Green Machine (10’ 4” 3/4 Switch – 4 Piece)

I built this rod from a Roger Penrose single handed 10’ 3/4 weight blank. I extended the length by 4 inches and added a 2 handed grip. The guides are single foot with ceramic inserts from Angler’s Roost and the reel seat is from Utmost.  The reel seat has a green graphite inlay and the rod is a dark green.  I used Evergreen thread with some silver accents.

Grips are custom made and oversize.  I like the larger size for 2 handed work, but not sure about when I use it for singlehanded casting.  Will just have to use it more and then decide if I want to reduce the grip diameter.

Shown here with a Pfleuger 1495 1/2 classic reel.  I have also used an Albright Bugati 7/8 large arbor reel with this rod.  I tried various lines, including making some custom shooting heads, but finally settled on the Wulf Triangle Taper Ambush 4 weight line. It works beautifully on this rod for both 2 hand casting (spey) and for nymph casting.  It is 195 grain line with o a 20’ front taper, making it really nice for working in the rivers here where you have so little back cast room.

Recently got to give this rod a work out on the Naches River in Washington state.  The Naches flows down the eastern slope of Mount Rainier and is fed my many high mountain rivers and spring fed streams. No big ones, but got plenty of smaller cutthroat and rainbow trout.  So at least now the “skunk” is off the rod.