Finding the Alpha Line Set up for my Meiser 5/6 10'6" switch rod

[Grampa Spey]

I have had this great rod for 6 years and caught a lot of fish in hostile casting situations. It worked fairly well with the Rio Skagit 350 and Rio 4/5 AFS Head and a variety of 7-8 wt one handed lines. It did great with Rio's OB 10 wt lines where I could overhead/underhand cast with at least 40-50' of clearance behind me. Bob Pauli, one day could have used this rod and the Rio OB 10 wt to hunt small game on the other side of the Russian River or cut the weeds on the other side.

So I sent the rod back to Bob Meiser for tuneup, (rod and handle look new after the tune up), and I asked Bob to have Steve Godshall do a flex test and the two of them recommend a line for it.

Steve flex tested the line and recommended their new SGS head 5 wt with a 27' head at 310 grains.

I bought the package with the SGS Mendmaster Tapered Running/Shooting line, A Skagit Floating Tip, a selection of Snowbee 10' Poly Leaders and a set of their new Grey Zink Tips.

I have tried the new combo on the grass two times with the SGS Mendmaster Tapered Running/Shooting line, and their Skagit floating tip and the Snowbee 10' Poly leaders, and a Rio 10' Spey Versi floating leader. I used a size 4 Deceiver with the back of the hook removed, connected to 3' of Rio FC 10# tippet.

All of the above worked great with overhand/underhand, ZCasts and most important the Perry Poke for use in situations with brush behind the caster.
Also, I could roll cast and shoot up 2+ rod lengths of running line.

The Double Spey like with my other switch rods was not impressive, but I could cast 2 rod lengths of running line.

To replicate casting from a boat or drift boat, I sat in a small folding lawn chair and the rod handled the overhand/underhand, Perry Pokes and roll cast basically as well as when I was standing.

If you own a Meiser Switch rod and would like to maximize it, contact Bob and send it in for a tune up by Bob and flex testing by Steve. Then buy what they recommend.

I'm sure that Bob and Steve can match other switch rods to the best line matchup.

Last but not least Bob's Green shooting head wallet for heads, tips and leaders, besides being great looking, may be the easiest to fill, hold and retrieve your collection of heads, leaders/tip for each rod. I will probably be buying one for each rod @ $9.95.

[Grampa Spey]

Well the line was in the water not Grampa, due to low water levels and basically hostile anti wading/casting situations.

I used my Rio 10' Spey Versi Leader with 3' of tippet with a variety of flies from size 20 to size 4 with the new line.

In spite of really bad casting situations, the new line worked well with the variety of flies and different casting styles.

[ibboone]

Thanks Grampa,for sharing your experience with us.
I also have a 5 wt switch rod and found your advice useful.


Dan

[sickb4st4rd]

Originally Posted by Grampa Spey

the new line worked well with the variety of flies and different casting styles.

I just got the Scandit Kit from RB Meiser for a TFO 11' 9wt switch and it casts wonderfully, I just cast it for 10 hrs straight on the SR NY using a few different tips and fly sizes. A perfect matchup and very versatile kit, highly recommended!

[Grampa Spey]

Originally Posted by sickb4st4rd

I just got the Scandit Kit from RB Meiser for a TFO 11' 9wt switch and it casts wonderfully, I just cast it for 10 hrs straight on the SR NY using a few different tips and fly sizes. A perfect matchup and very versatile kit, highly recommended!

Bob and Steve have taken a lot of the misery and mystery out of matching the Switch Rods with the correct line.

I'm impressed that anyone can cast any rod/combo for 10 hours straight.