The Gear You Need to Swing Choosing Equipment for on Great Lakes Tributaries By Jason Swingen f you do a search for the perfect swinging rod or swinging gear Iyou’ll most likely find a bunch of information about fishing big West Coast rivers. A rod that works out there can work in the Great Lakes area, but it may not be the best solution. Rivers in the Midwest, like the Bois Brule in northern Wisconsin and tributaries on the North Shore of Lake Superior are not as big, don’t have as high of flows, and the fish generally aren’t as large as on the West Coast. This means that you will be able to use shorter two-handed rods and lighter lines to swing. Instead of going over every option of rod, reel, and shooting head setup, I will cover the most common setups used in the Great Lakes tributaries and let you cus- tom fit your combo for how you like to fish. Make sure you have the rest of the essential gear for Great Lakes steelhead before we cover the gear you will need to dive into the swinging game. The flies, rod, reel and line components that are at the heart of an effective setup for swinging on Great Lakes tributaries. It can be extremely confusing trying Lakes tributaries: an 11-foot 7wt. enclosed spool for not much more than line that you hold onto. The skinnier to rig up a swinging rod. The length, a standard reel. Each of the following running line is what allows the shoot- power, and extra handle of two-handed Here are a couple of great switch rod op- reels are fully enclosed except for the ing head to, well… shoot out of the fly rods complicate the proprietary weight tions: budget options. Enclosed reels are not rod and across the river. system, so you can no longer simply a deal-breaker, but will give you a little pair an 8wt line to an 8wt rod. Instead, Budget Options (under $300): Reding- extra peace-of-mind. There is some give and take when it weight shooting head systems are mea- ton Dually, Echo Swing comes to running line. The skinnier sured in grains. So we are no longer Midrange Options ($300-$550): Reding- Click and Pawl Reels the line the further you can cast, but it talking about an imaginary weight, but ton Chromer, Echo Compact Spey, Loop Many spey reels are built with a click and also makes it difficult to hold onto in instead talking about an actual grain Evotec, TFO Axiom 2 Switch pawl and do not have a drag system (like the cold months when you will be using weight of a shooting head and sink-tip. High-End Option ($550 and over): Sage the Orvis Battenkill). There is no partic- it. Alternately, a thicker line is easier If that isn’t confusing enough, you also X Switch ular advantage to these reels except that to handle, but will not allow for cast- need to decide what strength running they are louder, “objectively cooler,” and ing quite as far. You don’t want to go line to use, what types of sink-tips you Reel more exciting when you catch a fish and too light, however, because you do not should have, as well as a vast assort- The most important factors when pick- have to worry about palming the reel to want to break your running line (espe- ment of flies to use. ing out a reel are weight, line capacity, create drag. They are great options, but cially if there is a fish on the other end). and a fully enclosed spool. if you are new to swinging it is better to Having thicker line also causes drag on Don’t worry though, I’m here to try stick with a reel with an actual working your guides as you cast and will help to and sort through all the new jargon, ex- Weight drag system. straighten out your shooting head at the plain how to build your perfect swing- You don’t need to skimp on weight, and end of your cast. Having running line ing setup, and get you out on the water I don’t necessarily mean weight as in the Budget Options (under $150): Reding- that is too light will allow you to cast and hooked up to a giant steelhead! I size of reel (7-9wt), but in how much the ton Behemoth, Echo Bravo further, but your shooting head will have a couple examples below with a reel weighs. Often a reel on the heavier Midrange Options ($150-$250): Loop land in a clump. Generally, 30 to 50-lb complete list of my current setup, and side will balance out your 11-foot rod Q, Lamson Liquid HD, Orvis Battenkill running line is used for the majority of my recommendation for the perfect better than a lighter one. It can be tiring High-End Option ($250 and over): Sage setups in the Great Lakes. budget setup. and out-right frustrating to hold the end Spey of your rod tip up all day long. Each rod OPST’s Lazer line is more expensive The Eight Pieces of Gear You Will balances differently though, and a rod Backing than regular mono (which you can use), Need to Swing with a down-locking reel seat will often Your standard 20- or 30-lb backing will but it will last for years, shoots well, Other than the basic steelhead gear balance better with a lighter reel than work just fine. Just make sure you use and doesn’t tangle. you should have, this is everything you one with an up-locking reel seat and backing that is heavier than the heavi- need to get started swinging flies for longer bottom handle. If you have a 7wt est leader you think you’ll ever use. If You should spool up at least 30 to 40 steelhead. switch rod get at least a 7wt reel, pos- you are going to fish for king salmon yards of shooting line on your reel. sibly going up to 9 or 10wt reel will help and may tie on a 20-lb leader, you should Rod balance your rod. have backing that is at least 20 lbs. Fill Budget Option: Berkley Big Game You can use nearly any type of fly your reel up with at least 100 yards of Midrange Option: OPST Lazer Line rod to swing. Single-handed or two- Arbor Size backing, then add more to make sure handed, 9-foot or 13-foot. They will Mid-arbor reels are ideal for shooting your spool is full when the rest of your Shooting Head all work, but if you are going to pri- head-style line setups. They allow you to shooting head system is tied on. If a fish There are two general categories of marily swing for Great Lakes migra- add a decent amount of backing behind takes you over 100 yards into your back- shooting heads: Scandi and Skagit. As tory fish, you will want an 11-foot 7wt your running line, shooting head, sink- ing, you have more problems than sim- Great Lakes steelheaders, we are more two-handed switch rod (a two-handed tips, and leader, while still allowing for ply running out of backing. interested in the latter. Although some- rod that allows for spey as well somewhat quick line retrieval. what similar in idea, Scandi and Skagit as overhand casting). A 7wt will allow Budget Option: Magreel Backing vary greatly in use, techniques, and you to throw nearly any size streamer Enclosed Spool Midrange Option: RIO Backing applications. Since Skagit is the more and should handle any anadromous fish Running line is much smaller in diam- popular version, the rest of my gear in the Midwest (except for maybe a eter than your typical fly line. Having Running Line recommendations will be based on a king salmon). Eleven feet is the sweet an enclosed spool will keep your run- Instead of a weight-forward fly line that Skagit style head. spot for rod length. The longer your ning line from passing in between your has a skinnier back end to allow the line rod, the less effort you will need to put reel and spool which can cause your it to shoot out of your rod, a shooting head Scandi into your casts, but going too long can to kink and weaken or, even worse, get system is broken into separate parts: The Scandi heads work well for the tributar- hinder fishing in tighter quarters. So if stuck while you are fighting a fish. Spey shooting head is the weight-forward part ies in Scandinavia where there are few- you are just getting started, get what reels are always built this way, but you of your line and the running line takes er trees, the water is much wider, shal- is proven to work in 95% of the Great can pick up a standard fly reel with an the place of the skinnier section of fly lower, and often clearer. Scandi heads are much longer (30-40ft) and are typi- You can buy a larger section of T8, T11, cally used with long 13- to 15-foot (or or T14 sinking line and build your own longer) spey rods. A cast known as a sink-tips by cutting down to length. This “touch and go” cast allows for extreme is the cheapest option, but you will need distances, but the long, skinnier head to be able to tie your own loops at the doesn’t allow for the sink-tips or large end of each tip. flies which are often used when fishing the Great Lakes tributaries. Midrange Options ($25/tip): OPST Sink-Tips, RIO Sink-Tips, RIO’s iMow Skagit Tip Kit (6 tips) Skagit heads are ideal for fishing mi- gratory steelhead and browns in the RIO’s Mow tips are all 10 feet in length Midwest. Skagit heads are far more with different lengths of sinking line compact at 15 to 25ft. Compared to integrated into the tip. They also make Scandi heads, they are easier to cast, iMow tips that start with an intermediate and allow you to throw heavy sink-tips section instead of floating, and have also as well as large flies. recently come out with a multi-density tip with three different sink rates built There are many different brands of into each tip. Skagit heads these days, each with their own pros and cons. One of the I would recommend getting at least two most popular brands is the OPST Com- tips when starting out. Either a Run and mando head. If you want to go a little Bucket from OPST, or a 5-foot float/5- deeper into the differences in Skagit foot sink and 10-foot sink from RIO. heads there is a great article from Hatch Example: If you are using a 300 to 400 Magazine, find it on their website. grain head with an 11-foot 7wt rod you The author with a Great Lakes tributary steelhead caught on the swing. will want to use the medium Mow or Budget Option (under $20): Aventik iMow heads or the 168 grain Commando Don't Ruin Your Sink-Tips Minnow, or Egg-Sucking Leech. It can Shooting Head Tips. To make a loop-to-loop connection from be easy to get caught up in the hype, Midrange Options ($50-$60): OPST my sink-tip to my leader, I like to tie a that swinging flies automatically means Commando Head, Airflo Skagit Scout, Ten-foot PolyLeaders and VersiLeaders short section (less than a foot) of 25- you need to tie on a giant intruder, but Orvis Mission Skagit can also work, but are better suited for lb pound mono using a non-slip mono using smaller flies will make it easier Scandi Options ($50-$60): Scientific lighter fishing applications. loop knot. The heavier line will not cut to catch more fish, and eventually, you Anglers Scandi, Airflo Scandi Long through your sink-tip's end loop like a can start experimenting with bigger Leader lighter 12-lb mono will. Next connect and more intricate intruders. The most important factor to consider Your leader may change depending on your 12-lb leader to the heaver section when getting a shooting head is match- water clarity and what type of sink-tip using an ant swivel or blood knot. For choosing colors, I use the same ba- ing it up with your rod. You need to you are using. However, the majority sic color selection system as any type have the right amount of weight to load of the time you will want a 3- to 5-foot Flies of fishing. On dark days or in dirty wa- the rod and turn that energy into a for- section of 10- to 15-lb monofilament. Sorry, there aren’t going to be a ton of se- ter use a darker fly, and on a bright day ward cast. If you are using an 11-foot If you are fishing heavier sink-tips, a crets divulged here. That may seem like or in clear water use a brighter, more 7wt rod, depending on the action and shorter leader will keep your fly down, a generic statement to keep my favorite natural fly. Eventually, you will find power of the rod, a head with a grain but if you are fishing shallower runs flies to myself, but honestly, the best fly flies that work for you and give you weight anywhere between 350 and 400 with a lighter sink-tip or the water is you can use is the one you have the most confidence. grains should work. OPST is extremely extremely clear you will want to tie on confidence in. I understand that it can be helpful at getting you the right grain a longer and lighter leader. You don’t difficult if you are just starting out, but Yes, certain patterns will outfish oth- weight head for your rod. Call OPST need to overthink it too much. Just pick you don’t necessarily have to begin fill- ers, but they can change day to day, and or find their grain weight chart online. up a mini spool of 12-lb Maxima Ultra- ing up a new box full of swinging flies. none of that is important if you aren’t green, and you will be covered for most Although after you start swinging, filling getting your fly in front of a fish and Sink-Tips situations. Since the fish usually come a box or two with swinging flies is the presenting it in a way that entices a fish Skagit heads aren’t meant to have a up from behind a swung fly, you don’t next natural step (and part of the fun). to eat. leader tied directly to them. No mat- need to worry as much about using up ter what Skagit head you buy, you will your expensive fluorocarbon line. Using It is a good idea to start out with a fly that need to add a tip to the front of it. There monofilament for a leader can be ben- you can cast. You aren’t going to catch Editor's Note: Jason Swingen is a Gitche are a handful of different brands you eficial since the vicious strikes can be a fish if the fly you have is too heavy Gumee Chapter board member and resides can choose from, but the best options, somewhat absorbed by a leader with a or bulky to cast effectively. Start with a in Duluth. Check out his outdoors blog at in my opinion, are from RIO and OPST. little more stretch like a mono leader. , Slumpbuster, Muddler www.js-outdoors.com

The author spey casts on the Brule River in Wisconsin. Midwest streams are smaller than those on the West Coast and require a different gear setup for swinging.