11' 7wt Switch
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Pink Nighty
Legend
Hmmmmm..... personally I like 10ft tips on shorter rods, 15ft with even a 20 foot skagit head is already over 3x the rod length without leader. Been searching for similar things with my 10'8 8wt. The shortest, heaviest skagit heads i found were here, and actually I just ordered the 20' 470g for my needs because that's a new level of density I haven't tried yet. Also saw a 20' 550g which is crazy heavy, maybe grab that and chop it back a bit to like 16-17?
downriver79
Steelhead
If I were going to go longer than 10' on a switch rod, I'd look at using a Commando head paired with 12' sink tips.
This is a $110 off brand rod that I bought to take down to Pyramid Lake next winter. Most of the casting will be overhead. I do not want to use a 30' sinking line as seen in some videos but would rather use a skagit setup. And trust me, I'll have no trouble getting it to spey cast if that's what I want to do. I'm just looking for a grain window for 11' 7wt switch rods.
I've usually used poly leaders on my switch rods. I'm sure a 5' to 7' sinking would work fine.. longer if you're trying to get it down deeper or just a fulll sinking line. Not sure on the grain weight for tips for this specific rod though! I'll ask a few next Sunday at our monthly spey meeting at Ben Howard! You're welcome to join us if you like. 930am ish at Ben Howard! Cheers!
Most 7wt switch rods I've tried have responded well to lines in the 400 - 490gr range. It will depend on how long the line is and the taper. One example is the 11' 7wt TFO Deer Creek, it does really well with a 450gr Skagit line and T10 tips up to 12'.
As others have mentioned, I don't typically throw long tips on a switch rod. But if you're overhanding it and the tip isn't too heavy for the Skagit line you should be fine with 15'.
As others have mentioned, I don't typically throw long tips on a switch rod. But if you're overhanding it and the tip isn't too heavy for the Skagit line you should be fine with 15'.
I'm curious, why are you set on a skagit type of setup for OH casting?
Man, if I were doing that, I'd be looking more closely at something like an Outbound OBS or Cortland Compact (my favorite) in int....those are just going to fish better in general IME. Skagit/tip setup would be the last thing I'd be looking at for OH casting with THer or SHer.
Are you after something that will do a little bit of everything?
For grain weight, personally, I've always been inclined to go less than what the rec's are for waterborne anchor casting when it comes to my SH rods (same if I ever did TH OH casting).
Man, if I were doing that, I'd be looking more closely at something like an Outbound OBS or Cortland Compact (my favorite) in int....those are just going to fish better in general IME. Skagit/tip setup would be the last thing I'd be looking at for OH casting with THer or SHer.
Are you after something that will do a little bit of everything?
For grain weight, personally, I've always been inclined to go less than what the rec's are for waterborne anchor casting when it comes to my SH rods (same if I ever did TH OH casting).
DKL
Steelhead
Well if your standing on a ladder, than disregard my tip length concerns.
Pink Nighty
Legend
You don't have to church it up, we pronounce it @clarkman round here
So...Before two handers we built shooting lines for our rods. For example, to build one for a 7wt I would get a 10' section of DT9, splice one end into some Jim Teeny running line and loop the other end for attaching 10' or 12' sink tips. The advantage was a shorter line that you could cast a country mile with a single, double haul, shortened back cast.
If the line configuration looks a little familiar that's because the line is a miniature skagit line. In fact I believe these are now called SH Skagits.
I'll be taking one of these shooting lines for my 8100 RPL but I want to play with the switch and overhead casting it.
Looking at those Outbound lines I'm liking the 30' multi density heads. Multi density is something I hadn't considered when dismissing a 30' sinker. By looking at the SA chart for Cabelas and Redington rods it would appear that the Outbound 9wt should work. If not you can pick it up at the swap and shop next year.
For those who are curious, here's the rod:
7 weight Switch Fly Rod, 11ft | 4 Piece | Wild Water Fly FishingDefault Title
Find out what two handed fly fishing is all about! This 4 piece, 11 foot fly rod is designed for 7 weight line. Catch large freshwater and saltwater fish with this versatile fly rod. Includes rod sock. Shop for high quality, affordable fly fishing supplies today at Wild Water Fly Fishing.
wildwaterflyfishing.com
Ah, gotcha. Lines have come a long way since those old days of trying to create your own (or even those basic Teeny lines). SA Titan has some really sweet triple density lines as well. A touch longer than OBS and most others at ~33', but they'll last longer than anything made by Rio. I think I've seen some Airflo ones too, but haven't fished any of their triple density lines.
Paige
Wishing I was fishing the Sauk
I have a Redington Chromer 11'6" 7wt switch. For Skagit I use a OPST Commando in 400gr. And 10' tips, both floating and sinking.
I can overhead it a country mile, but it's a bit clunky. I also have the Rio In touch Switch (not the Switch Chucker) line in 460gr. It's a longer belly head that most guy use to fish bobbers and beads. I like it for skating since it can be mended.
I had a Rage head in 420gr that did great overhead as well. I would think a SA Titan or even Long Titan in 9 or 10wt would launch pretty well on a 11' 7wt switch.
I can overhead it a country mile, but it's a bit clunky. I also have the Rio In touch Switch (not the Switch Chucker) line in 460gr. It's a longer belly head that most guy use to fish bobbers and beads. I like it for skating since it can be mended.
I had a Rage head in 420gr that did great overhead as well. I would think a SA Titan or even Long Titan in 9 or 10wt would launch pretty well on a 11' 7wt switch.
A reminder to those who haven’t fished Pyramid, fish will follow right to foot of ladder at times. Fly club member who fishes pyramid 200 days a year says not unusual to catch them at foot of his ladder.
