First time spey/switch fishing

[zoomin]

I picked up a Lomis 5wt 11 foot switch on clearance the other day. I have never done any spey casting before but I read some posts here and on other forums and thought it sounded like a good way to cast streamers and weighted nymphs on the river - particularly when there's little room to back cast.

Based on posts here the Beulah Elixir seems like a good place to start for a line - can anyone recommend the right weight for this rod?

Also need to get a reel - thinking Lamson ULA Force - last years models seem to be on sale everywhere as they have updated the design for 2011 - can anyone suggest what model to get in the Force to balance this rod - 2x, 3, 3x?

Thanks.

[SalaR]

I picked up a Lomis 5wt 11 foot switch on clearance the other day. I have never done any spey casting before but I read some posts here and on other forums and thought it sounded like a good way to cast streamers and weighted nymphs on the river - particularly when there's little room to back cast.

Based on posts here the Beulah Elixir seems like a good place to start for a line - can anyone recommend the right weight for this rod?

Also need to get a reel - thinking Lamson ULA Force - last years models seem to be on sale everywhere as they have updated the design for 2011 - can anyone suggest what model to get in the Force to balance this rod - 2x, 3, 3x?

Thanks.

Welcome to our madness..the Switch rod makes a great tool for this type of fishing...the fly fishers in Central North America and some in Mid-West have really dialed in the nymphing..here on the coast we have dialed in teh streamer fishing off the beaches and in local moving waters. The Elixir is Ideal for that rod...I would suggest either the 295grain or the 335 grain plus several poly tips to help you along the way...
Reels are another issue..the best size for this type of rod is a 9/10 size,it has to do with balancing and line capacity..what I might suggest to you is to change your wish list a bit and get a good running line that is looped,then get 2 heads for your set-up..One an Elixir head and the other a Tonic head...this way when you need to cast much bigger flies or want to fish much deeper you have the options at hand without having to change spools...
Have fun

C

[zoomin]

Thanks for the tips.

So it's the thickness of the spey running line that necessitates the larger capacity reel mostly?

If I was going to get *normal* line for it for overhand casting dries, would it be safe to go up a weight - WF-6?

[TieFlier]

Depending on how the rod handles you might even want to go one weight higher than that. I have an 8wt z-axis switch and I use a 9wt line on it when i cast overhead and it feels a little under powered. By this I mean that I have to have a fair bit of line out to load the rod and make a good cast. I think it would be a little happier with a 10 wt line. the 6 wt line you are suggesting will probably work but may not be an ideal fit. The ideal line will be one that fits your casting needs and style, and unfortunately that is something that you will have to figure out for yourself after using the rod for a little while. Have fun with your new rod! I absolutely love my switch!

[SalaR]

Thanks for the tips.

So it's the thickness of the spey running line that necessitates the larger capacity reel mostly?

If I was going to get *normal* line for it for overhand casting dries, would it be safe to go up a weight - WF-6?

NO,you don't quite understand...it is not only the thickness but more importantly the physical weight of the line's makeup. You wouldn't use a Volkswagen to carry a ton of Gravel!...sure you likely could but not a good idea! That Loomis rod is a serious stick,that is why the are changing the series...a line recommendation for that rod would likey be in a weight series of approx. ,as I earlier mentioned,295-335... a #6 single handed line is rated at about 175grains or so...as tieflier says,the # 9 single handed line is a bit light and rightly so...you could if you so choose use a #8 WF single handed line for simple overhead work..but why dick around! The idea of a Switch rod is an enhanced tool to broaden your possibilities with less effort and greater degrees of performance...
If you want to have some fun put a length of string on any small single hander you might have and try to cast it...you might have a bit of success but the first thing you will notice is the lack of weight and feel!
C

[btree]

pssst... just get the elixer as mentioned above!

Many people have converted to this line even for their single handed rods...

[zoomin]

does "serious stick" mean that it's a 5wt in name only?

Looking at the weight chart here:

http://www.flyfishusa.com/lines/choose-line-home.html

it looks like in order to watch with this rod I would need to be into a 10wt *regular* line - that's pretty crazy.

Maybe I got the wrong rod - i am looking to throw streamers and bead-heads to mid-size trout in rivers and streams.

Thanks again for the feedback.

[SalaR]

does "serious stick" mean that it's a 5wt in name only?

Looking at the weight chart here:

http://www.flyfishusa.com/lines/choose-line-home.html

Hello Zoomin...you seem to be Zoomin through this quite well...you have to consider that a TWO handed rod is rated differently than a ONE handed fly rod!Try picking up a car Battery with One hand and then pick it up with TWO..big difference! Unfortunately the powers that be have established some time ago the rating systems and have ca-fuffled the whole mess. Europeans have been long aware of this and use Grain/Grams to establish rod /line weight ratings,printed on some of their rods...a simple way to think of this is that One handed rods are different than Two handed rods..simple.
What I meant by "serious Stick" is the Lloomis's first attempts at Switch rods was somewhat off the mark?!! These rods were large heavy brutes that needed to be cast with 2 hands...their newer models are somewhat better and I am sure that the One you have is likely discontinued to allow for their newer models perhaps in the NRX series...I will see these in a couple of weeks if they are released.
So,keep it simple and don't re-invent the wheel...get a good rod/line match and go fishing!
C

it looks like in order to watch with this rod I would need to be into a 10wt *regular* line - that's pretty crazy.

Maybe I got the wrong rod - i am looking to throw streamers and bead-heads to mid-size trout in rivers and streams.

Thanks again for the feedback.

Don't worry .you will cast Streamers and bead heads like you have never cast before!
Some of my reply is within the Quoted section...technology!

[Troutman Clay]

Ill second the elixer lines, I have one for my single hander and I love it, especially when Im doing a lot of roll casts its great and will chuck everything I have in my box form steelhead popsicles to big bass flies so its great

[zoomin]

So,keep it simple and don't re-invent the wheel...get a good rod/line match and go fishing!

That's the problem - there is no fishing up here right now unless you like ice-fishing - I do not.

I don't know of any place within 2 hours of here (Kamloops) where i can cast a line in running water and have at least a small chance at catching a trout or any size - if anyone does, please let me know!

So I get internet educated (now there's an oxymoron for you) and buy all sorts of stuff I might not need, and look forward to May 1