I am open to suggestions.

Mike P.

[Prosteel]

It seems like redington may be one of the best choices for the beginner fly nut not wanting to break the $1,000 mark to get stated. I was looking at getting the 11' 3" Redington CPX 8113-4 or the CPX 1138-4, they look like one of the best rods for under $400 from all the field test reviews I read. I'm planning on matching it up with a Ross CLA but don't know wether to go with the size #5 or #4. What reel size do you guys think will balance out best? Also any feed back on which rod may be better, the reviews on both were about the same.

[prybis]

I ended up getting the Windcutter 8/9/10 line. I went out for the first time today and it cast good. With this being my first 2 handed rod I still have a lot of learning. Getting the timing down and making a tight loop will take some practice.

Mike P.

[MIriverrat]

I have to agree with Which switch, the process of finding a good switch rod is bigger than thought. I have narrowed it down to Beula or reddington-cpx, only now i have a westcoaster here to visit pushing Echo ? great considering I have no clue as to what im doing , and they all are good rods. any advice for the both of us. Im doing MI steelhead/salmon

[thegreatscout]

Sounds like you got your rod, reel and line. I would recommend that you attend the Speyfest in Newaygo on September 24th. Very cool event and it is basically free. It does cost $5 to get into the park, big whoop. I have been to the last 3 years and learn something new every year. There is free instruction, and you can try out gear from most of the major manufacturers. Plus they feed you lunch. You can get more info at http://www.greatlakesspeyshop.com/
Very cool event, hope to see you there.
Rich

[bombcast]

I picked up the Scott 11' 6" 8 weight last year - the thing's an absolute cannon. Good learning curve for me, but I love the thing.