Switch and Spey

I'm confused. What is the difference between switch and spey? I don't have a clue but I do know they both involve 2 handed casting. I just received the Orvis and Cabelas catalogs this week :grin: (now they'll be behind the bowl for the rest of the year) and I noticed an increase in the number of switch and spey rods. Are these types of rods used primarily for salmon, and what are the advantages?
i know nothing of this type of fishing....it took me all of last year to finally learn how to double-haul correctly on my 9 wt....I don't want to push the knowledge curve too far;) Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Ken

A spey rod is a two handed rod. A switch rod is a rod that you can "switch" from one handed or two handed casting. It a transitional rod, longer than the traditional one handed rod but not as long as the traditional spey rod. Read more HERE.


There is an excellent podcast on single handed spey casting by Simon Gawesworth you can get to HERE.