Can't believe, but I agree with Philster re Switch Rods
Philster said:
Beulah fly rods is one of our sponsors here. they make very nice 10.5 foot two handed "switch rods" in both 7/8 and 8/9, and other sizes as well. I think they run under $400 even in the larger sizes. I love my 7/8... Awesome overhead, and a very good at spey casting as well.
The Switch Rods can be used while wading, from a float tube, from a boat or as I saw yesterday from a kayak. A young man across the river was doing some awesome casting with a switch rod in his kayak. No double hauling just roll casting to get the line and fly out, a good back cast and booming underhand casting to put a good sized fly 70 to 80' from his kayak.
I was never able to Spey Cast with my Switch Rods, but they are superb to Skagit cast with the Rio Skagit lines and the OB floating lines. My 5/6 Switch rod and the OB 10wt floater are a perfect match.
The Switch rods enable me to fish in really tight situations with no room for any back cast at all. All of the rods have enough backbone to really lay the graphite to a fish and get the fish away from roots, brush and other stuff in the water.
As long as I'm able to fish, I will own at least one switch rod.