I bought my switch rod because I thought it was the solution for my desire to learn anchor-point spey casting. I couldn’t afford a proper spey rod at the time—or so I thought—so I purchased a used Fenwick Aetos 6/7-weight switch rod. It’s a four-piece rod measuring 11’1” that I paid $135 bucks for on Facebook Marketplace. The rod was fun to cast, had a quick stroke, and could huck a Scandi line without much effort. However, it wasn’t until I earned my first full spey rod that I realized the faults in my fun little switch rod.
For one, it was awkward to cast overhead. Single-handed? Forget about it. The full spey rod was also much more effective at covering water than the switch rod. Still, I eventually discovered that the switch rod has distinct benefits that make it a useful tool on the water.
The Benefits of Two-Handed Casting
A quick note on the benefits of casting with a two-handed rod:
Number one, it’s just plain fun. I love the cadence of the cast and the dance the rod makes throughout the stroke. It’s what keeps me smiling even when I haven’t shaken hands with a steelhead in my past ten fishing days.
Second, two-handed casting is efficient. Two-handed casts send the fly farther, allowing you to cover more water per cast. They also keep you fishing effectively in places where there’s no room for a back cast. Keeping your D-loop in front of you when setting an anchor prevents your line from hanging up in the bushes behind you.
Lastly, two-handed casting is less fatiguing. It lets you stay fresh throughout a long day on the river.
What the Hell Is a Switch Rod?
The idea that a two-handed rod could be cast overhead is a relatively recent development in fly fishing. The switch rod was born in the 1970s as the brainchild of master rod maker Bob Meiser, and later became available for purchase in the 1980s.
It’s also worth noting that when describing the history of the switch rod, Bob himself tends to call them “short two-handed rods.” Meiser came up with the concept as a solution for anglers who were used to casting heavy sink tips for steelhead on single-handed rods. As any serious caster knows, overhead casting heavy sinking lines all day can destroy your rotator cuffs.
The solution? A rod that could be cast overhead using two hands. That’s right—a short two-handed rod designed for overhead casting, not anchor-point casting. This is why Bob didn’t call his development a compact, or short, spey rod.
How Are They Different from Spey Rods?
Full spey rods tend to be 12’6” and longer, though anything under 13’ is often referred to as a compact spey rod. Full spey rods are specifically designed for anchor-point casting using a two-handed stroke. Anyone who’s tried overhead casting a spey rod knows it’s not a pleasant experience.
The switch rod, on the other hand, can be overhead cast. Its shorter length means less swing weight, which transfers the feel of the cast closer to your hands. Two-handed overhead casts are more powerful and simultaneously less fatiguing than their single-hand counterparts.
That shorter length also makes switch rods easier to use in tight quarters. There are runs on the Deschutes, for example, where I have to crawl under trees on my hands and knees to reach my favorite starting point. A longer spey rod is far more cumbersome to maneuver than a switch rod—and once I’m in position, it’s easier to keep the shorter rod out of the branches overhead.
That said, efficiency is where the spey rod beats the switch rod. My spey rod casts farther with less effort and covers more water. It also handles a greater variety of flies throughout the day, keeping me adaptable as conditions change.
The Switch Rod Is Very Misunderstood
It’s the opposite of what most people think. The switch rod is harder to cast than a full spey rod—at least when it comes to anchor-point casting. The casting stroke for a switch rod is quick and precise. Slow casting strokes, common among beginners learning spey techniques, tend to improperly load the rod and cause the caster to push through the stroke, overpowering it.
In contrast, the longer spey rod actually rewards a slower, smoother casting stroke, making it easier for beginners to learn.
Many anglers buy a switch rod thinking they’re getting versatility—but I think that’s more of a marketing ploy than reality. Switch rods are, frankly, pretty bad at being do-it-all fly rods.
If you’re considering one, be honest about what you need.
- If you want a compact spey rod for setting spey anchors under low-hanging trees, buy a switch rod designed for anchor-point casting.
- If you’re fishing big flies for predatory species like musky, look for a switch rod that excels at two-handed overhead casting.
- If you’re targeting windy lakes or ocean jetties, again, choose one designed for overhead work. Same goes for big indicator setups, though you might tangle up a lot your first few outings.
How I Feel About My Own Switch Rod
My Fenwick is set up for spey-style casting—but it honestly isn’t very good at it. The Rio Scandi Body line, with its 23-foot head and 400-grain weight, is the best match I’ve found for quick, compact spey casts on this rod. Despite that, the spey performance still feels lacking at times.
The Fenwick Aetos lineup includes single-handed rods, and it feels like they simply made one longer to create their switch model. I’m not saying it’s a bad rod—far from it—but it clearly begs to be cast overhead with a line closer to 350 grains.
My plan is to purchase a slightly longer switch rod—closer to 12 feet—to serve as my compact spey setup. The Aetos will then become my go-to rod for larger indicator rigs and big streamers for predatory fish.
Making a Long Story Short
Switch rods should really be referred to as short two-handed rods, and they definitely have their place on the river. However, you might be misguided if you’re buying one under the promise of flexibility.
My advice: be clear about your needs and buy accordingly.
If you plan to cast spey-style most of the time, choose a rod marketed as a compact spey or designed by a reputable spey-rod maker.
And for beginners—don’t buy a switch rod thinking its shorter length makes it easier to cast. That’s an outright lie. It will only make your two-handed journey more difficult.
Whatever you do, don’t discount the value of these rods. They occupy a specialized, important niche in your quiver.
-T
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