Just about noon today I met up with Gary and Scott at one of our Steelhead spots on the OK.
Scott is still struggling getting the hang of casting his new Switch rod.he asked me if I could help him dial it in and maybe show him or help him figure out what he is doing wrong. So I set up a different reel for him to use that the line could be changed.
When I got there the wind was at 25MPH + Scott and Gary were in the water.
I went out and just watched Scott for a while. He is getting better but it's still a battle.I had him come in and I checked his line and reel,
He is using a fixed line with a 425gr. head attached to the running line. the line that was commented for his rod. Short Skagit style very little taper.
I took his rod and out myself and tried it. It just didn't feel right to me. Sure I could cast it past my shoelaces , but it was a lot of work felt like it was over loading it.
Put no my reel, put on another short Skagit head at 420gr. still didn't feel right.went to a 400gr long taperd almost Scandi style and it felt much better, setp down again to 380gr. long taper. and was able to throw a 50ft roll cast no problem then a 65ft roll cast even into the wind. slowed down my action and tried a single spey cast EZ.
Got Scott back out into the water and walked him thru a few cast got him to slow it down and before he knew it he was casting farther and straighter then ever before. I know he will be down at the river this next week on his lunch hour flip line how that he knows that he can do it.
I shot some video of him and when we went to have a beer after the river.I showed him his good casting and his bad casting and right away he was able to spot the difference.
With the right line on any Switch or Spey rod one should be able to throw line a long way with very little effort. But it does that Practice, Practice, Practice,
Grasshopper did well today..
My best advice to anyone starting out with any of the longer rods Spey or Switch
SLOW DOWN THAT LONG ROD HAS LOTS OF LEVERAGE
Great job getting Scott lined out and tuned in. With a good teacher and someone willing to listen and follow directions, things happen fast. Scott got much better as the day went on, even with the wind. The right equipment with the proper instructions and, as you say, lots of practice, pays off.
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