beulah 5/6 switch: skagit setup for colorado?

[93cubuff]

Greetings. This is my first post, although I’ve been reading and learning as much as I can for some time.

I’m from Colorado and have a 5/6 Beulah Switch Rod (10'6") that I want to use for swinging streamers on some of my larger home waters (the Colorado, Gunnison and Roaring Fork). I currently have it set up with an elixir line, but feel like I’d have better luck with a skagit style line. The elixir is nice for un-weighted wet flies, but I’d like to throw a sink tip line to get sufficient depth on the swing (with larger weighted or un-weighted streamers), and it seems a skagit would be a better fit. (Am I crazy??)

I’ve read a little about the Rio “Skagit Shorts”, but can’t for the life of me figure which (if any) might work. They have 20 foot heads (which, if I understand the skagit “3 to 3 ½ formula”, is about right for my 10'6" rod if I add about a 15 foot sink tip). I also think they have an integrated running line.

I'm pretty sure the elixir line I was set up with has 295 grains. I think the Skagit Short Heads come in 275 gr., 325 gr. and larger. How does the weight of the sink tip come into the equation? Do I need a total of about 300 grains or is it different for skagit? Will any of these work?

Ideally, if anyone has a skagit set up for the 5/6 beulah switch, I’d love some guidance and input as to whether it works for what I’m trying to do.

Sorry, but I can’t find a single person in Colorado that knows anything about this.


Thanks in advance.

Dan

[Big Tuna]

I have the 5/6 w/ the elixir, as well. It works fine w/ lighter poly leaders and lightly weighted flies, but I also struggle to turn over larger streamers. Been thinking about a skagit set-up also. I wondered about the Airflo compact series. Anyone have experience w/ those?

[Jamey McLeod]

I fish the 4/5 for trout, mostly dry line work.

I have cast the 5/6 with the matching Elixer line briefly. I would find a skagit head of about 275 grains. I would also keep the overall head length to about 30ft. Maybe try some Rio T8. I would look at the body section of a 7/8/9 WC.

I have used some 5ft poly leaders on the end of an Airflo 40+ 7wt (on the 4/5). I recently went to a 6wt as the 7wt was dogging it out a tad, IMHO.

I know its not much, but hope it helps.

[MJC]

You might try a Beulah Tonic line. That is Beulah's skaj type line.

As to the Rio Skagit Short your assumptions seem to be on the mark.

Tuna, The Airflo Skagit Compacts will work in the smaller sizes when they become available.

The SA Single Hand Skagits will also fill the bill.

Get the Beulah 5/6 Tonic line/head from Poppy @ The Red Shed. I have ordered a few things from him recently and the service was great!

The Tonic is for heavy tips, bushy weighted flys. I like it because it still has a bit of taper to it and presents a bit softer which you may want for your location & Trout. Also you won't have to change your casting stroke much if your used to the Elixir. It would surely do what you want and be a out of box match for your rod.

I have the 6/7 Beulah Switch w) Elixir it handles through 10' fast sink poly and 1" copper fat back tubes flys just fine w) spey casts. Are you just fishing mono leaders? The sinking poly add mega diameter to the butt section compared to mono leaders which equals stronger turn over.

Best of luck

[nextcast]

I've spent a bit of time tuning Skagit heads to that rod. For a Skagit setup I feel the optimum is a bit heavier than with the Elixer line. I finally settled on a sweet spot of 338 grains for the belly with tips to 110 grains. A favorite rod building friend tried the line and liked it so much, I never saw it again.

We each have different tastes, but for an off the shelf setup, I think a 325 grain Rio Skagit Short (again with tips to about 110 grains) will come closest to meeting the needs you described. With luck the line you get will be a few grains over spec.

[SLSS]

I have a Meiser system 2 switch (grain window 150-350) that I use a RIO AFS head on. I wanted something a little beefier for streamers, and Bob suggested the SA single hand skagit. Poppy set me up with it and the Miralce Braid running line, and poly leaders. I love it. Still use both heads, just slightly different applications.

Rick

[HauntedByWaters]

The Tonic is an amazing line. I have the Beulah Switch 7/8 with its matching Tonic line and it can spey cast big tips and big flies waaaaaaaaay too far. If you can handle all those loops of line in your hand that is, such is the trouble with the short Skagit bellies and short rods.

Also, a thing to remember with the Beulah Switch rods is that a full line may be more to your liking for fishing tight spots. I say this because I believe you can just buy the belly lines for substantially less money but close quarters cast retrieve with that transition there can be annoying.

[93cubuff]

Thanks everyone. Lots of great information.

I've been in youch with Bruce at Beulah and it looks like I'll try the tonic.

take care.

Dan

[Big Tuna]

Poppy sent me the 6/7 tonic for this rod and I had a chance to try it out this weekend. I like it. I think Bert is spot on. I wanted to throw some weighted streamers and this is the ticket.