The Sportfish Expert's Guide to Choosing a Double-Handed Fly Fishing Rod or Switch Rod

Q: What sort of double-handed fly rod should I buy?

Choosing a double-handed fly rod depends on the rivers you fish and the Spey casting style you use. Modern Spey fishing has evolved into three main styles: Traditional Spey casting with full-length lines and through-action rods; Scandinavian (Scandi) casting using short shooting heads and faster, tip-action rods; and Skagit casting, which uses short, powerful heads and sinking tips for large flies and difficult conditions. Each style benefits from different rod actions, and many anglers carry more than one rod to suit varying conditions.

Q: Does my double-handed fly rod need to be a certain length?

Yes. Rod length should match the size of the river and fishing conditions. Shorter rods (11–13ft) are ideal for small rivers and tight spaces, medium rods (13–14ft) offer versatility on most rivers, and longer rods (14ft+) are best for large rivers and high water where distance and line control are required. For example, a 15ft rod suits high water on big rivers like the Tay or Tweed, while 13–14ft rods work well on rivers such as the Spey, Dee, or Wye depending on conditions.

Q: What is a switch fly rod?

A switch rod is a short double-handed fly rod, typically 11–12ft long. It can be cast using both anchor (Spey-style) casts and overhead casts. Switch rods are lighter than traditional double-handers, usually in #7/8 weights, and are ideal for small to medium rivers and smaller flies. While very versatile, traditional 13–15ft double-handed rods perform better in strong winds, when casting long distances, using sink tips, or targeting large fish.

Q: What does the weight (AFTM) of a double-handed fly rod mean?

The AFTM rating indicates the fly line weight a rod is designed to cast. For double-handed rods, the AFTM scale differs from single-handed rods by three line sizes. For example, a double-handed #7 is equivalent to a single-handed #10. Typical ratings include #7/8 for small rivers and low water, #8/9 as a popular all-rounder, #9/10 for larger fish and higher water, and #10/11 for the biggest rivers and strongest flows. Many modern rods also list a grain window, which is often a more accurate way to match shooting heads and modern Spey lines.

Q: What does fly rod action mean and what’s best for a double-handed rod?

Fly rod action describes how fast a rod recovers after flexing and where it bends along the blank. Fast action rods bend mainly at the tip and suit experienced casters, windy conditions, and Scandinavian casting. Medium action rods bend through the upper half of the blank and are the most versatile and beginner-friendly, working well with both Skagit and traditional Spey lines. Slow or through-action rods bend deeply and are ideal for traditional Spey casting, smaller rivers, and protecting light tippets, though they struggle in strong winds or with heavy flies.

Q: Are some double-handed fly rods easier to cast than others?

Yes. Ease of casting depends on rod action, length, line weight, and casting style. Through-action rods are easier for beginners and suit full-length Spey lines, while faster tip-action rods generate higher line speed but require better timing. Shorter rods are easier to manage in confined spaces and less tiring, while longer rods provide greater distance and line control.

Q: What is a good double-handed fly rod for a newcomer?

For beginners, a good starting point is a 12–14ft rod with a #8/9 rating. A medium or through action is ideal for learning with Spey lines as it is more forgiving and versatile. If using Scandinavian lines, a faster tip-action rod of similar length and rating is better suited. Switch rods can also be a useful introduction, particularly on small to medium rivers, though they are best seen as a versatile supplement rather than a replacement for a full double-handed rod.

Q: Can a double-handed fly rod cast any size flies?

Within reason, yes. Double-handed rods are longer and more powerful than single-handed rods and can cast the full range of flies commonly used for salmon, sea trout, and steelhead. Larger and heavier flies are best cast with thicker, heavier fly lines. Extremely oversized or excessively weighted flies would challenge any fly rod.

Man stood in the river casting a double-handed fly rod

Newcomers to salmon fishing, particularly trout fishers, often ask why you need a double-handed rod. The answer to this is firstly that in certain instances you don’t. Small rivers, lochs and big rivers in very low water are often better approached with a single-handed rod - say a 10ft #7 weight. This will allow a more gentle presentation of the fly at close quarters in shallow water.

However, double-handers come into their own when you need to lift longer lengths of line, control and mend the line as it crosses the river and fish with large heavy flies. . They also help where you have obstructions directly behind you like trees or high banks and you need to spey cast. Most double-handed rod ranges include models from 12’ through to 15’, longer rods are available but increasingly the trend is towards shorter, lighter rods. The main reason for this is the huge improvements that have been made in speycasting lines in all their various styles making it easy to cast good fishing distances and turnover large flies and heavy tips with the minimum of physical effort.

Beautiful salmon pictured in the water laying by a double-handed fly rod

Double-Handed Fly Rods Guide

With an ever increasing availability of double-handed fly rod options, it can be hard to work out which one might be right for your needs.

We’ve been selling fly rods for over 40 years and below have pulled together a comprehensive list of the most common questions we get asked:

What sort of double-handed fly rod should I buy?
Does my double-handed fly rod need to be a certain length?
What is a switch fly rod?
What does the weight (#AFTM) of a double-handed fly rod mean?
What does fly rod action mean and what’s best for a double-handed rod?
Are some double-handed fly rods easier to cast than others?
What is a good double-handed fly rod for a newcomer?
Can a double-handed fly rod cast any size flies?

And here are the answers from our team of experts, which we hope will make the process of selecting a double-handed fly rod a bit easier for you.

You may also read our single-handed fly rod guide here plus do also have a look at our general fly rod FAQs and jargon buster.

CHECK OUT OUR GENERAL FLY ROD FAQs

1. WHAT SORT OF DOUBLE-HANDED FLY ROD SHOULD I BUY?

The last decade has changed the way we fly fish for salmon almost beyond recognition. There has probably been greater experimentation and development in this area of the sport than any other. This has led to three distinct styles of modern Spey casting evolving and has made tackle choice a little more complicated than it used to be. To optimise your choice of rod you need to consider the type of rivers you will be fishing and the style of casting you will use.

Having said that, the boundaries between the two main types of rod action are becoming increasingly blurred. New carbon fibre technologies allow faster tip recovery to be a feature of through actioned rods.

Traditional Spey casting

This has more in common with casting the double taper fly lines of yesteryear in as much as a full length line is used. Today a purpose designed Spey casting line is matched with a through-action rod that loads deep into the blank. This is an elegant style of casting at its best with floating and intermediate sinking lines. Full length fly lines with long fast sinking belly sections are more challenging to cast in this style.

Scandinavian / Shooting Head

This style has really come to the fore in recent years and has a lot going for it. A short shooting head fly line (10-14m) is attached to a thin running line and allows efficient casts to be made with a more tip-action orientated rod and a punchy casting style focused on low effort power strokes driven by the bottom hand. This is an easy way to fish sunk lines as the short lengths of line on the water at the point of recasting are easily controlled. A shooting head system is also modular, enabling quick and easy swapping of the shooting head attached to the running line for one with a different sinking density, length, or size.

Skagit Casting

Again another new style, this time from the Skagit river in BC, Canada, using a shooting head line with a short thick front section to cast fast sinking tips and large flies. A new suite of casts have been developed to go with these lines including the Perry Poke, Circle ‘C’ and Snap ‘T’. These are termed ‘sustained anchor casts’ and have the advantage of being less timing critical than other Spey casts. Although this style lacks some elegance and delicacy it more than makes up for this by its ability to overcome difficult bankside conditions and awkward winds. Rods need to have a softer tip and load deeply to maximise the efficiency of this style.

Like most kinds of fishing you will find that trying to use the same rod in every situation will compromise your enjoyment and performance. Most anglers have a small armoury of rods from which to choose the right tool for the given conditions.

2. DOES MY DOUBLE-HANDED FLY ROD NEED TO BE A CERTAIN LENGTH?

Certain rod lengths are better for certain types of water and casting styles (see above):

Small rivers / spates (11–13 ft): shorter rods offer more control and are easier to cast in tight spaces, plus are less physically demanding because they’re lighter
Medium rivers (13–14 ft): rods this length are very versatile as they’re capable of handling most situations with a balance of casting distance and control
Larger rivers / high water (14ft+): the longest rods help lift longer lengths of line off the waters, provide better control for mending the line and offer the greatest casting distance for covering large expanses of open water

Fishing Scenario	Rod Length
High water spring or autumn big river - eg Tay, Tweed	15ft
Low water summer, big river - eg Spey	13ft or 14ft
Small spate river, after summer flood - eg Taw	13ft
Medium river, normal flow - eg Wye	14ft
Sea trout medium river - eg Dovey	13ft
Grilse fishing, summer flow, big river - eg Aberdeen Dee	14ft

3. WHAT IS A SWITCH FLY ROD?

Switch Rods are a relatively new concept and have become very popular in recent years due to their versatility. They are shorter and lighter than traditional double-handers so are essentially mini double-handers:

In reality there are only two groups of fly rods – single and double-handed
Switch rods are short double-handed rods (11’-12’) that give the option of casting both anchor and overhead casts
They generally are lighter with #7/8 weights being the most popular
Ideal for small to medium sized rivers where you’re casting small to medium sized flies
Most salmon or sea-trout anglers will find a switch rod a useful addition to their armoury, and get much enjoyment using these lightweight and versatile double-handed rods
While the list of scenarios where switch rods are useful continues to grow, when faced with factors like strong winds, greater casting distances, long leaders, sink tips, casting large flies or dealing with powerful heavy fish the traditional 13-15ft double-handers perform better

4. WHAT DOES THE WEIGHT (#AFTM) OF A DOUBLE-HANDED FLY ROD MEAN?

The AFTM (Association of Fishing Tackle Manufacturers) rating of a fly rod specifies the recommended fly line weight to be used with that particular rod, ensuring the rod performs at its best and loads correctly when casting. The AFTM number is usually displayed by a “#” followed by a number and it corresponds to the weight in grains of the first 30 feet of a fly line. What AFTM weight fly rod you need will depend on the type of fishing you will be doing (the target fish, type of water, fishing conditions and size of fly). The bigger the fly you wish to cast the bigger the AFTM rating you will need.

Note that the AFTM scale for double-handed rods differs from the AFTM scale for single-handed rods. There are three size differences between the two scales. For example, double-handed AFTM#7 is equivalent to a single-handed AFTM#10. Below are the ratings for double-handed rods:

AFTM #7/8: suitable for smaller rivers and smaller salmon in low to mid water conditions
AFTM #8/9: a popular all round rating covering a variety of condition on medium sized rivers
AFTM #9/10: for the larger fish in higher water conditions that demand bigger flies
AFTM #10/11: for biggest fish in the largest rivers or rivers with powerful flows

Due to the fairly recent development of multiple double-handed fly lines meaning there are large differences between Spey, Skagit and shooting heads, the older AFTM rating system isn’t always precise. Most modern double-handed rod manufacturers now also list on the rod a "grain window" or a specific recommended head weight in grains (e.g. 520–580 grains). It’s probably a more reliable method for matching double-handed lines to double-handed rods as it accounts for the entire weight of the casting head, not just the first 30 feet.

5. WHAT DOES FLY ROD ACTION MEAN AND WHAT’S BEST FOR A DOUBLE-HANDED ROD?

Fly rod action describes two attributes of a fly rod that usually go together. Firstly, the speed that the rod straightens after being flexed (also known as recovery) is described as fast, medium or slow. Secondly, the way the rod bends when it is flexed - a rod can be tip action, middle-tip, middle or through action. A fast action rod will normally bend most at the tip and less so through the rest of the blank, so tip and fast action go together as do through (bending throughout the rod) and slow action.

The ideal double-handed fly rod action depends on your casting style, skill level, and fishing conditions. There is no single "best" action; instead, select the one that matches your needs and preferred technique

Fast action (tip-flex)

These rods bend mostly in the top third of the blank, requiring a quicker, more precise casting stroke and are generally less forgiving for beginners. Good for achieving maximum casting distance, fishing in windy conditions, and using the Scandinavian (Scandi) casting style with short shooting heads. It generates high line speed, makes long casts easier, and handles heavy lines/sinking tips and large flies well, however it demands excellent timing and offer less feel when fighting a fish, potentially increasing the risk of a broken tippet

Medium Action (mid-flex / progressive)

The most versatile and popular choice, as they offer a good balance between flexibility and stiffness, with the rod bending in the top half of the blank. Good for anglers of all skill levels, especially beginners, as they provide a more relaxed casting rhythm and are forgiving of timing errors. They work well in a variety of conditions and are suitable for Skagit casting with sink tips or traditional full-length Spey lines. Versatile, easy to load, and provides good feel when playing fish, however they may not achieve the extreme distances of a fast action rod in expert hands

Slow Action (full-flex / through action)

These rods bend deeply into the butt section, sometimes along their entire length and require a smooth, deliberate casting motion. Good for smaller rivers, delicate presentations at shorter distances, and traditional Spey casting styles with full-length lines. Excellent for protecting light tippets and absorbing the shock of a fighting fish, but can struggle in windy conditions or when using heavy flies, and generally not suited for long-range casting

6. ARE SOME DOUBLE-HANDED FLY RODS EASIER TO CAST THAN OTHERS?

Yes, some will be easier to cast than others depending on the casting style, rod action, rod length and type of fly line used. However, thanks to modern rod and line technology developments it’s now much easier to cast longer distances with less physical effort. Factors affecting ease of casting are:

Rod action: through action rods are easier for beginners to load and best for Spey casting styles using full length lines. Faster tip action rods generate higher line speeds and therefore allow more distance when casting but require better timing and experience
Rod weight (AFTM line # rating): heavier weighted rods make it easier to cast larger, heavy flies, whereas lighter weighted rods require less power to cast
Rod length: shorter rods are easier to cast in overgrown areas and are less physically demanding over the course of a day, whereas longer rods can cast further and offer better line control

7. WHAT IS A GOOD DOUBLE-HANDED FLY ROD FOR A NEWCOMER?

As with most questions relating to fly rods, the answer very much depends on the type of fishing you’ll mainly be doing. In general, you should try and get the best quality rod your budget can afford, but save the more expensive options for when you have more experience and ability, or may need specific rods to cover specific types of fishing.

If using Spey lines: A 12-14ft rod with a #8/9 weight rating and a medium action and more through action is a good starting point for a beginner using Spey lines, as the length and weight provide a decent balance of castability and versatility for various river sizes and conditions, plus it is more forgiving and easier to learn with
If using Scandi lines: While the rod length and weight rating remain the same as above, rods with a fast action and tip action are much better for Scandi lines
Switch rods: Arguably a jack of all trades but master of none, a switch rod can be used for both anchor casts and overhead casts. It is perhaps best described as a mini double-handed rod. It is ideal for small to medium-sized rivers or pools where you are casting small to medium-sized flies.

8. CAN A DOUBLE-HANDED FLY ROD CAST ANY SIZE FLIES?

Within reason, the answer is yes. Any fly one might reasonably expect to catch a salmon, sea trout or steelhead with can be cast by most double-handed rods. If however you tied a 3 foot long fly loaded with tungsten beads then any fly rod would struggle. But double-handed rods are longer and more powerful than single handed ones and so can handle heavier, larger flies actually used to catch fish. Remember that a heavier and thicker fly line will better cast a bigger fly than a lighter, thinner fly line.

Man casting a double-handed fly rod whilst stood in the river

Guide by Sportfish expert Chris Ryan

STILL NEED SOME HELP?

Give our friendly team a call on 01544 327111 and don’t forget you can try before you buy on the water at both our Sportfish stores and book casting tuition at the Sportfish Game Fishing Centre.