Bottom line is ... Over the years the guys that use switch rods to their maximum potential now fully realize
that the diversity of their applications are only limited to their own personal casting and fishing creativity,
and that the knowledge of casting basics married with correctly balanced line systems will dertermine full
delivery capabilties with these rods.
A switch rod in the 10'6" o 11'0' length with the grain carrying capability of 400 to 650 grains should be
able to perform the following with efficiency:
The angler should be able to deliver a 400 to 450 grain Skagit family shooting heads with tips to 210 plus
grains in tow in excess of 90 with two hands on the over head no worries ...
... And should also be able to deliver that same line system to 60 to 80 feet plus with classic anchor point
spey deliveries as well, with the same tips in tow.
The caster should also be able to deliver short belly spey lines (50' to 55' belly length) with tips to
450/550 grains as easily with this same rod, in excess of 80' no worries.
The rod does not care, it is only designed to deliver grains ...
... And if designed properly ... Irregardless of the name on the blank ... It will do so with effiency if
balanced to the right lines.
So in the big picture what will a switch rod do ?
Well ... In truth it will do do the same as any single or two handed rod will do within it's design capability.
First and foremost, it will only deliver within it's grain carrying capability.
From then on ... It will perform within a diversity only determined by the the casters skill level to manage
lines within the rods given grain window capability.
Again this is true of any fly rod, regardless of it being a single or two handed rod.
Switch rods are not "magic rods" no more then they are "gimmick rods" ...
... Rather they are efficient tools that have a delivery capability only as diverse as the casters ability to
manage line.
MORE FROM THE MEIZ
We have found that an easy go-to off-the-shelf line for the switchers are the Rio WC main body sections
with 15' tips from floating to type 8 sink.
Most guys already have the WCs so it's an easy do.
These work very well overall for both anchor point and overhead with the 10'6" to 11'6" rods.
My 400 to 550 grain 10'6" (for example) wants the 9/10/11 WC body with Rio tips or Scandi poly
leaders.
Head weight for this line is 320/340 grains and will handle tips to 150 grains in all sink rates, or a floating
tip.
Head length is 24.5 with 15' tips ... This nets out at around 39.5 which is an ideal length for both overhead
and anchor point with this short two hander.
Most short belly speys (50'-55') are a bit to long for overhead as they dump in the back.
The Skagit tapers do work well, but do not lay out as sweetly as will the taper of the WC main body.
Overhead deliveries seem to work and manage best with lines in the 35' to 40' range on most hands, and
at 39.5' this configures as an interchangeable tip Scandi type shooting head for touch and go.
We always cut off the running lines on the WCs and loop on a Scandi running line to add distance for
overhead or anchor point quarter down swing.
... Or loop on a level 8 wt floating fly line and a 15' floating tip to assist the two handed stack mend for
highsticking or indy nymphing when using Trout technique with the switchers.
The standard running lines on the WC are too small in OD (not enough mass) to allow an aerialized
distance stack mend beyond the length of the head.
Adding this level floating fly line as a runner will add 15'+ (beyond the length of the head) to the aerialized
stack mend for both indy & highstick nymphing.
Really works well ... Been doing this dual running line set-up for years with the switchers and various
shooting heads for all kinds of applications.
Meiz