Switch Rod Trout Set Up

[DH Drifter]

I have been researching this site and find the discussions and education fascinating.

I have decided to buy a switch rod for trout fishing in either 4 or 5 weight. I am looking at the TFO Deercreek 4weight 11ft rod. My question focuses on what set up do I go with in real world terms.

The rod will be used mostly for Nymphing with a fair amount of overhand casting with the addition of some SPEY when I learn to do it. I need an indie rig capable of throwing a medium to large sized Thingabobber and a dropper rig with a heavy #6 Stonefly some split shot, with a smaller dropper. I would also like to be able to throw dries (big salmon flies to smaller caddis) where the presentation is not necessarily delicate.

The river I fish is large (Deschutes River) and the Redsides are strong. I am looking for advice for line and weight recommendations. This will be a trout rod only as I will likely buy a more steelhead specific rod as if I decide to go after these fish. Will the 4 be enough to turn over this rig? What about Clousers in a lake for large cuts.

I was thinking of a the Rio AFS 4 for a floating line but could be talked out of it. It is recommended on the TFO site.

Sorry, but this is all new and the scandi, skagit, overhead/underhand talk has me spinning. Don't even get me started on grain weight

all help appreciated.

DH

[DutchDryfly]

You could also give the Elixer 295 a try.
It has a slightly shorter belly then the AFS.

[Coov]

I think for trout the 4 wt is the way to go. I have the 5 wt and use it for steelhead. It may be a little light for large steelhead but your average 7 pounder is no problem and a lot of fun. I use it for swinging as well as indicator nymphing. For swinging, I use an AFS 5/6. It is especially fun for skaters. My nymphing set up is a 7 wt weight forward trout line. I know another caster with the same rod uses an 8 wt weight forward line.

Last fall I was playing around with it and was pondering solutions to fishing small streams with a lot of overgrowth. I tried a compact skagit 325 grain and it worked great. I was able to toss fairly large MOALs using a five foot section of T-14. It made me wonder about using the compact skagit for nymphing so I cut floating tip for it. I was amazed at how well it would throw a medium large thingamabober with a heavily weighted stonefly nymph.

I have been tempted to get the 4 wt for trout fishing. The 11 feet would be outstanding for nymphing with or without an indicator and would be great for fishing still water from a pontoon boat.

[DH Drifter]

I appreciate the advice. Please keep it coming. Sounds to me like the 4 should handle any larger trout, but any Summers will give me a problem. I don't fish for them, but sometimes they don't realize I'm trouting

[flywaterguides]

I have a few switch rods for trout and steelhead, but I run skagit short and scandi compact. If I was to use it one handed I like to use outbound lines for beach and distance casting. For guiding with nymph rigs I run 10' rods but I have a few buddies that run switch rods and up size nymph and steelhead tapers.

If i were you i would use a SA Steelhead taper in a 6 wt. Have fun.

[ozswitch]

i have a 10'6" 4wt echo switch rod, it handles biggish flies no probs at all with a 275gr rio short skagit head and various tips, perhaps the wullf ambush line is worth a look as it has had rave reviews regarding switch rods and tossing a number of different rigs from nymph with shot to dry fly, or as mentioned above the sa steelhead taper im a 6-7wt if you buy a 4wt switch rod and want a full line as opposed to head and running line set ups, this is where i am heading toward, i am not a complete fan of clunky joins in heads etc, would much rather a continuous line with no joins

[BalticFlyFisher]

I also fish the Echo #4 switch for trout, well sea run browns to be exact and cast up to size #6 (slightly, with ball chain eyes) weighted flies with it. Like OZ I also use the RIO 275gr Skagit Short or the AirFlo 270g compact scandi ...

... the RIO gives me a larger fly-size window, and also cast very well into the wind. So perhaps if I was drilled to one line I would probably go for the RIO.

I haven't tried any "full" lines on my switchers yet, but RIO do an integrated-running-line version of the short skagits.

[kiser]

Good info here. I have the TFO 11' 4wt headed my way now....

This forum is great.

[flywaterguides]

Good luck Have fun

[Heli-fish]

I have the same rod.....give Bob Meiser a call about lines he makes for this rod, he designed the rod and can build a line for your intended use.

[FKrow]

Second vote for "RIO 275gr Skagit Short or the AirFlo 270g compact scandi".

For more delicate presentations the Airflo 40+ in 5wt or 6wt with longer leader is my choice on that rod.

Regards,
FK

[ozswitch]

another note worth thinking about is that light switch rods make small fish fun, even things that are a bit of a let down on other gear are fun on light switch hear, i got 'belted' by another bream today while trying to find migrating bass. It smacked a small guide fly tube in olive, in rough country they will try and stitch you in snags so you have to pull hard, puts a hefty bend in my echo 4wt. Fish was only about 32cm and fat for a bream. Good fun on light gear!