Swinging flies is quite simple really, that is what intrigues me with it so much. The set up and rigging is easy and so is the casting after a few days of practice. But yet on some days it can be a real challenge to coax a Steelhead into taking your fly. And that's where part of the addiction or habit is born.

Set Up

The rig is easy, I recommend anything from a 11' to 12 and half foot rod. In the 7 or 8 weight class. These rods will work anywhere on the Pere Marquette and other rivers similar in its size. Yes, you have plenty of room to Spey cast here. Some people are surprised by that when they actually come and swing flies with me. Is that you can use a Spey rod or Switch rod, and actually make nice Spey casts with plenty of room. The long rod with allow you to have better line control, and mend easier. I recommend my R.S. Reyher rod the PM series 11 half foot 7 weight or Sage is Z-Axis 11ft 8 weight is a great sink tip rod.

As far as the lines that is easy to. If you wish to use a full Spey line you can or a shooting head system works well too. For tips that is something you will have to play around with depending on water height. T-14 or T-11 works well cut some indifferent lengths, and experiment with them as to what swims your fly better and gets it to the bottom more.

Winter Tip

You find in the winter that a lot of times a fish wont charge the fly as fast because of the colder water temps. Instead it will pluck or pull a little on your bug. Stay with that fish, just don't give up go back through the run with a smaller fly of the same color. If the original fly had flash try something more dull. If you still don't connect with the fish, try running then the original pattern again. But don't give up I had many instances like this, you have player who is interested so stay on him. With a little patience, and wits of out smarting the fish you will be rewarded.