For me, the importance of using a small switch rod with a line that could cast well singlehand as well as spey cast at short and long distances became more evident than ever these past few months.  After trying a variety of “Scandi-Short” “Extra Distance” and “40+” lines for my 10’6 4wt Echo Switch rod, I finally came upon Rio’s “Switch” Line.

With a 55 foot head, the line spey casts effortlessly both at short and long distances, as well as overhand (singlehand) casts like a dream without leaving your arm’s feeling like spaghetti by day’s end. It’s front taper and long body allows the line to load perfectly and turn over flies with precision, accuracy and finess–not to mention how forgiving the line is!

This line really brings out the versatility of a “switch rod” and will take you from swinging flies on your favorite flow to stalking trout on the banks of your favorite lake or estuary all in the same day, with the same rod, with the same line.

The versatility of this line truly became apparent when fishing the estuary near my house for Searun Cutthroat trout. The trout would come in with the tide to feed on the herring fry and would feed in a figure-eight path of sorts.  I would make 40-60 foot singlehand casts using a buoyant deerhair dry-fly with the line, skittering the pattern across the surface slowly working the shoreline at a 30-40 degree angle to cover their feeding path.  However if I were to see some feeding activity out of the corner of my eye, the rod would allow a quick snap-t or single spey cast, which would pick up a good ammount of line and place it into the zone with finess in seconds!  Being able to do this accounted for the majority of the take’s I had and to be completely honest, I would not have been able to rise, hook and land three quarters of the fish I did without this system.

This line, technique and way of fishing is perfect for any angler who enjoys stalking trout from the banks and I honestly would give it 5-stars.  I have swung flies, skated dries, fished lakes, czech nymph’d and done just about everything I can with this rod and line match and since doing so, I have been extremely satisfied.

For more information on Rio Fly Lines and Echo Fly Rods, visit their websites by clicking the links below:

Rio Products

Echo Fly Rods (Rajeff Sports)

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