I'm trying to decide what to get for a switch rod. I buy lamiglas everything but they're nw rep said they didn't currently make one so I need some advice.
I was thinking an 11' 7 or 8 wt for roll casting for steelhead would be about right. Any advice would be great.
Is anyone trying to sell a rod like this? I'll have to sell a few myself to afford and justify another rod, but I've wanted one of these for a long time.

JD

I jumped on the switch bandwagon early and with both feet, buying not one but two without knowing anything about lines or casting. One is a 5 weight, the other a 7, both the 11 foot models by Sage. Not that I regret getting them but they didn't do what I thought they would. I struggled with finding the right lines for them while learning to cast at the same time. Now that I have fished them for a couple of years, I am getting more comfortable with them but it took a while. Some would argue they aren't single hand rods and they aren't Spey rods thereby failing to do either one effectively. I wouldn't say that now but I kinda thought that for some time while trying to get it figured out.

JD,

Consider Buleah. They make several switch rods, all 10.5' I think. There is also a short Spey of 11.5' rated for 6/7 line wts that is a really, really nice rod. It is light enough to cast one handed or two, yet strong enough for small stream steelhead. They're high quality rods and a lot less expensive than Sage.

Sg

I have two switch rods, a TFO Deer Creek and a Redington CPX. Both are 5 wts with the TFO being 11' and the CPX being 10' 6".
I agree with Dave D. It takes awhile to get them dialed in line wise.
I haven't used mine much in moving water. I got them primarily for overhand casting off the beaches for silvers. For overhead casting, I've found overlining them with an 8 wt line like an Airflo 40+ works pretty well. The 8 wt line puts them in a grain weight window they seem to cast well with. I've got some shooting heads I'll be trying as well once July 16th rolls around.

JDarr,
Switch rods show up rather frequently in the classified on the WFF board. There are a few listed there currently.
http://www.washingtonflyfishing.com/board/forumdisplay.php/8-Classifieds

Thanks for the heads up on the WFF board. I'l have a look. My buddy is going to let me borrow a 6 wt 14' loomis Metolius for the weekend. If I can roll cast it the way I want I'll think about something along those lines, but I know his doesn't have overweighted line like I'm used to. We'll see.
I'm still thinking I'd rather have a an 11' switch.
JD

Yeah, agree with others. I didn't mean to imply to get Sage rods; lots of others out there but the important thing for me was to get a line with a short head, say in the 20-27 foot range. I agree with SF in that for roll casting and single hand beach fishing, over-lining it by two line sizes works pretty well.

Based on the recommendation by some pros, I bought the Sage Indicator line. It single and roll casts very nice but there are better lines for more traditional two-hand casting. I have some of these if you are interesting in trying them. I had them for sale but didn't have any takers.

Might want to check out the Echo switch rods. (Tim Raejeff influence) I had the chance to cast the Echo 11' 7wt and it is sweet. light and powerful. And at $330 a copy not a bad deal. I've also heard that the TFO's (about $350 a copy) are pretty nice and although I haven't cast one , but I know they have been influenced by Bob Meiser and Mike Kinney, a couple of well respected rod builders and casters. Those rods also have the grain window marked on the blank to help you find a line that utilizes the sweet spot of a rod.
If you can be at Ben Howard take out/launch on the Skykomish just outside of Monroe on Sundays between 9am and noon, Mike will be there with some TFO's as he mentors a spey casting clinic sponsored by All About The Fly fly shop at that time window. Aaron Reimer of RiverRun Anglers in Carnation does the same thing at the mouth of the Raging River in Fall City , but on Saturdays in the same time window. That Echo 11' 7wt may probably be there.
As for lines, that's a different story. There's a lot of them out there. Do your research because you can go nuts finding the right line that suits your particular casting stroke. And the lines aren't cheap. Trial and error in this bad economy doesn't get it. Depends on how you're going to fish. For Skagit casting you have the Rio Skagit Compacts. Beulah also makes some nice lines. I am partial to the Airflo Skagit Compacts for sink tip work. For floating lines, the Aiflo 40+ is nice too. You need to find out the grain window of a rod you choose and set up accordingly. Good luck on your switch journey of discovery.

Great advice AD. I wis I could be up there to learn first hand unfortunately I'll be in a driftboat Sunday with my buddies rod trying it out first hand. I bet I'd learn more listening instead of fishing....oh well.
JD

Another vote for the 11' 7 weight Echo. Load it up with a 450 gram Compact Skagit head and let er rip.

Yo Rossi....Let's set up in a week or two to find some water and do a little casting....Anything open at all near us?
JD