Over the past few season, I’ve started to see more and more double handed rods on the rivers of Eastern Canada. I was just wondering why you use two handed rods?
Me, … it’s a question of the “act of casting”. I like, … it’s fun. Also, … for a couple really specific places on my home waters, it is the only method for delivering the fly without the use of a canoe or drift boat ;).
No answer in there for me.
No need for it where I fish. Longest cast is maybe 70 ft. Most casts are about 10-30 ft.Got that covered with a ‘regular’ rod.
Chris -
This should be fun ?!
I did have a 14’ for 8/9 double handed spey rod for a while last year. It was so much fun to cast, even as a beginner, that I would consider getting another DH rod just for that reason. Also, learning the basics of spey casting taught me a lot about casting that I had not picked up on over my years of fly fishing and self taught single hand rod casting.
The thing is, I’m a very practical person, and a long rod like that is not at all practical for the creeks / streams / rivers I fish.
Rigged with a DT3F fishing a size 16 dry fly, it did the job on one neat little stream.
John
P.S. There is a small steelhead dangling from my left hand.
what is DH? secret decoder ring broken.
Many, many uses…not doubt at all BUT the I think many are thinking about Spey and Switch Casting these days because that is what is being heavily marketed.
Noticed a while back that these rods have gone “main stream” in regards to availability in regards to accessible and popular brands…
Sorry, I have no actual experience so I shouldn’t have commented.
I have never used one, never actually seen one on a river. Now, having said that, I am intrigued by them and would certainly concider one some day. They just look like they would be fun.
It is nice for distance, and is very handy where you have no room to backcast. Mostly it is just easier on your casting arm.
Gary
It is just plain fun! I use a spey on the Tongariro and when the river is crowded I can outcast all of the single handers and pluck fish even from the far bank. If you need heavy tips and heavy flies at distance then the spey is the only way to go.
I agree with John, my single hand casting has also improved from learning to spey cast.
I am thinking of getting a switch rod for the salt water fishing as well.
All the best.
Mike.
I can see where it would be handy, but… I have never found myself in that place S.
Now, two-handed FISH, that is another story…
There are a variety of reasons I use a 2 handed rod. The ability to throw large flies and sink tips with relative ease is the number one reason which you didn’t have on your poll. Second would be the ability to cast with very little to no back cast room which again was not on your poll. Third would be distance. I don’t like the idea of using a 2 handed rod for just distance. I see too many people on the river concentrating on distance and forgetting to fish the water. It doesn’t matter that you can throw 120 feet of line if the fish are holding 30 feet out. Lastly would be I enjoy it.
Some of the reasons for using a 2 hander are going to be based on what type of fishing a person does. I based my answers on winter steelhead fishing.
…you’re talking about a 2 handed overhead surf fly rod. I love my 8 wt. x 12.5 ft. to reach beyond the surf when fishing from the beach. I also can cover a lot of ground quickly by roll casting it out, retrieve, walk, roll-cast, retrieve, walk…without worrying about a backcast. Very easy, relaxing…and it catches fish!
The last five rods I have made have been 2-handed, 10’ 6", hollow built bamboo rods. I am in the process of making three more as I write this. Sombody likes two-handed bamboo rods and I am glad for it. I like if for my own steelhead fishing just because it is more relaxing and comfortable for me to use both hands.
A 2-handed rod maker,
fishbum
When I have a rod/reel that I can cast 60 feet, I usually need to cast 65 feet. Can cast 70 feet, need 75 feet… I always wanted to try one out and buy one. I am enamored with the beauty of the cast, but the cost is just plain too much. 
That’s too bad too, I could sit and watch a good caster for hours. 
I played with the idea of a two handed for the last two years. Then I started to play with switch rods, both times I keep coming back to my 9 footers for the type of water that I fish. I think that if I had access to larger rivers then the two handers would shine. I fish a lot of small spring creeks, some of them are narrow enough to walk over in many areas without getting your feet wet. Even the larger rivers that I fish are too small for this application. I would think that the real allure would be the larger rivers, surf casting or something along that mode.
If you have the application I would think they would be a great tool.
Kerry, you’re absolutely right, … I left off a few options in the poll 
I guess I was just trying to limit the scope of the question.
I’ve used some on and off for a while. I like it. The river I fish is pretty small and there are really only a dozen or so pools where a DH is truly needed. Then again, on some specific pools, it is the only way to get a good presentation without pulling out the canoe!
I saw quite a few DH rods when the reps came up for a weekend in early September this year so I was really wondering if it was marketing or necessity.
I will probably go out and actually buy one or two DH rods this winter … just a question of from who !!!
Quite a few people have referred me to Bob Meiser … Any thoughts?
Bob makes a quality rod and are priced well. Burkhiemer also make very good rods but are priced a bit higher. Personally I prefer Sage. I have owned several of what I call boutique rods including a couple of Mieser’s, a Beulah, CND, Lockmor and several other brands; I always seem to come back to the Sages but that is only a personal preference. To begin with I wouldn’t go after a top of the line rod like a Sage but would look into something from Greys or TFO or perhaps an Echo or even look into buying a used rod. I am sure others will have some recommendations also. Remember rod recommendations are like opinions and … , everyone has one. The really best thing to do is to try to find someplace that you can get a couple of rods in your hands to play with. This will give you the feedback you need to make a decision. Another great resource for all things 2 handed is Poppy at the Red Shed.
I fish lakes in the Sierra’s. Many are tree lined or steep granite walls. Rollcasting using a single handed rod 70+ feet is impossible, at least for me. That means having boat access to get to where the fish are. Not owning a boat, I opted for a two-handed rod this year. So far so good.
Another vote for Poppy and the Red Shed. Poppy set me up with a nice TFO Deer Creek setup.
I do it because it looks cool (can you see me rolling my eyes?).
It’s fun, and even if heavily marketed, it serves so many purposes that the poll could easily have 10 options. I agree with Kerry that when your backcasting room is severely limited, it’s the perfect way to go. Definitely a HUGE plus when throwing big nasties and heavy tips for winter-runs and bottom-huggers.