Photo By Larry Offner/www.warmfly.com
Switch rods, those short cousins to the spey rod, typically conjure up grand images of steelhead and salmon in the Pacific Northwest. But what about panfish in the Deep South?
Truth be told, switch rods are a bit of a novelty in our neck of the woods, and that's understandable, given our lack of steelhead streams. But the concept isn't all that hard to grasp. These rods have the cork grips necessary for those who want to cast two-handed style, yet they are light enough to use as a one-handed rod. In other words, you can "switch" to whatever style you prefer.
Why would such a rod appeal to a bream fisherman? Consider these comments from Larry Offner, owner of the popular fly-fishing web site Warmfly.com. After a brief lesson on how to hold a two-handed rod, Larry decided to try a Deer Creek switch rod from Temple Fork Outfitters for Rio Grande Perch at New Orleans' City Park. And he was impressed.
"The rod is incredible," Larry wrote of the 5-weight model, which retails for $324.95. "It's great for casting long distances (naturally), casting into the wind and reaching over grass and other foliage along the bank with its 11' length."
"The rod is incredible," Larry wrote of the 5-weight model, which retails for $324.95. "It's great for casting long distances (naturally), casting into the wind and reaching over grass and other foliage along the bank with its 11' length."
And taking advantage of the rod's extended reach, Larry found plenty of fish.
"The Rios were running the bank in schools so, I positioned myself on a point and cast my fly line about 5' out, perpendicular to the bank, almost the entire length of the bank I was fishing!" Larry wrote. "I caught a Rio nearly ever cast."
Larry was not put off by the idea of using such a long rod.
"Does this look like overkill?" he wrote. "Well, believe it or not, it wasn't."
Southern fly-casters would do well to follow Larry's example by giving switch rods a chance. No, these rods are not just for salmon and steelhead, nor are they out of place here in the South. Just think of the conditions where you fish and what tool would best meet your needs. In Larry's case, the issue was finding a way to cast his fly while walking among the weeds and shrubs that cluttered the bank. Using the 11-foot rod, Larry found he could get at the fish by reaching beyond the clutter.
And he's a convert now, looking for other applications for his new rod.
"Next I'm going to try the rod in my kayak and in my jon boat," Larry wrote. "Hopefully, I'll get to fish it in Arkansas in coldwater soon. So, stay tuned!"
