Beulah 10'8" 7 weight Platinum Switch for Michigan and westcoast steelhead
- Thread starter Jeffo
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MoscaPescador
Well-known member
Head choice is easy. Beulah made heads specifically for its rods.
Scandi - Elixir Switch 375 grains
Skagit - Tonic Switch 400 to 425 grains (I would err towards 425 grains if you are going to use T-14 tips)
Running line - Take your pick. Keep the diameter around .024" if you really want the line to fly or a .030" if you want something easy to handle.
Reels - Get a quality reel that is rated 9/10. If you are fishing the icy Michigan region, I would steer away from cork drag reels. The drag plate can ice up making the drag system useless. You could look at a Bauer Rogue 5, Ross CLA 5, Hatch 9 Plus Finatic.
Dennis
Scandi - Elixir Switch 375 grains
Skagit - Tonic Switch 400 to 425 grains (I would err towards 425 grains if you are going to use T-14 tips)
Running line - Take your pick. Keep the diameter around .024" if you really want the line to fly or a .030" if you want something easy to handle.
Reels - Get a quality reel that is rated 9/10. If you are fishing the icy Michigan region, I would steer away from cork drag reels. The drag plate can ice up making the drag system useless. You could look at a Bauer Rogue 5, Ross CLA 5, Hatch 9 Plus Finatic.
Dennis
fredaevans
Well-known member
+1 to MP's comments above. Only thing I'd add is the CLA reels are 'inexpensive' and excellent.
MacSuibhne
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I have that rod with a 425 gr. Rio short skagit head.
I love the rod...mostly. It's my first 2H'er and I'm a novice at 2H but when I relax and get in the groove, it goes pretty good.
I have a 3.5 Lamson Velocity Nickle on it and it balances the rod almost perfectly. That said, 30# backing, running line, and the head fill it up pretty good...not enough to affect the landing of a fish but if I had my druthers it would have been a 3-3/4" instead (they don't make it, AFAIK)
I love the rod...mostly. It's my first 2H'er and I'm a novice at 2H but when I relax and get in the groove, it goes pretty good.
I have a 3.5 Lamson Velocity Nickle on it and it balances the rod almost perfectly. That said, 30# backing, running line, and the head fill it up pretty good...not enough to affect the landing of a fish but if I had my druthers it would have been a 3-3/4" instead (they don't make it, AFAIK)
MacSuibhne
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Of course it depends on the reel, but many contemporary wide arbor reels that are listed for a size seven line won't hold the sufficient backing, running line and the @400gr head...if you go with a head...without rubbing the frame.
I bought a 3.5+ Lamson Velocity nickle for my 7wt. switch and ended up having to remove backing to fit the line in the reel.
It worth remembering that a 7wt spey line is often equivalent to a 9wt single handed line.
And beyond that...there's no downside in putting a little bit bigger and heavier reel on a 2H rod. Better a bit heavy than too light--for your fishing comfort.
YMMV
glcaddis
Well-known member
Abel's new switch reel, $480, is a click/pawl reel that is really nice. I have it on my 6 wt Beulah Switch and you'd like it on the 7 wt.