Two handed rods

[fluffchukka]

I use (in common with lots of people) a 8wt 9 odd footer for my salt and estuary sea trout fishing.At times when lures need stripping and therefore a lot of repeat casting i sometimes find my wrist/forearm in a bad way.Why does no one seem to use a suitable wt two hander for the salt?For example in 11 or 12 ft.These rods can chuck a big tube fly a long way and when in a confined spot with my back to a cliff ,the need to be able to spey cast would be handy.What do you reckon?

[sage]

Hi Fluffchukka.

Beulah do some nice two handed rods, they call them switch rods.

[Gonzo]

Talon is another choice make. Australian, I believe?

["Squatter"]

Hey Fluffchukka,

I have the Beulah / Meiser "switch" rods in 8/9 and 9/10, Both are 10-6" rods.

Couple these rods to the Rio Outbound line and you have a rod that you consistently throw a 100 ft line all day long with out getting tired.

Sure "switch casting takes a little getting used to - but once you have it - what a pleasure.

If you are near the midlands and what to try one just give me a shout.

See for stocking ex UK

ukswff.co.uk/bwt3.htm

Also this link for more info

www.meiserflyrods.com/s2h-spey-test.html

Regards
Mike

[FlyBri]

Yep I've come to the same conclusion myself. In a wee dorset estuary I sometimes fish for bass (not for sea trout - there's a clue), you are more often than not casting into a strong wind. Sometimes as much as I haul I just don't seem to get the line out far enough for my liking - so I've decided I'm going to use a cheap 13ft doublehander and cheap line the next time I go out there.

Bri

[fluffchukka]

Cheers for the repliies lads.Firstly being an ignoramus ,what is switch casting?Secondly Flybri are you a member of any local clubs?As you can see i am a Darzet yokel as well.

[FlyBri]

I'm one of those too - so fret not!
I'm not a member of any local clubs and I actually live on the Surrey / Hants border - I just take a jaunt down to Dorset once in a while for some bass blanking.

Bri

[fluffchukka]

I know a spot where one of the local guides takes clients bass fishing,i have never tried it as its strictly a crack of dawn job ,due to the area being infested with beach revellers.I could hook up with you one day this summer if you want to give it a go.I fish a ticket water further up for sea trout and catch the little silver blighters by accident on all sorts of flies ,from tubes to connemara blacks!(some not so little).

[FlyBri]

That would be a good laugh - we'll sort something out when the water gets warmer.

Bri

[barramundi]

A review of the Talon WMD 12 footer will be in the next fly fishing and fly tying I believe.

www.uksaltwaterflies.com/tackle_double_handed_saltwater_flyrods.htm

[barramundi]

just recieved this email!!(cheques in the post)

Hi Austen,

Just wanted to drop you quick note to thank you for getting the talon double hander to me as quick as you did. I have to say that the first impression upon getting it out of the tube were very favourable. The rod was very well built with top notch components and extremely well thought out, with dots to line up the sections and each section marked with the rod details. Simple to implement, but so many rod makers tend to overlook these small things which complete the rod.

I took it out for it's first serious test, saltwater fly fishing down in Dorset. I put on a 30' Rio type 3 head with the usual 50 metre running line, after a few short casts to get a feel for the action I was regularly getting the whole lot down to the backing out of the tiptop. it was effortless. Even casting into the wind, I was getting superb distances. The rod is nice and light, well balanced and very responsive. I would never usual even consider trying to cast a large size 2/0 well dressed deceiver on a seven weight rod, but the rod had plenty of capacity for presenting this sized fly at distance, and into the rips I was seeking the bass.

I have to say, I now regret buying the Beulah double hander and the Talon is better than it in every respect; the Beulah feels lifeless and underperforming by comparison. It is even better than my Sage 12'6" 8 weight double hander and will become my go to rod when a double hander is called for.

Once again many thanks,

Jamie

[fluffchukka]

Thanks for posting that report Barramundi.I feel a pain in my credit card coming on!

[Primarycolours]

Hi fluffchucka -

I have been looking for a similar kind or rod - B&W do a Salmon/Sewin rod 11'3" for 7-9 lines - its handle is double - 20 inches long with a whippy action.

Worth a look perhaps -

If you do try one let us know how you got on.

Cheers

[DavidP]

Echo do a 7wt 12 footer thats used a lot in the surf here in California and I understand in some places in Europe.

Check out this site for a euro distributor

www.balticflyfisher.com/acatalog/Scandinavian.html

My only experience in spey rods for the surf was with a 14 footer which got the line way out there but I found that i had trouble avoiding line tangles with all that line out there. But then again the average surf here on a calm day is in the 5 ft range so maybe more of a problem here than over there.

[Primarycolours]

Fluffchucka,

I was recently talking to a chap that fished in estuary waters for years and his advice was founded in the caribbean.

9ft rods are the length of choice it seems out there, Coupled with 8/9/10 lines. Longer 12/13ft rods end up with too much 'resistance' when casting and the whole process gets caught up and doesn't have such a good impact in terms of distance cast.

The 9ft seems to be popular for the balance of distance gained and the reduction of resitance in the usual windy situations.

I am open to argument on this however, as a relative beginner to the scene of SWFF.

regards

Nick