Where Have All The Shorter Rods Gone???

[jtesch]

I broke out my trusty 6'3"crucial 1st gen spinning rod today (still one of my favorite rods) and realized that there are vary few high quality rods made in the 6' to 6'6"range anymore. Is it just a market swing toward longer rods or is there a good reason for it. Shimano doesn't have a single rod in the Cumara, Crucial or Compre lineup under 6'8"

[kickerfish1]

Angler preference has had the most impact. Folks now are preffering the added legnth more often than not. Really outside of jerkbaits, topwater, or travel / storage purposes a longer rod is more appealing for casting distance, hook sets, and fishing deeper water.

I realized the same thing just a few weeks ago as I suddenly was in the market for a shorter to use for fishing a few smaller private waters with a friend where a rod under 7 foot is needed for travel purposes in his truck. All my rod purchases over the last few years have been rods over 7 feet except a few jerkbait and topwater rods.

I looked at some Denali rods and most are only over 7 feet. Most of the new rod lines start around 6'9.

It may be best to have a custom built...

[Kevin Dush]

St Croix Avid and Legend Elite series both have many short options. I've been eyeballing a 6'0" MF Avid just for dock skipping...

[SudburyBasser]

Shimano doesn't have a single rod in the Cumara, Crucial or Compre lineup under 6'8"

 

I own a Shimano Compre 6-6. Additionally I have a Quantum Smoke and a St. Croix Mojo Bass in that length. I would argue there are still plenty of good shorter rods.

[Darren.]

I am a big fan of shorter rods. 6'6" is about the longest I like.

My favorite spinning rod is a 5'9" Compre with which I am quite accurate. Can't say the same for my 6'6" spinning rod. For casting it is between my 6' and 6'6".

[CJV]

G. Loomis has some smaller rods.

[0119]

Market swing for sure.  But they dictate market swing.  Manufacturers control what we see and drown us in 'expert' pro's and even use forums and blogs of sponsored angler's to manipulate desire, style and profit.  When we see long rod sales start to fall flat, we will start reading about some new wonder techniques which require short rods all for the true purpose of sparking more sales.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I use my 5'5 but i love the long rods cast distance with ease is,great especially when im bank or yak fish. If i get up close to cover say a blowdown. I pull out a 6'0 ugly stick with a quantum spin reels. Easy casting far very close. Thats really the only time i use it

[jtesch]

I own a Shimano Compre 6-6. Additionally I have a Quantum Smoke and a St. Croix Mojo Bass in that length. I would argue there are still plenty of good shorter rods.

My point is that compared to 5 years ago there are far fewer shorter rods made. I have several Crucials and Compres at 6'6" or less but in Shimanos current lineup there are NONE. St. Croix does make quite a few still but remember the Avid and Premier lines really aren't bass specific. Daiwa used to make a bunch of them and the Tatula lineup lists just 1 6'3" drop shot spinning rod. I'm not arguing that no one makes a shorter rod just that they are not nearly as common as they used to be. You can look At the older series of rods (Mojo, Zillion etc) and find some but in the newer series (gen 2 Shimanos, Tatula) they are either rare or not there at all. I still use my 6' TD-S casting rod as a small spinnerbaits (sniper) rod and my 6'3" crucial for skipping Senkos so I feel there is still a market for these rods

[Darren.]

My point is that compared to 5 years ago there are far fewer shorter rods made. I have several Crucials and Compres at 6'6" or less but in Shimanos current lineup there are NONE. St. Croix does make quite a few still but remember the Avid and Premier lines really aren't bass specific. Daiwa used to make a bunch of them and the Tatula lineup lists just 1 6'3" drop shot spinning rod. I'm not arguing that no one makes a shorter rod just that they are not nearly as common as they used to be. You can look At the older series of rods (Mojo, Zillion etc) and find some but in the newer series (gen 2 Shimanos, Tatula) they are either rare or not there at all. I still use my 6' TD-S casting rod as a small spinnerbaits (sniper) rod and my 6'3" crucial for skipping Senkos so I feel there is still a market for these rods

Totally agree there is still a market for these rods. I'd think somewhere in the marketing and KVD-ing of the industry longer rods became favored for casting distance, etc. I was very bummed when Shimano killed the variety for "technique-specific" rods. The only one I think I'd buy now is a 6'5" crucial casting drop shot rod.

For my uses, I don't worry too much about distance. I get plenty with what I have. And a lot of what I do is close quarter stuff and longer rods are awful for that, IMO.

[jtesch]

It's funny because if you look at some of the real top of the line rods and JDM stuff the shorter rods are still there. I suspect part of it is to cheapen the manufacturing process. I'll bet Shimano uses the same 6'8" and 7'2" blank on spinning and casting rods. Not a slam at Shimano I love my Cumaras and Crucials I just think less sizes probably cuts costs a little. I get the advantages of longer rods and a 6'8" rod almost feels short to me now. Funny because I'm old enough that I grew up with 5'6" rods including a couple of 5'6" musky rods. Those were the days, 5'6" musky rod and Daiwa millionaires with no mag brakes. You had to learn the lob cast real fast

[Grantman83]

I had a st. Croix premier that was 6ft so I assume they are still around. The recent trend had been longer rods for faster line pickup and longer casting. However, since I fish from shore or the back of the boat, there are numerous occasions where a shorter rod is ideal so I hope they don't go away lol.

Maybe to show a return of the short rod, Dobyns recently released a DX 683 and 635cb so there must be a demand for shorter rods.

[Jeff H]

 but remember the Avid and Premier lines really aren't bass specific.

They are to me, that's what I specifically use my Avids for!  

[jtesch]

They are to me, that's what I specifically use my Avids for!

As do I, and the Avid have become a true bass rod but the line as a whole is the next level up from the premier as an all purpose rod. Mojo's and the legend's being the pure bass lines. St. Croix is a northern brand and need the all purpose lines for their customer base, same with Loomis.

[J Francho]

"Long" and "short" are relative. Most rods marketed for bass are less than 8'. My shortest fly rod is 7'6", a little two piece 3wt. Most are around 9'. My pin rods are 10', 13', and 15' long. Even my basic spoon rod for steelhead, salmon, and browns is 9'. Look at what a proficient crappie angler is using - sometimes 15' or more.

Bass rods are still relatively short. There has been a trend in the JDM market for shorter pistol grip rods. It took so long for Dee Thomas' ideas about jiggerpoling to be applied across bass fishing, I doubt we'll see a new revolution of short rods starting. They are out there. I like a shorter rod for a bunch of things. I have a few 6'3" spinners and a 6'2" caster. They are done of my favorites to use.