Swinging soft hackles

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newriverspey
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by newriverspey » Thu Sep 10, 2015 7:29 pm

I did ok today. I was using a #24 purple and starling and a #20 purple and partridge as a trailing fly. The switch rod I am using is a 9' 4 wt with a 13 ft, 200 grain skagit line (OSP Commando head) and a 7 ft versi leader with a 6 ft leader of 6.5 X fluorocarbon. It is what Ed Ward calls a micro spey rod. It is a blast to fish soft hackles with. I was mainly fishing down and across and did very well today. It rained for a few hours but it really turned on the fish. Overall, I had a great day and I love catching trout swinging soft hackles.
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letumgo
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by letumgo » Thu Sep 10, 2015 10:06 pm

Is the rod a custom build? That sounds like a neat setup.

I have not tried a switch rod yet, but I have cast a two hand Spey rod. The switch rod would come in handy when there is little room for a back cast.

Thanks for the pictures.
Ray (letumgo)----<°))))))><
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newriverspey
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Joined: Tue Sep 15, 2009 6:37 am
Location: Blacksburg, Virginia

Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by newriverspey » Fri Sep 11, 2015 7:15 am

The switch rod that I used was made by Darrel at Skagit Spey Custom Rods. It really is a great set up for swinging flies in tight areas. Here is a video of the same rod being used by Ed Ward. You may have to copy and paste the following link to see it :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tC_pzl_PKig

The other interesting web site is opskagit.com

They have commando shooting heads for single hand rods and also for micro spey / small skagit rods.

I use this exact set up for smallmouth bass as well
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tie2fish
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by tie2fish » Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:22 am

Poetry in motion. Folks like this reinforce my inferiority when it comes to casting.
Some of the same morons who throw their trash around in National parks also vote. That alone would explain the state of American politics. ~ John Gierach, "Still Life with Brook Trout"
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Smuggler
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by Smuggler » Fri Sep 11, 2015 8:26 am

Beautiful. I wanted to build a switch rod for smallies but, never got around to doing so. Looks like a lot of fun.
Mataura mayfly
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by Mataura mayfly » Fri Sep 18, 2015 4:50 pm

Otto, great to see you out there having some Fall fun. Keep it up.
"Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout".... Irish proverb.
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hankaye
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by hankaye » Fri Sep 18, 2015 6:55 pm

newriverspey, Howdy;

Did you teach him to cast or the other way 'round ... ;)
Link worked fine just clicking on it.
Thanks for bringing it to our attention, looks like a hoot.

hank
Striving for a less complicated life since 1949...
"Every day I beat my own previous record for number
of consecutive days I've stayed alive." George Carlin
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crazy4oldcars
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Re: Swinging soft hackles

Post by crazy4oldcars » Sat Sep 19, 2015 7:35 pm

Looks like just an extra chance to perforate my epidermis! :oops:
Pretty cool to watch, tho.

Kirk
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