Stocker Trout Fishing News

Video that shows the fly rod/reels we used, and what led us to using a Switch Rod and a Trout Rod for most of our fly fishing trips now. We learned about spey lines and Switch Rods after injuring a shoulder. Normal overhead and side casts was painful. We were doomed to waiting for the shoulder to heal. Then, we tried a Switch Rod and discovered several casting techniques that allowed the rod hand to stay below the shoulder and felt no pain when casting. Later, we saw a video of a fly fisherman using the OPST Commando Head with only 1/2 of a 9′ 5wt Fly Rod. In the video, he was getting incredible casts with only a “four and a half” foot rod! With that we decided to try the OPST Commando Head on our favorite fly rod… a 9′ 5wt Redington Classic Trout fly rod. This combination provided the same benefits as the Switch Rod but in a more compact package! Subsequently, we primarily use the 6wt Switch Rod and the 5wt Fly Rod for our fly fishing trips. Do check out t...

Still working on the video from Sunday’s casting practice using the OPST Commando Head on one-handed spey casting. Had an opportunity after work to do more casting practice… this time, back to testing the quality line concept and using no rod and no reel to cast a fly line. Last time used a traditional fly line and had good results. This time used a Rio InTouch Switch Chucker fly line. After making adjustments due to the windy conditions and getting the timing down, had fun casting 12+ yards! Looks like having quality line is more important to the cast, then the rod or reel! Fun stuff!

Mid-week hump day has us at Bethany Lakes for more Switch Rod casting practice. Started with a Clouser for the fishing fly, but switched to a Green Foam Grasshopper after seeing surface activity as we walked the Main Pond. Missed a couple before hooking one. Brought it to the bank and it managed to throw the hook. Got video of the “release”, so counting this one in today’s total – 5 Bass this round and a Sunfish. Did lose the Green Foam Grasshopper to a snag. Had one more in the fly box in the Yellow, so was able to keep getting strikes!

Question from one of our Readers: What was the fly line we used with our Cabelas TLR Switch Rod in a 6 weight? Answer: We used Rio’s InTouch Switch Chucker Fly Line in the 5 weight. This was the rating that Rio’s line selector app recommended specifically for our Switch Rod. It is a line weight less that the Switch Rod’s weight rating but our understanding is for 5 and 6 weight rated rods the rating can vary by manufacturer. At first we were hesitant in going with the 5 weight line but after using it in the field, we were glad to have gone with Rio’s recommendation. For ease of reference, here is a link to the fly line on Amazon:

One Keeper…. This round we went back to Denison Dam Saturday morning for another go at Striped Bass. The generation schedule showed no planned generations until around 12:45PM. So, by the time we started fishing, we had at least three solid hours to fish the pools and runs! InTouch Switch Chucker Last week we picked up a Lamson Waterworks Liquid 4 reel from Cabelas. After a little research on which fly line to use, we went with Rio’s InTouch Switch Chucker line in a 5wt per Rio’s line selection app! Had to order online and wait about a week. While we waited for the fly line to arrive, we fished the 8wt Switch Rod on local ponds to practice casting. Even better, we caught a few fish while practicing… then, Friday the new fly line arrived, and in no time, we had it spooled on to the fly reel. The bite was steady but the Striped Bass were little. Also, we did catch a few Longear when we changed from a Clouser Minnow to a Near Deere. We had caught one little Stripe...