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Over the past weeks I have been picking
up steelhead swinging flies with an Echo
10'10" 6wt. switch rod using a 10' clear
intermediate tip and a 8' leader with a
10lb fluorocarbon tippet. The fly has been
a Blue Eyed Mepps (see fly section) which
is heavily weighted. For more details see
the Technique Section.
For those of you who are finally ready
to give up "chuck and ducking" and learn
how to fly fishing for steelhead: Now is
the time of year to learn how to use your
switch or two handed rods which are far
superior to single handed rods--do not
wait until the spring. Yes there are a few
steelhead around, but there are also few
people around. This also means that most
steelhead have not been bothered and are
willing biters.
For swinging flies we have been using a
10'10" 8wt. Echo switch rod with a
480 grain Skagit floating
head with a 8 foot intermediate tip.
The leader is constructed to be about the
same length as the rod. 4 feet of 30lb, 2
1/2 feet of 20lb, 1 foot of 15lb mono at
this point I tie on a small crane swivel
and then tie a 3 foot piece of 12 lb.
fluorocarbon and then a tippet of either
10lb or 8lb fluorocarbon about 2 feet
long. The reason for the crane swivel is
that I have not found a knot that has been
effective when changing from mono to
fluorocarbon. At the point where you
attached the tippet place a piece of split
shot ( for the Betsie either a 3/0 or size
7).
Now for the presentation. The cast is
made at about a 45 degree angle DOWNSTREAM
and then a single mend back upstream. Now
follow or lead the line through
the swing. At the end of the swing
let the fly hang. The hang is one of the
most important part of the swing. Many
attacks come on the hang. Be patient. It's
that simple.
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