New stick

[wfocharlie]

Got a beulah classic 11'6'' 6/7 mini spey for smaller water and summer fish. Looking forward to giving it a test drive. Going to try to limit myself to 3 fly rods. We'll see how long that lasts. Mostly just posting to keep the flyfishing section from getting too rusty.

[Arctic]

You are gunna love that new matchstick!
I'd fish that thing for winters too! I have been loving the 7 wt for heaving large, lead eye tubes, or intruder style bugs... When the rod loads to the cork on the cast... You can carry a ton of energy thru the line! Making for some absolutely bitter distance. I rock a Burkheimer 1197 in the same length(basically), and weight... And I have to hold like 4 loops of line in my fingers to make sure I get enough line out before it snaps tight!

Let us know how it handles all your different presentations. Im interested to know how you like it for light duty work. Maybe with a full floater head on it?!

[Chedster]

Sweet, keep us posted how you like it. I have been eyeballing that stick lately. I have been stoked on my 7wt switch rod (baby spey rod) for everything from bull trout on the OP to 15 lb native steelhead. I can cast the smaller rods all day long and feel no fatigue at the end of the day.

What lines are you thinking for that rod?

[wfocharlie]

I have an old 480gr skagit that someone gave me. I cut 3ft off it so I have a 22ft 450gr. I'm going to try that and see how it goes. What are you using on your switch rod Chad?

Ian, what line are you using on yours? Sounds like you have your casting dialed.

[Arctic]

On the Burkheimer I use Rio's Skagit Flight head, and I run the MOW tips. It was a 26 foot, 575 gr. floating head, that I cut down to 16 feet, and it weighs in the neighborhood 430-460 gr.

[Chedster]

I have a Airflo skagit switch 450gr head on my 7wt switch rod. Sounds like your hybrid line should be right in the ballpark.

[lastcast]

Sweetness. I am planning on getting a scandi line this winter, then getting ready for some surface swinging action on the big D this fall.

[Arctic]

Why a Scandi for winter presentations if you dont mind me askin?

[wfocharlie]

Why a 16ft head Ian? If you don't mind me askin.:D

[wfocharlie]

Why a Scandi for winter presentations if you dont mind me askin?

Sounds like he is getting it this winter to maybe practice and get ready for the summer fishing.

[Arctic]

Sounds like he is getting it this winter to maybe practice and get ready for the summer fishing.

That makes sense I guess. Duh, Im remedial!


I dig the 16 foot head on my switch rod for the simple fact that it doesnt ever see medium, to large sized water. I pack the big stick for that. But the switch rod gets its use on rivers about the size of the Alsea, or way upper Nehalem. Thats as big as I go when Im carrying it. And I can stand in the bushes, and still put a cast out with a short head. No room to backcast, or form a nice loop... Shorten the head. I do it this way cuz I have issues with how shooting a big junction thru my guides works. On the big rod, I just strip the head partway into the guides if I feel like tightening up the loop.

[wfocharlie]

Went out and just casted the new rod yesterday. Its really nice. I thought I might struggle with timing since it a shorter faster rod and I only have experience with my 7wt 13 footer but the 11'6" 6/7wt loved my cut down custom skagit and I was able to cast a heavy sink tip and fly with no problem. It was really light feeling and just a quick flick sent the line blazing out there. Got a lamson guru for it. I'm ready to hammer some fish now.

[Chedster]

You're gonna love the short rod for a good all around stick. I fish my 11'3" 7wt as my go to stick and it's so much fun to fish, it's just effortless to shoot out casts all day long. I remember earlier this year on the Deschutes, my shoulder was sore after swinging my 13'er all day long. I can fish the shorter rod all day and feel no pain at the end of the day. I'm ready to hammer some fish to, just waiting for the rivers to cooperate.;)

[Arctic]

I fish a monster reel on almost all of my two hand outfits... I cannot stand fighting the tip off the water all day, so I balance the rod with big, wide, check drag reels from The Spey Co.. All brass, and steel. Heavy, but they help with fatigue believe it or not.