pkg,
Yes, the upper handle length and other indicate 7wt single hand x 10', fast taper and recovery (call it a 7 1/2 wt in reality) with 4" lower handle added for "switch" and/or two hand over head.
Which btw is exactly what I fished this afternoon on a small Erie trib. Mine a Scott S3 9 1/2' 7wt with a 4" lower I had custom added.......pretty darn close.
Great for small to mid sized tribs plus river smallies. The added lower helps greatly spey casting. You will find that shorter, faster rods are more touchy to spey cast but, thats what they make all these neat little heads for now.
The shorter, faster and lighter the rod the less the grain window.
You need to think 6wt switch grains........ plus - minus 335'ish .........but one more thing to add problems = short . Your a foot shorter than common switch rods and a faster single hand type action. That foot makes a big difference percent wise on the shorter end of things two handed.
Considering your bum shoulder (there with ya pal.......former union Tin Knocker, my right shoulder is toast)........starting spey casting, river smalliess which kindof like a bigger swung bug of bunny, the rod and the fact that you can put light poly leaders on the 7wt salmon/steel long belly wf-f .............all things considered .............a short little 20' ish, tapered head with good delivery power at about 300-325 ish which you WILL need to add some 6'-10' steel/salmon poly leaders on or t8 is the ticket.
I use on mine a Rio Scandi Short Versi Tip #6 BUT, IT'S A WHOLE 10' MULTI SINK TIP PACKAGE AT THIS POINT AND NOT AVAILABLE HEAD ONLY............YET.........= $$$$. You probably don't need all that nor do you need 10' sink tips on Elk Creek either (just poly).
Other Choices -
Wulff Ambush 7 or 8
Beulah Tonic 300 -325
Or......you could take a Beulah Elixer 6wt switch which would feel really sweet and be o.k. with 6'-8' poly BUT.......it's going to feel a littlw long for you on that 10' 2hander spey casting, especially starting out. You could cut the tip back on that triangle taper a few feet, nail know on a mono loop, but, lot of folks hate doing that.
Any of those four will work well guaranteed .......they will feel different in regards to smooth versus clunky a bit however.
The Elixer will feel smooth even cut back a bit and handle the majority of what you want. It will lack on large fly size compared to all (Smallmouth) and lack a little in windy conditions. It will take a little more at getting good spey casting with.
The Rio Scandi Short and likely the Wulff Ambush (have not tried the latter, here very good things) will be in the middle. Pretty smooth,nice, handle big flys to 3" +ish tubes and handle some light sink tips in the 60 grain range( 7'-8' T8)
The Beulah Tonic will have the strongest power of delivery, handle simular tips and flys' to a bit larger yet. It will be the easiest for you to learn spey cast with and will lean towards water born (snap,circle,double) spey casts preference. It will be best in wind (which can be a bitch some days with little,light two handers btw). It will handle bigger bass tube leeches and top water hair bugs best. It will allow you to fish a bit bigger Erie Tribs like the Grand or Kitty) with enough sink tip, even on lower ends in all but high water.
You will need another spool for your reel or another reel or be willing to take the long belly wf-f on and off. You will need the new spool loaded with backing and a smaller diameter shoot line (light heads) w) tactical loop like the smaller Airflo Ridg run line which won't wilt in summer river smallie heat like the Rio same will. You will need some basic Rio or airfloSALMON/STEELHEAD sized versi leaders in float (bass top water if need.....maybe not) clear inter. 3" and fastest sink if Beluah Elixer or some T8 chunks if Tonic head. If Tonic or Wulff your likely better off just cutting up some T7 or T8 first in 4 1/2', 6 1/2' and 8 1/2' lengths (from 20' length) and adding poly/versi as need..........but, I would add a clear inter. poly/asap urgent for both small trib Steelhead and summer river smallies cause they are great with weighted fly's in such and even 4 1/2' T8 will be to much in some little tribs............and .........low flow summer river smallies not needed.........you can also use for topwater smallie too.
Give Nick a call at the shop tomorrow. Can also send you spool in for him to load up backing, shoot line head. etc.
And no I am not associated with the shop or other in any way shape form at a professional / compensated level by any means ........no free feathers for me doing this
........would not take them anyways
..........you just happened to catch me while loafing (time) at my real job, for a couple days......busy,back at it tomorrow.
Best of luck........