Lake shore fishing

I fish several lakes from the shoreline. The problem is many are tree lined so casting is a challenge. Roll casting is a great help, but even with that getting the line out to were the fish are is not easy. Many of the places where fish roam are 60' or more out from shore. I have been looking at a switch rod. I am also thinking about a Spey rod to do the trick as well. Any of you use these types of rods for fishing the shore lines of lakes? Can you roll cast or similar 60+ feet consistently with these types of rods?

Good morning TFly.
Mate your application and location is screaming to you, a Trout Spey rod !

With better Trout Spey type rods and a suitable level of skill you can expert to RollCast, Single Spey or Underhand cast into the 80FEET RANGE !

This would be by using a 5/6w 12 footer and suitable line.

People generally just haven't discovered the Trout Spey rod yet, but its coming along with it a complete new understanding of where and how to Trout fish be it a lake or wee stream.

Where you can fish, anywhere a spin fisher could, all because all of a sudden there is no need for space behind the caster to cast and load his or her rod from.

Kind regards,
UB
ps, I must state, I design and have built Doubles for both Overhead and Spey casting and single handed fly rods.

Hi Uncle Barry,

Thanks for the info. I have been looking at getting a switch rod for sometime, but the Trout Spey rod sounds like the way to go. I went to the R.B. Meiser website and looked up their R.B. Meiser Highlander Series. They have a model; S2H126456 Highlander 12'6" 4 pc 4/6 wt. Fast/Medium Fast Progressive "Trouter". I hope to find other fly rod makers who make a Trout Spey. If you are anyone else know of makers I can look at please let me know.

What weight are you thinking? Echo makes switch rods, as does Beulah.
One question for you though. Our mountain lakes have trees surrounding the lake. Roll casting is a must, but some tree will prevent the use of a 12' + rod.

Hi
In the United States there is Loomis and others also you can buy blanks and build a Trout Spey.

Please don't forget, you will require a special line also for the arrangment, something like the Airflo Plus 40 type.

Kind regards.
UB
ps, myself I would go directly to Mr Mieser and get totally honest answers and direction from him ;) Here you will be dealing directly with the designer and fisher and be able access his knowldge, unlike some salesman in a retail shop.

You may have noticed,
"Fast/Medium Fast Progressive "
In the World of Doubles, this term is very different to what most people understand, all because most people come from a understand of those little single handed rods.

Tyrone,

I'd never discourage someone from buying a new rod...but...

A good float tube is cheaper than a new rod, and then you can get out where you can 'cast' normally...

Even with a 'switch' rod, it will take quite a bit of practice and the resulting expertise to roll cast 60' on a lake (no current to help load the rod..)

Buddy

I haven't lake fished with any of my spey/switch rods but I imagine it would work for you. Or you could get a float tube? lol. FG's right about the over hanging trees. If they're that close a 10-13 footer might be tough to manuever. On moving water there are casts you can make to compensate for heavy tree cover but i'm not sure on a stillwater.

Uncle Barry made an excellent suggestion about checking with Bob Meiser. He builds beautiful rods and really knows the sport well. Also, check with "Poppy" over at Redshed, in Idaho. He'll be able to help ya out.

FG,

For the lakes I fish I mainly use a 5 or 6 wt fly rod depending on the flies I use or the wind condition. I will look for Echo and Beulah while I am at the FF show this weekend.

Depending on the rainfall the trees could be a problem, but I generally will wade in to give myself some additional space.


UB,

"You may have noticed,
"Fast/Medium Fast Progressive "
In the World of Doubles, this term is very different to what most people understand, all because most people come from a understand of those little single handed rods."

So for those of us with who don't know could you elaborate a bit?

Thanks.

Part of my quest is due to just wanting to expand my casting skills and learn a bit more about the different styles.

ps/paint,

How is two-handed casting with a switch rod compared to a spey rod?

I am with you Tyrone on the advancing and learning as many different styles.
I recently bought a 13' 7/8 for the same reason you are talking about, plus someday I am going to go up to the Salmon;)
There are times while camping out that I really don't want to go out ON the water, so I cast from shore. This particular lake is great for this in that there is no trees, just a gradual hill of gravel.
I have several DVD's on Spey Casting plus got to play on a pond with Dec Hogan. I do have a natural feel for the butt in the stomach and the swinging with the right hand, in fact, a friend commented once on the river that I do cast like a spey caster.

I agree totally with Buddy also, that spey casting on Stillwater is allot different than a river, you really do need that current straightening out the line.
But at the pond the other day, I was getting 60' to 70' of line out in a whip, so I think it will be fun on this lake.

I lucked out in that I got the ROD for around $80. and the Spey Line on the Orvis clearance for $29. So for a little over $100., I couldn't loose.

I do know several that use their regular fly line on their switch and do just fine.

Fly G.
"Our mountain lakes have trees surrounding the lake. Roll casting is a must, but some tree will prevent the use of a 12' + rod."

I've fished places where I shouldn't have been, where I think only snakes live and haven't had any more probles than with my 7' 6" rod.

BUT
I've been able to cast better, so to speak !
Let me explain,
because of the longer rod, places where once I had to cast that was almost impossible, now I just reach out and, with a little tip movement, am able to cover water with no effort at all.

Some locations, now I just point the end of the rod over a log and with almost no movement of the rod, flick the fly away into the waterway.

Your ideas are logical however in practice are no longer a problem.

The longer rod Spey casting rod adds a huge bonus in being able to cast from just about anywhere because of the removal of the need for a area behind the caster to be able to cast.

Kind regards,
UB

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TyroneFly

ps/paint,

How is two-handed casting with a switch rod compared to a spey rod?

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The shorter switch rods usually take a little better timing than the speys. I've got an 11'9" 4wt and an 11' 5wt and the 4 is a little easier to time because of the additional length. The type of lines you use makes a difference as well. Skagit lines, for example are relatively easy to cast because of they're shorter, heavier, compact heads, as opposed to handlng a full line. For the lake situation you described, the skagit set-up might be the way to go. The casting stroke is pretty short and the heavy heads, with running line will propel further. It's also a good style to start with because it's easier to do.

Paint, you are right on the heavy tip line. I tried my Windcutter because of that. It actually did okay, but the Spey line was a little easier.

Man, for what you are describing, I would go with the switch or spey and try LaFontanes FLOSS. That is one thing I do want to try. Regular dental floss, a little breeze and a dry. Let it dance on the water.

One more thing, you say you can't lift the rod that is 12+'.....how are you going to land a fish?

I have a Sage 5120 I use to swing for trout in some of our smaller rivers in summer. It was an easy move for me having used a 2 handed rod for 15 years or more chasing steelhead. I prefer the swing to other methods of fishing and I prefer the 2 handed cast to any other. I have not used a 2 hander to fish still waters yet but see no reason why it would not be a good tool for that type of fishing. I have done some practice casting on ponds and can say 100' casts are possible with the right setup and practice.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fly Goddess

Paint, you are right on the heavy tip line. I tried my Windcutter because of that. It actually did okay, but the Spey line was a little easier.

Man, for what you are describing, I would go with the switch or spey and try LaFontanes FLOSS. That is one thing I do want to try. Regular dental floss, a little breeze and a dry. Let it dance on the water.

One more thing, you say you can't lift the rod that is 12+'.....how are you going to land a fish?

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FG, what weight windcutter were you using? I've used a 7wt. clouser line on the 4wt. and it handles that really nice. It casts a little softer than the 340 skagit I run on it. I definitely like the skagit for the heavier patterns. Is that Orvis line a shorter or longer head? Around here, the longer lines tend to be overkill. lol.
The LaFontaine floss? I've heard of using something similar, for imitating silk lines for caddis.

Hello TyroneFly, I've spent time in Mr. Meiser's shop and I've been to his close friend Gary Anderson's spey claves and to his shop here in Oregon and I can vouch for both in that you'll get the straight answers mentioned and that neither will sell you something that isn't practical.

Bob and Gary work closely together and even live not far from each other. Give either or both
a call and you'll be happy you did.

Cheers,

MontanaMoose

Quote:

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Originally Posted by pspaint

FG, what weight windcutter were you using? I've used a 7wt. clouser line on the 4wt. and it handles that really nice. It casts a little softer than the 340 skagit I run on it. I definitely like the skagit for the heavier patterns. Is that Orvis line a shorter or longer head? Around here, the longer lines tend to be overkill. lol.
The LaFontaine floss? I've heard of using something similar, for imitating silk lines for caddis.

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It is a 7 weight WindcutterII. The Orvis line I think is a long taper, because I had to get about 30' out before it started really loading good. After about 40' it was a piece of cake.
I want this for stillwater and Snake so I am sure it will be just fine.

I think you are right on the Floss thing. I read about it. Like 30' of Dental floss, tie on a nice dry and dance it on top during a hatch. The floss being thicker and super light just flies around in a breeze making a more natural presentation. Something to think about.

http://www.rockbottomdeals.biz/pd_cr...ntal_floss.cfm

Dental Floss $0.50 per 48+ feet

Shark Skin: $100.


Hummmmmmm:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by TyroneFly

Part of my quest is due to just wanting to expand my casting skills and learn a bit more about the different styles.

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No doubt that experience with a two handed rod will expand your casting skills, whether it is a switch rod or a two handed rod for spey casting.

I tried it last year, and although I definitely enjoyed casting the two handed rod ( a 14' for 8/9 ) and could do that just for the fun of it, I really didn't enjoy fishing it on the kind of water I like to fish and the way I fish it.

The upshot of my experience with the longer rod was a much better understanding of casting mechanics and how many things you can do with a single handed rod that you might not have thought of until you've worked with a two hander.

A couple things to keep in mind as to using a longer rod for fishing - if you like to land fish by stripping the line in, the longer the rod the more cumbersome landing fish will be using that technique. If you put every fish on the reel, it will be easier to land them, and then you'll be stripping that 60-70-80-90' of line out for the next cast. Unless the lake fish you are targetting have some size to them, a longer / heavier weight rod might take some of the enjoyment out of having them on.

Two handed rods have some definite advantages for a lot of situations but they are not the answer for everyone and don't suit every kind of fishing different folks might like to do. No way you will lose from any experience you have with one, and at least you'll know whether that kind of rod fits with what you want to do in the way of fishing.

John

Thanks everyone. Great information here. I have a lot to learn which is the best part of this. This weekend is the FF show in Pleasanton and I will be soaking what I can up like a sponge.

If it happens that this is my last post it means my wife found out about my inquirey for yet another rig. She begrudgingly agreed to a 4 wt, but this will take her over the edge. :p