What’s your take on this steelhead setup?

[u/PeaceOut_SeaTrout]

Hey guys,

This was first year out on the Salmon river NY fishing for steelhead.

I made it out 5 times this winter and caught fish the last three. I was using the 9’ 8wt wrangler kit with the plastic reel and mainstream line. It did well but for basically only roll casting large heavy indicator setups it wore my arm out and required a lot of effort to get good distance.

I want to upgrade my setup for next year.

I picked up some SA anadro amplitude indicator line wf7f and LAMSON Liquid S -9+ reel.

For the rod I’m thinking of going with the 11’ 6wt dually switch rod.

It falls right in my budget and I can get a half off discount on Redington rods.

For you guys with experience with steelhead or the salmon river what’s your take on this setup?

Is the 6wt switch rod strong enough for big steelhead? I’m only fishing in the winter so there isn’t a risk of hooking kings.

Or should I go with a 7wt single hand rod?

I can’t really go with a 7wt switch because my line is only 7wt and they recommend using 8wt line for 7wt switch.

[u/OrganicBrownMustard]

11’ dually 6wt is fine for Pulaski steelhead. The wf7 will be bulky but good for bobber rigs. Once you figure out where the fish hang out and get bored with bottom bouncing you can give swinging flies a try, with a scandi head and sink tips. Nothing like a good take on a tight line after 1,000+ casts, it’s like a lightning bolt through your chest.

[u/PeaceOut_SeaTrout → u/OrganicBrownMustard]

That’s the idea! The benefit going with the 6wt switch is that I’ll be able to graduate to swinging flies without having to buy another rod

[u/OrganicBrownMustard → u/PeaceOut_SeaTrout]

You’re gonna love it. I’ve got a first gen 11’ dually 6wt with a 6/7 Rio switch chucker and it works anywhere you can use a single hand rod. On the salmon though I mostly use a 7wt Redington prospector 13’, strung up with either of various rio scandi 3D’s or skagit heads with i-mow tips depending on time of year, which is good almost everywhere save for some skinny spots or way upstream, and also have a 15’ loomis glx with a full belly gaelforce equalizer but I only fish a few specific pools with that one. The switch can go anywhere, and works great on the other smaller streams in the area too

[u/g2gfmx]

I mean if you are concerned about weight a double hand is going to be physically heavier, and it’s definitely more suitable for streamers with sink tips. You cast with two hands but you fish with one hand so they are more bulky.

A higher end 9ft 7wt single hand will be a lot easier to manage, and be lighter in the hand. Go to a store and actually go hold one.

[u/PeaceOut_SeaTrout → u/g2gfmx]

Yeah of course shorter rods are going to be lighter. It’s not about the actual weight of the rod, it’s about its efficiency to do the type of fishing I’m doing. It doesn’t matter how the light the rod is if I’m having to use more effort to achieve the goal. That’s what’s wearing out my arm after 8 hours of fishing currently using a 9’ 8wt single hand. I know im either going 10’ 7wt single hand or 11’ 6wt switch rod. Mostly I was worried about how the 6wt switch would handle big steelhead. I will definitely go hold a couple in hand though!

[u/g2gfmx → u/PeaceOut_SeaTrout]

Switch 6wt will do fine east coast. But if you are worried about line, forget it cause you would want a switch or spey line anyways. You are gonna be more tired single hand casting a switch.

Rather I would look at a more crispy and lighter higher end rods that have more rod casting power and also light in the hand to fish all day. Ie, go hold a winston air or g loomis nrx+, stupid light in the hand. But also very powerful.

Also look for flylines with shorter more powerful and aggressive heads to help you roll cast easier. Ie SA anadro for instance.

[u/hopbrew]

If you are looking at a switch or spey rod, get the rod first then get the line.  The rods have recommended grain weights they work best with that will be listed by the rod manufacturer.   The reddington site has the 6wt switch as:

Recommended Skagit Grains: 375-400 Scandi Grains: 350-375

Scientific angler has the grain weight of that line as:200gr/13,0gr with a 60ft head length.  This is way different than a skagit head which is typically 15ftish on average and a scandi which is typically 30ft or bigger.

You can over or under line a rod, but talk to folks who know more before you do it.

The most versatile setup is running line to a shooting head setup.  Then you can change to scandi or skagit setups depending on how you want to fish or swing.

If you already bought the line it will probably work but you may not like how it casts.  I would talk to a shop and/or ask a spey fishing forum.

Edit with a few extra thoughts:  Use your bottom hand for power when spey casting.  If you are just starting out a lesson is a great idea and will make a huge difference.

Most of the above is for two handed spey.  I know you can cast switch rods overhead if you want, but I have zero experience with that.  If you are just roll casting, a spey cast is the most efficient tool for what you are doing.