Natefeeshes884
Freshly Spawned
Hello, hope everyone is having a great Saturday.
Im hoping to receive some advice about switch rods, specifically about their potential as both a beach fishing rod and a stream fishing rod.
To preface, I have a solid foundation of single hand fly fishing knowledge and have a healthy collection of rods ranging from 4-7wt. I fish for basically all salmonoid species found on Vancouver Island.
However, I have barely scratched the surface of the two handed rod world and im looking for advice so I dont throw my paycheque down the drain buying less than ideal equipment.
I have recently been looking at a Beulah G2 Opal Switch surf rod in either 5/6wt or 7/8wt as the prospect of punching out casts with relative ease is appealing and I find shoulder soreness a burden on multi day trips. More than anything I am simply intrigued by two handed fly rods and I am interested in adding more tools to the toolbox per se. I currently run a single hand 10’ 7wt for beach fishing pinks and coho + nymphing/ swinging for steelhead (really just an all purpose salmon/steelhead rig). I also gravitate towards a 9’ 6wt for beach fishing SRC and pretty much all other trout fishing.
With all that out of the way my main questions that im struggling with are the following:
1. Would a switch rod provide a significant benefit to surf casting over a single hand rod (achieve more distance with less effort?). Is it worth springing for a two handed surf rod or would it just be optimal to stick with the one hander?
2. Would the Beulah rod I mentioned above or a similar switch rod also preform well for swinging flies in streams? I am fully aware that a proper full spey setup is optimal but im only looking at purchasing one rod at the moment and I would like the primary function of this rod to be surf casting - more on this in the last question.
3. I am leaning towards pulling the trigger on the 5/6wt switch rod as I am under the impression that it can handle coho + steelhead- but I could also use the rod to fish for SRC in a pinch. To my understanding a 5/6 switch is a fair bit more powerful than a 5/6 single hand rod, not to mention the Beulah is a faster action which probably gives it a bit more butt section. The one review I have found on the rod makes it sound like the 5/6wt is right in the pocket for coho/ steelhead but I am also weary of reviews posted on the manufacturers website… Im wondering if this might be a little too much wishful thinking and im really just hamstringing myself on both fronts with a less-than-ideal setup for salmon and trout when I should be looking at the 7/8 for salmon/steelhead and going with lighter rods for trout.
Essentially this boils down to, should I just stick with the single hand rods for beach fishing and forget about switch rods- maybe look into a spey rod down the road
OR
Spring for the switch rod and use it to beach fish/ swing flies on streams. If this is the case would the 5/6wt be just fine or jump up to the 7/8wt?
Apologies for the long winded question. Any info/ advice/ opinions is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Nate
Im hoping to receive some advice about switch rods, specifically about their potential as both a beach fishing rod and a stream fishing rod.
To preface, I have a solid foundation of single hand fly fishing knowledge and have a healthy collection of rods ranging from 4-7wt. I fish for basically all salmonoid species found on Vancouver Island.
However, I have barely scratched the surface of the two handed rod world and im looking for advice so I dont throw my paycheque down the drain buying less than ideal equipment.
I have recently been looking at a Beulah G2 Opal Switch surf rod in either 5/6wt or 7/8wt as the prospect of punching out casts with relative ease is appealing and I find shoulder soreness a burden on multi day trips. More than anything I am simply intrigued by two handed fly rods and I am interested in adding more tools to the toolbox per se. I currently run a single hand 10’ 7wt for beach fishing pinks and coho + nymphing/ swinging for steelhead (really just an all purpose salmon/steelhead rig). I also gravitate towards a 9’ 6wt for beach fishing SRC and pretty much all other trout fishing.
With all that out of the way my main questions that im struggling with are the following:
1. Would a switch rod provide a significant benefit to surf casting over a single hand rod (achieve more distance with less effort?). Is it worth springing for a two handed surf rod or would it just be optimal to stick with the one hander?
2. Would the Beulah rod I mentioned above or a similar switch rod also preform well for swinging flies in streams? I am fully aware that a proper full spey setup is optimal but im only looking at purchasing one rod at the moment and I would like the primary function of this rod to be surf casting - more on this in the last question.
3. I am leaning towards pulling the trigger on the 5/6wt switch rod as I am under the impression that it can handle coho + steelhead- but I could also use the rod to fish for SRC in a pinch. To my understanding a 5/6 switch is a fair bit more powerful than a 5/6 single hand rod, not to mention the Beulah is a faster action which probably gives it a bit more butt section. The one review I have found on the rod makes it sound like the 5/6wt is right in the pocket for coho/ steelhead but I am also weary of reviews posted on the manufacturers website… Im wondering if this might be a little too much wishful thinking and im really just hamstringing myself on both fronts with a less-than-ideal setup for salmon and trout when I should be looking at the 7/8 for salmon/steelhead and going with lighter rods for trout.
Essentially this boils down to, should I just stick with the single hand rods for beach fishing and forget about switch rods- maybe look into a spey rod down the road
OR
Spring for the switch rod and use it to beach fish/ swing flies on streams. If this is the case would the 5/6wt be just fine or jump up to the 7/8wt?
Apologies for the long winded question. Any info/ advice/ opinions is greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Nate