Skip to main content

Gearing up for Winter: The Essential Switch Rod

Gearing up for Winter: The Essential Switch Rod
Switch rods are here to stay.

When switch rods first appeared, lots of media attention hyped up the rods' ability to cast with Spey and overhead techniques. To the casual rod buyer, that seemed to be the reason to buy a switch rod: you could cast where backcast room was limited, and also open up with a big double-haul where the bank allowed such casts. Nobody mentioned that most any two-handed rod will allow the same "switch" in casting style.

Then switch rods became the tool of choice for indicator fisherman, especially those switch rods with fast progressive tapers not unlike the most popular single-handed rods. The longer reach of the switch rod allowed better control and hook-setting abilities, and the extended handle allowed tight little stack mends to be sent a long way. Most guys I knew then were fishing double-taper lines two sizes bigger than the rod recommended, and they were covering water a long way out.

Meanwhile, the collective opinion of those anglers who swung flies exclusively seemed to be sliding toward a complete discounting of the switch rod. Guys I knew were talking about switch rods as all hype and no soul.

Personally, I've been swinging flies with switch rods going on ten years now, and they've become a staple of my quiver, more so every year. I've come to believe a switch rod is an essential tool for fishing small to medium-sized rivers, for fishing heavily wooded banks with overhanging limbs that don't allow clearance for a longer rod, and for fishing those high water days on bigger rivers when the swinging water shrinks to only a few feet off the bank.

Switch rods are here to stay.

What has allowed the switch rod to come into its own is part rod design and part line design.

More rod builders are moving away from the single-handed taper of so many of the early switch rods in lieu of a taper more like a two-handed rod. Naturally, the casting of switch rods has become effortless and graceful. Also, anglers have realized that by trimming down conventional Skagit heads to match the shorter rod, they can create a powerful pocket canon. Now Airflo is offering a Skagit head built for switch rods--which is an excellent head, by the way.

For those anglers hoping to swing weighted flies this winter, I recommend finding a switch rod that will cast a 450 grain or bigger Skagit head. If you want to throw some real heavy junk and a heavy tip, step up to a rod that throw a 550 grain head.  

A long rod is a necessary tool, but it can be detriment on some runs and during some water conditions. A switch rod will allow you to reach fish you otherwise would have missed.




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
Destinations/Species

A Classic Pennsylvania Sulphur Hatch

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

André Brun Demonstrates the Backhand Snake Roll Fly Cast

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
Fly Tying

Tim Cammisa

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: Bakko's Phat Azz Hopper

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...

Ed Jaworowski's Fly Casting Video Series, Video 3: Critical Angle

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

Nymphing Is A Drag

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
Fly Tying

Blane Chocklett: fly-tying innovator & guide, reveals new flies & relationship with Lefty and ASGA

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
News

Jay Nichols

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski, a lifetime of studying the physics of fly casting

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

Ed Jaworowski's Functional Fly Casting Part 2: Rotation & Leverage

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: Max's Mess Maker (MMM)

Lefty Kreh wasn't just the greatest fisherman of all time, he was a mentor to generations of experts, he influenced the ...
News

Lefty: The Greatest of All Time

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use