Short Rod Lovers Unite!!

[*Hootie]

I know I am not the only one who prefers a shorter rod, 6 to 6 1/2 footers. And for various reasons, transport problems, (biggest that will fit my car), fishing in smaller boats, (don't want to slap my partner in the face with my backswing), and, I simply like fishing shorter rods. Guess part of that is a holdover from when a 5 1/2 ft rod was the norm. Now I have noticed 6 1/2 footers are getting left out of the newer versions. I have seen a lot of new rods I would be interested in, but the shortest available is 6'8''. Sorry cant use it. Looks like us short rod guys are being weeded out of the market. Oh well, as Bob Dylan sang, ''The times, they are a changing''. Guess I am kinda giving away my age with that one, huh.

Hootie

[Highhawk1948]

I have 2 short, 5 1/2 foot rods that I use for finess fishing. I purchased them off of e-bay. Both are quality baitcasting rods with pistol grips. (Left over from when that is what you used). One is medium, and the other is medium heavy. They work great with small baitcasters with 10 pound test. I use them for Sliders, wacky worming, dropshot, and small crankbaits. I have caught up to 5 pound fish on them. Love'um. I also like 6 1/2 foot rods over the 7-71/2 foot rods. I have 2, 7 foot rods in the boat and use them for pitching and flipping regular texas rigged plastics but am not afraid of throwing those short rods!

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have some 6 footers for close quarters spinnerbaiting and spooks. I've build a few for others as well that had a hard time finding what they want over the counter.

[Goose52]

I like short rods (which I personally define as 6ft and under), I like long rods; all are tools and suited for different jobs.

I do have two short pistol-gripped casting rods (5ft light and a 5 1/2ft medium) - never use 'em. Just can't get back into pistol grip rods. OTOH, I have some straight-gripped/trigger BC rods that I use all the time. I fish a lot of ponds with overhanging trees and brush and short rods are very handy. I've got a 6ft medium-light trigger rod that I've caught 96 bass on in the last 6 weeks. I've got another 6ft medium-light cranking rod that's great for light cranks. It never got much attention from anyone, but Shimano had a nifty short BC rod in the last Crucial series with the full cork grip - a 5'9" medium heavy - a great rod for all kinds of baits in close quarters. I've got an older 6ft medium with an Ambassadeur 5000 on it that gets dusted off and used from time to time.

In spinning rods, I have a 3ft medium that is handy when hiking and I know I've got fishable water on the trail (it's also great for clearing spider webs across the trail... ). I've got a 5ft-4in five-piece pack rod that fits into a backpack and is always in the trunk of the car for those moments of opportunity. I've got a 5ft ultra-light and a 5 1/2ft light-power that see service from time to time.

Short rods are great, I like 'em, but in the right time and place. I'm just as comfortable using a 7 1/2ft rod when the need arises...

[cueball]

I would suggest not giving up on 6'8" rods. If you compare to 6'6" models, a lot of the time the extra two inches is behind the reel seat, so the effective length is basically the same.

[Capt.Bob]

I have some 6 footers for close quarters spinnerbaiting and spooks. I've build a few for others as well that had a hard time finding what they want over the counter.

As DVC said, I have my custom rod builder make a lot of rods for customers that cant find what they want, they can dream up a lot of different design's and special lengths, but haven't found one that couldn't be built, and usually unless it is an extravagant request, for the same price or less than the brand name rods they normally buy.

[smalljaw67]

I have 3 rods over 7', then it is a 6'10" rod and a 6'9" rod and the others are all 6'6" with a custom 6' rod I had done for one purpose, to throw 3/8oz and 1/2oz spinnerbaits under overhangs. I got that rod and actually won the first tournament I used it in which paid for the rod but it doesn't do anything else very well. I like my 6'3" rods also, I have a Fenwick Elite Thech smallier rod and a G.Loomis Jerkbait series rod in that length for jerkbaits but the Fenwick is now used for square bills around cover too. The only diadvantage to using the shorter rods is the distance on the cast and if you are using deep divers it makes a big difference which is why I have a 7' glass cranking rod but thats it for me, perhaps a 7'3" cranking rod may be next if I have a need to get below 20' but right now the waters I fish don't call for it so the 7' is good enough.

[*Hootie]

I would suggest not giving up on 6'8" rods. If you compare to 6'6" models, a lot of the time the extra two inches is behind the reel seat, so the effective length is basically the same.

The length behind the reel seat isn't an issue, it's the length behind the car seat. HAHA!

Hootie

[S Hovanec]

it's the length behind the car seat. HAHA!

That shouldn't be an issue. I can get a 8'er (1pc) in the cabin my wife's Malibu and probably a 10'er if I'd flip half of the seat down and put it in thru the trunk.

[James Yalem]

All my baitcasting rods are 5'6". Of course, they are not new, but I have lots of them in heavy and medium heavy. My two bass spinning rods are 6'. I really don't like rods longer than 6' because I sit down when I fish. You can get pistol grip 5'6" rods from Custom Angle Rods.

[*Hootie]

That shouldn't be an issue. I can get a 8'er (1pc) in the cabin my wife's Malibu and probably a 10'er if I'd flip half of the seat down and put it in thru the trunk.

Do that in my Smartcar and I'll be impressed.

Hootie

[S Hovanec]

Do that in my Smartcar and I'll be impressed.

Hootie

Not gonna happen! I don't even fit in a Smartcar!

[Deleted account]

I don't think its a matter of preferring longer vs shorter per se, depends on what you're doing, I won't fish poppers with anything longer than 6', I prefer short rods for pitching spinnerbaits and cranks in close quarters, I like a 7'6" (old low mod flipping stick) for jigging spoons, most other things I'm somewhere between 6'6" and 7', I just go with what works and feels best, for some things rod length is critical for others not so much, but to each his own...

[MichBassMan]

Hooti, Getting back to the context and implication of your original post "short rod guys are being weeded out of the market." I agree with your observation. For those of us who (for whatever reason) prefer rods 6' 6" or shorter the selections are fewer every year.

[*Hootie]

Hooti, Getting back to the context and implication of your original post "short rod guys are being pweeded out of the market." I agree with your observation. For those of us who (for whatever reason) prefer rods 6' 6" or shorter the selections are fewer every year.

Thank you MBM, it usually takes about three posts before context gets completely lost on a topic. Thanks for picking it back up. Thats what I was talking about, not personal preference.

Sheesh!!!

Hootie

[J Francho]

Looks like us short rod guys are being weeded out of the market.

Or the market is weeding out the shorter rods. If there was a demand for them, they'd still be in production. One thing to keep in mind, short rods may not be marketed toward bass anglers, so you might be looking in the wrong places.

[*Hootie]

you might be looking in the wrong places.

Suggestions?

Hootie

[J Francho]

I was just digging

Not sure what you're looking for exactly, but Saint Croix has a lot of options.

Saint Croix Avid has 9 casting models and 21 spinning rods that are 6' 6" or less. I have the AVC62MXF that is perfect for a lot tight quarter presentations - topwaters, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, senkos, does it all. There's a Legend Tournament Walleye LTBC59MXF that you might like, too. I've held it, but not fished it. Cool little rod.

[*Hootie]

J Francho, Just been looking myself. It seems you are right. The manufacturers are making them available, just not putting them out there. I saw some 6ft Premiers, also some 6 ft falcons, and some 6 1/2 ft Lomis GL2's. Just not stocked in my local BPS. Guess I will just order online.

Thanks a bunch.

Hootie

[S Hovanec]

There's a Legend Tournament Walleye LTBC59MXF. Cool little rod.

Yes it does look like a cool rod. That thing would be a dock skipping fool! Looks like a neat blank to put a pistol grip on too!

[J Francho]

Speaking of pistol grips...I've often thought about a pistol grip on a flipping stick, but with the butt end of the blank poking through, and fighting butt.

[bigdawg74]

i have a 6.5 and a 5.5 that are always in the canoe with me. i love the 5.5 i plant the kids ontop of a brush pile and pull rock bass out of the water with them for hours with that rod.

[The Rooster]

Speaking of pistol grips...I've often thought about a pistol grip on a flipping stick, but with the butt end of the blank poking through, and fighting butt.

I have seen a rod like this before. Can't remember where or even when but I thought it was mighty strange when I did. Seems the BPS Extreme once used to offer one like it but I'm still not sure that's where I saw it.

On the subject of short rods, I'm a 6'6" rod guy but learning to like a 7' rod somewhat. Once had a 6' rod for cranks that was wonderful though. For 1/4 oz. cranks nothing beats that size for me. Gave it to dad and got a 6'6" to replace it and wish I had it back now. Wouldn't dream of asking though.

[SissySticks]

I really like 6' spinning rods. They just feel great to me. I use them for a lot of things. I also use some 6'6" and 7', but really like the 6' whenever I can get away with it (read, anytime I'm in shallow-ish water). The one baitcaster I actually use is a 6'7" with the split pistol grip and the blank sticking out the butt. Marvelous finesse baitcaster, but not less than 6'6", I fear. G-Blanks rods makes them.

On the topic of availability, I have started making my own 6' spinning rods because in addition to the rod length, I also like a short tennessee handle on my spinning rods, which are even harder to find than short rods!

[Alpster]

I have a couple of 5 1/2' rods and several 6 footers. I love em as much as my lengthy rods.

Ronnie