Posted by Ben elsewhere but I f*cked up whilst splitting a thread - sorry Ben 
O.K........
Some details about the new line, long post but it's been a long development for this one.
A bit of background first.
There has been a lot of interest in "switch" rods over the last 12 - 18 months and one of the questions I have been asked most recently is "I have X rod but cannot find a line to work it, what would you use?" When we were sold these things from the US, we were told that the rods were designed to be used single handed or double handed, that you can "switch" between the two.
Problem is that neither one or two handed casts were ever going to feel good this way. A line that worked well two handed was uncomfortable to use on the end of a long rod all day and, a line that worked the rod well single handed was like casting fresh air when using the same rod two handed. Some lines sort of bridge the gap but really excel in neither situation.
It quickly became apparent that very few really wanted to "switch" this anyway and most of the rods in the UK at least were being used as short two handed rods by anglers chasing salmon or sea trout on smaller rivers or on the larger rivers in low water conditions therefore, it makes sense to line them for that purpose. The aim was to produce a line that would cast well two handed on 10'6" - 11' 6" rods and allow delicate presentations on long tapered leaders with small flies, also lump gear about, cast well over a range of distances and, be manageable on that length of rod for Spey casting in confined spaces.
The length of the line from the tip to the end of the compound rear taper (colour change) is 30'8". The rear taper allows tight sharp loops to be formed off the tip from dead line casts, when fishing in tight spots, when moving heavy stuff and also allows more line to be carried into the D loop for longer casts where there is space to do so. The total castable (lift & throw) length of head is about 37'.
The weight distribution took a long time to get right, a good Spey casting line puts the weight under the rod tip so tends to be back weighted. This is fine when casting the whole head but with a short length of line out, they often feel too light to provide any sort of feel and accuracy suffers, particularly in adverse conditions.
After several prototypes and a lot of casting by a number of different anglers of differing abilities we believe that we have it right, final samples arrived about two weeks ago and I was straight out to give them a throw. I've cast the 6/7 line on Orvis Helios & Access #7 switch rods and also on a MacKenzie 11'2" #7/8 (this really does want the 7/8)
I tried Spey casting the line with a 15' 10lb tapered Varivas salmon leader, turnover was very controllable, stable loops at all ranges, performed well at 40' from feet to fly and also screamed out to 75' + with little effort when required, also felt good overhead when used two handed.
Went from the tapered leader to 6' then 10' intermediate salmon polyleaders which posed no problem at all. The real test would be how it handled the nasty stuff. The 6/7 managed to circle out a 10' ex fast sink salmon polyleader and carried it to the target with out any problem at all so I just kept chucking junk on the front of it until gave up.
It coped fine with 10' of Airflo T10 and 7' of T14 providing that the colour change was at the rod tip. The limit for me was 15' of Rio T8 material which is far more tip than I would ever try to fish on a #7 switch outfit, the line carried it but with all that on the front, the length of line I was trying to control was becoming an issue on an 11' rod. If I was going to fish this sort of gear on the line regularly then I would probably cut off the 8" level tip and whip a loop onto the front, this would make life easier but the line will cope with it uncut.
Sizes will be as above, exact delivery date is TBC but I know Mike is pushing the factory as hard as he can
Really looking forward to this hitting the market, anyone want to buy a Beulah Elixir from me?
Cheers
Ben
