Like all switch lines, you do not need to add any running line between the backing and the line, nor do you need to add any tips – simply add a leader and you are ready to nymph. Fish don’t know the difference and if/when I have a big issue with tackle, I buy new. Here we take a look at how swing weight directly effects your fishing, especially when you are holding your rod up high (to hold your line over faster currents in hopes of getting a perfect drift). We matched the IMX Pro up with one of our favorite trout switch and spey reels, the TFO 375. Here is the total length from the top of the fore handle grip to the bottom of the rear handle grip, including the reel seat. This is a rod that provides superior performance at a mid-price level. Fishing this rod is fun and it’s forgiving, although not nearly as poweful casting into the wind as the Sage ONE, G. Loomis IMX PRO, T&T DNA or Orvis Clearwater. Targeting Larger Trout, Steelhead, or Salmon? The results were worth their extra effort, and now anglers who are interested in getting into trout spey will appreciate this powerful, durable, and affordable rod. In the sun, the turkey feathers turn brilliant and iridescent, and look a different color depending on the angle you hold the rod. The rod's softer mid-section and increased length made the IMX-Pro both forgiving and powerful, a rare combo. No surprise here, it is a Winston after all. (If you can think of a better one please let me know!) NEW! The Beulah Onyx series blanks are finished in a dark smoke blue with blue wraps over ceramic stripper guides and chrome snake guides. Similar in feel and lightness to Beulah Onyx… Very light feel, I would never have guessed this was the longest rod in the test. For the trout switch rods, we chose Rio’s InTouch Switch, which at the time of the test, was the only switch line available in a size WF-5-F. What weight of tip (length and grains) was added to the Skagit lines for the Skagit casting tests? I personally own a couple 425’s that are now nearly 10 years old and they work just as well as they did a decade ago. And that really is bad news as there are not many of these available on eBay or Craig’s List. Rods like the Sage ONE, Beulah Onyx, IMX Pro, and Custom Fly works took top honors here. For the longer trout switch and spey rods that have heavier swing weights, the TFO 375 helps balance the rod in your hand, eliminating more strain on your forearm muscles, especially when swinging. $139.95, Rio Intouch Switch line WF-5-F ……………………….… $99.95, 100 yards 20 pound backing ………………………………… $9.95, Custom trout Switch leader ……….……………………….… $5.95. by James Anderson and the Yellowstone Angler. These are composed of stiff Maxima but sections, a longer “knotless section” for ease of changing your indicator depth, a size 10 or 12 owner micro swivel, followed by 2 feet of Trout Hunter 3X fluorocarbon tippet. Sweet Sixteen A Comparison of … As smooth as this rod felt, I wish it had a little more power for the Livingston wind. Free shipping on many items | Browse your favorite brands | affordable prices. These rods are designed to allow anglers to spey cast with lightweight two-handed rods for trout. Usual time 2-4 weeks. NEW! We still have a few red and gold reels left, but most of these are black. Thanks for taking the time to read this! We did some checking on the latest Fenwick warranty policy, and found that they have one of the best warranties we have found. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Trout switch rods are shorter, typically 10’6” – 11’ feet and are primarily designed for nymphing. The down-lock aluminum reel seat isn’t fancy but functions well with two locking rings. In this category, we rewarded rods that had extra power and solid accuracy when cast at longer distances. They will indeed, but it’s nice to treat yourself every now and then. We also weren't huge fans of the grip or the componentry on the Dually which is why it also received the lowest Fit & Finish score. That would be crazy stupid heavy and 50 grains past the window printed on the rod blank. If you would like to substitute a good but less expensive reel like the Einarsson 9 Plus at $732.00 or even the TFO 375 at $374.95, give us a call. – James Anderson and the rest of the Yellowstone Angler crew, Patagonia Foot Tractor Wading Boots – Felt (Built By Danner), Armstrong Spring Creek on the O’Hair Ranch, Sage ONE Trout Spey  12’6”#5 …………………………..…..$1,050.00, Einarsson Invictus  8/10…………………………………..…… $1,049.00, Airflow Skagit Scout 360 grain …………………………………… $59.99, Airflow Skagit FLO Tip Kit (T7-T18)………………………..… $120.99, 150 yards of SA floating braided PE mono……………………..$34.95, 200 yards 20 pound backing ……………………………………..…$19.99, YA custom handtied trout Spey leader ………………………….…$3.95, G.Loomis IMX Pro 11’11”#5  ….………………………………………..…. Makes more noise than mono or fly line coated running lines. It has been designed to provide you with practical features and it protects the fish from getting spooked by random light flashes. The Sage ONE Trout Spey blanks are finished in a jet-black color with matching black wraps over Fuji ceramic stripper guides and chrome snake guides. Orvis Clearwater 12’ 5-weight     $349.00. James Anderson with a Yellowstone brown caught by high sticking a switch rod. Lighter and smoother than the TFO DeerCreek, this rod is a fine performer especially when you consider the price tag. One of the amazing things about the Custom Flywerks rods (something you’ll also find on Meiser’s rods) are the colorful feather inlays located just above the cork handle. Logan Brown with a nice brown caught on the swing… Photo: The Axeman. Before measuring each two-handed trout rod, I would grab them with two hands and flex them back and forth a few times. It took a while to get the timing down with the 210 but I find it to be a great scandi rod with that weight. We figure this would be good to know if you are planning on packing your rod tube in your luggage or a longer spey carry on, like the ones made by Fishpond. The IMX-Pro is the longest rod in the shootout at nearly 12 feet. I was surprised how well some of the softer rods performed here when the wind wasn’t blowing, they were super smooth and effortless to cast once I slowed down and let the rod do the work. Thomas and Thomas and Custom Flywerks are in a class by themselves and really should have been award 11 points out of 10. NEW! The Airflow Scout 360 skagit line is the perfect match for the Orvis Clearwater 12’#5 in the hands of an experienced caster. The Good news is the Orvis H2 switch 11’ 5-weight is easily my favorite trout switch rod for nymph fishing (out of the boat or on foot). Last but not least we have a short but effective leader designed for excellent turnover and stealth. The aluminum down-lock reel seat isn’t fancy but functions well. These reels have never failed that I’ve heard of. The TFO 375 is burly and durable to boot. The Invictus has a lot of room for backing capacity – you’ll get about 200 yards of 20 pound backing. Switch rods, a cross of the two styles, are typically 10 to 12 feet long and feature a handle just large enough for two-handed casts as needed. The picture above illustrates a #5-weight rod combined with a #7/8-weight reel. Prone to tangles unless you stretch it well before every use. As the second longest rod in review, is still felt lively and light in your hand. The grip is also thicker than most, while the tiptop is a little bit smaller than we like. Having the ability to quickly change the depth your nymphs are being presented at is the key to catching more fish. St. Croix Imperial 11’ 5-weight   $300.00. Winston hand writes the serial number on each section, which is handy to know which section goes with which rod, (should you own other Winston TH micro spey rods). $35 handling fee, plus $75 for each broken section. Our favorite tips for either spey or trout spey are Airflow’s FLO tips. FLO tips simply work better and “hinge” less than other tips. Early spey rods were 22 feet long, but modern spey rods are typically only 12 to 15 feet and available in two, three, and four-piece models. Trout Spey is no different so we included a measure of price and rewarded the lower-priced rods for their value-based design. Mono, braided PE, and fly line. Dynamite Spey Rods For 20Fly Fishing Gink and Gasoline. Smooth Casting Feel – 20 points available. Popular Brands and models of Running Line, Scientific Anglers floating Braided PE 29 pound – $34.95, Scientific Anglers Floating Dragon Tail -$59.95, Scientific Anglers Monocore (coated mono) – $34.95. Anglers who prefer a softer action will really like this rod. The classy up-lock reel seat utilizes a black and blue carbon fiber style inlay with two solid lock rings to secure your reel tightly. All of the guides including the tip-top are the perfect size for trout spey. However, because these rods and lines are, largely, not designed for Scandi casting, we awarded fewer points to the Scandi category than we did to the Skagit category. This rod performs best when you slow down and let the rod do the work. It would be cool to see a manufacture make a packable 8-piece two-handed rod some day. When we originally tested this the Beulah Platinum 11’7″#5-weight it was $100 less at $495. In our opinion, the best line to learn with is a Skagit Scout, matched with one of Airflo’s 10′ FLOtips, followed by a short, 4′ leader – all of which you can read about below. Turnaround time is usually two weeks. I fish a 210 scandi on my 3wt Hydrogen. Now that the Orvis Helios 2 is no longer available, the DXF is the best trout switch rod on the market. For the trout switch rods, we used our hand tied trout switch leaders, that are built for nymphing. I love how this rod does the work for you and throws long bombs with minimal effort. It has a lot of power but also a wide sweet spot, which will be easy for beginners to hit. After having fly fished with a single-handed for years, learning how to cast and fish with a two-handed rod is like skiing your whole life, but then deciding to take up snow boarding. All of the trout spey rods here are 4-pieces, except for the TFO DeerCreek is a 5-piece rod. At 11’7” it felt more like a 10’ rod in my hands. We use a swivel over a tippet ring because it helps eliminate line twist, especially when stripping your fly back after you have completed your swing. The Trout Spey HD was the very best Scandi rod in the group AND received the highest distance score (tied with the IMX-Pro). In this column you’ll find the length of each company’s external rod tube. On the trout spey rods, we used the shop’s hand tied trout spey leaders. The Pulse has simple componentry and a classic cork handle for improved comfort on the water. As is tradition in our fly rod shootouts, we took every important measurement, performed all the tests, and included every objective performance stat we could dream up. The cork grip is different from other handles, using a conglomerate of worm cork rather than cork rings. Orvis Clearwater 12’#5  with Orvis Battenkill IV, backing & leader at cost>        <$55.82>. This rod’s fancy reel seat and cork detailing are as appealing as the Onyx’s smooth and effortless casting action. If you've cast the previous version of Echo Spey rods, they may have left you a bit disappointed. Some of the foregrips were much longer than others, and in our opinion a little too long for getting the maximum amount of power out of the rod. Used correctly, a trout spey rod will cast your line much further than you could ever cast a 9-foot rod while using less effort. When fishing a sink tip, a longer leader defeats the purpose of a sink tip. Each angler is different, and will have their own grip preferences. These tips have a thicker diameter and more mass than other tips, which translates to a smoother transition between your line and leader. In fact there is no reel that's in production that was in our original shootout. Some rods, like the G.Loomis IMX Pro and Winston TH Micro Spey felt best when holding the foregrip right at the top. 2. This is the perfect length for spey casts, insanely light for mending and high sticking your swing, and can seriously launch a fly. Photo: James Anderson. It will be difficult to find red or gold as these reels are now discontinued. 6. Orvis Hydros Fly Reels. If you get a tangle you can still cut it and re-tie it easily, although the blood knot will be larger than when tied with mono. 2020 marks the return of Greys to the United States. Scandi (10 Points) – Scandi is the second most popular style of Spey casting. The aluminum down-lock reel seat isn’t fancy but works well. If you're wondering why our line recommendations look different than the manufacturer line recommendations, read our article on Skagit vs Scandi Grain Weight here. Will the less expensive outfits also work well? With it you’ll feel like you have the best chance at swinging up a trout, and as we all know swinging up trout (or steelhead / salmon) requires confidence. (And they should)…. It can be intimidating and almost cult-like when you hear spey jargon for the first time like: skagit lines, scandi lines, double-spey, snap t, blown anchors, perry pokes, and other unfamiliar nomenclature. If you are really concerned with throwing larger streamers, then you may want to consider getting a regular 8-weight spey rod instead. For the largest fish caught on the Battenkill, you may want to “palm” the rim of the spool, which will add extra resistance to the reel’s drag. All you have to do is flick the reel handle quickly and let the 375’s smooth bearings do the work. Usual time 2-4 weeks. While most of the rods here handle a 360 grain Skagit Scout, the DeerCreek casts much better with a 390 gain, and can handle heavier FLO tips like T-14 or even T-18. I prefer rods that fold in half, so I can reel my fly to the tip, take the rod apart at the mid point, and fold it in half for easy lunch hour fishing trips or for fishing after work. Trout spey rods are longer in length, (typically 11’6”-12’6”) and are designed for “swinging flies” from the bank “spey style.” Unlike switch rods, (or most 9 foot rods), trout spey rods are designed with softer mid-sections, which make spey casting more effortless by allowing the rod to do the work. Price (10 Points) – In our past comparisons of ‘specialized’ rods (rods that may not be used every time you head out on the water), we thought it relevant to include a measure of value. Photo: Paul Bloch, (for Trout Switch Final Results please scroll down), 1. Trout Switch and Spey Shootout 17 Two-Handed Rods Reviewed by James Anderson and the Yellowstone Angler The new G.Loomis IMX Pro in use on the Yellowstone. In spots like this, with the proper spey cast, an angler can effectively throw 60-100 feet and beyond with ease. Steve’s reputation as master rod designer and line wizard are not only warranted but underestimated. Absolute line ripper. A nice Yellowstone brown caught on the swing. These leaders come with a perfection loop so you can easily loop the leader into the thinner end of the FLO tip. 1-406-222-7130. We matched all of our mid-priced outfits with a Temple fork Outfitters 375. Bottom Line:  The Pulse is ultra-fast and good for long distances and aggressive casting strokes. I really enjoyed fishing this rod in every condition that came up. Eric Reithmiller knows the benefits of a two-handed rod over a single-handed rod… Photo: Eric Paulson, Windy Paradise Valley, the perfect place for a trout spey rod…. The Dually blanks are finished in a deep matte burgundy color with matching thread wraps over chrome stripper and snake guides. These reels have a weird compressed o-ring system for securing the spool. You can choose from a variety of feathers, but my favorite is the turkey feather with a single plume of jungle cock. For anglers who are looking to be as smooth as possible while swinging their line, this softer and sensitive rod is a great choice. We set up each of the rods we were comparing with the same exact reel, line, running line, amount of backing, and leader. We tested 37 reels across 13 categories - including 3 all new categories! The Douglas DXF series has long since been a favorite of our since we saw how well it performed in our 5-weight shootouts. Paul Bloch with a nice Yellowstone buck caught on a Copper and Gold Kreelex, 2017 5-Weight Trout Switch and Spey Summary. Trident Fly Fishing is a full-service fly shop. Casts well in close, cast well at distance. Our focus is on reliability, ergonomics, details and beauty. Sage and the other big names make amazing single handers, which is their specialty, but I feel as if they lack in the two hand department. 2. Well, that changes with two-handed rods... more about that later. Perhaps one reason these rods feel heavier, is because St. Croix double coats the mid-modulus blanks with flex coat to make them more durable. I use a 210 Scandi head on mine and a 250 Skagit. These come with welded loops for easy loop-to-loop connections. Rods that were overly stiff with slower actions lost points too, where rods with more lively, energetic tips got awarded higher points. I have an Ebay Chinese Spey rod (13′, 8wt) with a Bass Pro reel (9-10wt) with an all-in price of about $150. General Casting Power – 20 points available. The cork handle shape and quality are both excellent for an inexpensive rod. Rod Reviews - Speypages Rods are what Spey casting is all about. As such, it’s also the heaviest. For me the 11’11”#5 is the perfect blend between stiffness and lightness, but if  you prefer a softer more full flexing trout spey rod, be sure to check out the #4-weight, which is amazingly smooth and even more effortless to cast. Castability in Wind – 20 points available. July 24, 2020 at 10:28 am. Low overall rod weight is important when casting all day, especially in Trout Spey, but the rod’s balance point is also really important. A winter Yellowstone brown caught on a two-handed rod…  Photo:  The Wizard, But I Like to Swing with a Switch Rod and Nymph with a Spey Rod…. The cork is excellent quality. Wow. $75 handling fee. Good news / bad news here. Produces nice tight loops and is good even when fishing into the wind. Older rods not under warranty cost $120 or more. Non-original owner $150 per section. For tips, we picked Airflow’s 10′ T10 FLO Tip. Below you will see our picks for the best performing trout switch and trout spey outfits, each matched perfectly with the lines and reels we feel work best for a particular price point. As far as running line goes, everyone has their own preferences and we can adjust to this when you order an outfit. The cork quality isn’t the best and has a lot of filler for a $400 plus dollar rod,  but the shape of the handle is nice. Great shootout. In the inexpensive category, we like the shorter Fenwick Aetos 11’1” better for nymph fishing purposes, as it is faster and has a lighter swing weight.