6'3" Rods: Anyone Else Use Them?

[timsford]

After much trial and error I've realized that one of my favorite lengths for rods is 6'3". Its short enough to skip and work baits with the tip down, make accurate casts, yet still long enough to get enough distance where I fish. My first rod this length was a fenwick ETS med spinning. I had to sell it but when I couldn't find one I picked up a ml fenwick walleye, and a med and my fenwick aetos. I love the aetos but hate the seat. I've also looked at the *** black 6'3" med, a couple abu 6'3" ml rods and abu also makes the vendetta in 6'3" in spinning and casting. These rods are mostly for reaction baits but I bank fish a lot so they have to handle plastics and other baits as well and I hate to step down in sensitivity. I've decided to go higher end and settled on 3 rods I need to throw all the baits I want. I need a ml spinning rod that can go down to 1/8 oz hardbaits and if it could handle lighter that would be even better. I also need a medium action spinning rod that will handle the bulk of my jerkbaits from 3/16-1/2 oz. And last but not least I need a mh rod either spinning or casting that can handle larger jerkbaits and mag super flukes. I've looked into several Loomis lines including the smallmouth series,and wjr series(including glx versions) to handle spinning duties, and the sbr 752 and jbr 753 to handle casting duties. I can't seem to find much info on any of these rods. I need something with a fast or ex fast tip that transitions into a strong backbone. What I'm looking for is basically a shorter worm/jig rod type action. I've also looked into the st croix lines and customs on their scIV and scV blanks seem the best option. They offer a ml spinning and med casting in scIV and a med spinning in scV that really have my attention. What weight range baits can st croix ml spinning handle, and how heavy can their med casting handle? Does st croix or any other maker offer a 6'3" mh spinning or casting rod or blank? If anyone has fished any of the Loomis rods and can compare with other brands it would definitely help. Or any other suggestions would be appreciated. I'm looking to spend quite a bit between the 3 rods and I would rather go custom and have exactly what I want.

[ogbfishing]

The thing about shorter rods is that it limits the actions available. Most big companies, if not all, companies don't make more than one or two 6'3" rods for one given model. For me, it's what I learned with, that being 7' +/- 6", that governs what length I buy. I'm not too keen on compromising my comfort for a little bit of a longer cast.

[carlm01]

I use several shorter rods and love them, they work for me 

[Logan S]

I use a St Croix LTB 6'3" M/F casting rod for Poppers.  It's the 'Sniper Spinnerbait' model which they've since bumped up to 6'9".  It's the shortest rod I use but it's perfect for what I need it to do.  It's a shame they don't make it anymore but I can see why, nobody was buying them...Mine sat on a rack forever at a local store until it was marked down so much I couldn't pass it up.  I'm glad I ended up with it because IMO it's the perfect popper rod, at the time I didn't have a clue what I would use it for .    

 

If you can find a used one it would probably be a good choice for you.  Otherwise I think they have a 6'4" M/XF in the new Avid-X casting lineup.  They also have 6'3" rods in the Avid spinning lineups.  Not as familiar with other brands so I can't help you there.  

 

Standing on the front deck of my boat I can fish tip-down stuff with rods as long as 6'8" to 7' without smacking the water or the boat so I generally don't go shorter than that since I don't need to...

[poisonokie]

My favorite rod is a Major Craft MS-X 6'5" ML (3/16-1/2, 8-14). It has a MF action, but has very crisp response, and is extremely sensitive so it will fish any type of lure in it's weight range. It pitches and casts extremely easily, and what it lacks in distance it more than makes up for in laser beam precision. It's primarily a finesse stick, though, and I don't know that I'd like that length in a MH rod. It and my 6'8" bfs Volkey rod I like to use so much have really opened my eyes to the virtue of sub 7' rods. I'm really keen on getting ahold of that 6'10" MH/F tatula now, if I can't find a deal on one of the similarly powered Major Craft rods.

[WPCfishing]

I recently sold an IMX and an Avid 6' rods. Both were well made casting rods but the handles were just to short for my liking.

[*Hootie]

I have the G Loomis spinnerbait rod. It's 6'3".

Hootie

[iabass8]

I use a St. Croix 63MXF (spinning) for vertical jigging walleye in the fall. Love it for that. I've also used it for throwing tiny flukes. Works perfect.

[poisonokie]

that's the other thing, you can't beat that 65ml for spooning for sand bass.

[zell_pop1]

Two of my favorite rods are a 6'4" team all star spinner bait 1 rod m/f and a 6'3" team daiwa s top water/twitching mh/f rod. Daiwa also made quite a few 6"3" spinning rods, maybe you can locate a few used ones.

[Drew03cmc]

I found a deal on a Skeet Micro Honeycomb 6'3" MF. I have caught fish on unweighted flukes, grubs and lipless baits. It is versatile enough for me. I'd like to find a used 6'4" S Curve Skeet stick so mine isn't lonely.

Being shorter, I find that I prefer shorter rods.

[Bluebasser86]

I use an Avid 6' 2" M/XF for jerkbaits and poppers. It works excellent for those two applications. 

[Missourifishin]

I've never really used a rod under 6'6" for bass fishing. But I could see a 6'3" being a little easier to work with, especially for jerkbaits. 

[EvanT123]

Go with custom st croix's. Learn how to build them your self. Nice epoxy is over rated.

[EvanT123]

Watch this guys videos.

A great fisherman, and ehhhh a rod builder.

[timsford]

I'm leaning toward having st croix customs built on a ml scIV spinning, a med scI spinning, and I'd like to find a mh blank this length or close to it for larger jerkbaits and topwater. What's the largest weight that a st croix med x fast can handle comfortably and does anyone know of a mh blank available this length or should I be looking at cutting 3" off the butt of a 6' 6" blank

[Klebs01]

I have a 6'8" MXF ltb that's very nice. Rated to 5/8, I normally throw jerkbaits and top waters on it. Most are around 1/2 oz and it handles them perfectly. In a pinch I tied on a spinnerbait with trailer that was probably closer to 3/4 and it worked fine. Not its best use, but it wasn't a problem either.

[Felix77]

I have a 6' and 6'3" rod.  When I have a heavy dock day I tend to use these.  Works great for skipping docks for me from the back of the boat.  Especially when power poles or talons are involved.

[poisonokie]

unless you can move the reel seat up the blank I don't see the point in cutting anything off the butt.

[Jeff H]

I like that length too.  I have 3 or 4 spinning rods that length and 3 casting rods at 6'2".  

[IAY]

What don't you like about CR722 IMX or GLX? It balances extremely well with lighter reels, and it would be perfect for what you want to use.

[bowhunter63]

Im shorter so i use 6 6 rods.I find out for me most of my rods are that size in different actions.So i got used to the same size.I like a little shorter handle to.I wade alot that size works perfect.