rod length suggestions

[robster80]

i primarily fish from the bank but will have access to a couple jon boats here and there soon. i fished a 7 footer for awhile the other day and it felt great vs the shorter 6'6 rods im used to using.  is a 7footer still comfortable/ easy to fish from a jon boat/kayak?  in the 2 rods im lookin at getting they make a 6'9 and 7' 

[Fishin' Fool]

You should be fine with those size rods.

[Raul]

There´s no reason why a 7 ft or longer rod won´t work in a 10-12 ft jonboat, not the length I would choose since the longer the rod the closer I´m to hooking my 220 lb compadre..... so that´s why I choose 6'6" or less.

[WIGuide]

Rod size is more of a personal preference. There are certain techniques it's advantageous to have either longer or shorter. For instance for flippin' a longer rod is nice because it allows you to get more distance and allows you to move more line when you're trying to pull the fish out of something. It doesn't mean you can't do it with a shorter one, either but there's an advantage. One thing that seems to be true though is you'll be more accurate when casting to a target with a shorter rod vs longer. Either way though if you feel 7' is comfortable go for it. 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

7' Rod is a good all around length. In general longer for casting distance and shorter for accuracy.  

[blckshirt98]

I asked a while back if a longer rod is harder to fish from a kayak and the kayak guys said fishing a longer rod from a kayak is no problem at all, and in some cases even makes it easier to move your line around the bow of the kayak or around objects in the water.

[Choporoz]

18 minutes ago, blckshirt98 said:

I asked a while back if a longer rod is harder to fish from a kayak and the kayak guys said fishing a longer rod from a kayak is no problem at all, and in some cases even makes it easier to move your line around the bow of the kayak or around objects in the water.

I agree....90+% of the time....however, there are bridges and branches out there that cause me to rethink it every so often

 

To the OP, as to jon boat, I don't think it makes any difference whatsoever....You may want to stand on a seat (or platform) for flipping and punching, but rod length isn't a consideration for me in a jon boat

From the kayak, I'm more particular about handle length than I am about overall rod length.  The PFD, the seated position, the limited mobility...all lead me to prefer a shorter handle regardless of how long the rod is

[buzzed bait]

i fish from a kayak mostly, but hit the banks pretty frequently too.  all my rods are between 6'6" and 7'.  i tried longer than 7' before and didn't like casting from a seated position with them.  i think 7' is perfectly fine, but @Raul has a good point about snagging a partner with a longer rod!

[IndianaFinesse]

It's no different fishing from a john boat versus boat for rod length, the only problem with using a longer rod is the increased chance of hooking your fishing buddy, and higher chance of him becoming your former fishing buddy. 

[Fishinthefish]

This is entirely personal preference. I fish from shore, also from a boat and my sweet spot is between 6'8" and 7'2". My main fishing partner fishings from both as well and fishes mainly rods over 7'5". His favorite being a 7'11" Kistler rod. It's all about what you feel comfortable with. I prefer shorter rods especially for bank fishing because I'll hike through the woods and be surrounded by brush and it makes it much easier to cast.

[Mumbly]

I will also agree that it is personal preference. I do a fair amount of bank fishing and when I do my rod choice is a 6' and a 6'6". I am fairly short at 5'7" and when fishing baits especially topwater I usually use a downward rod motion so a 6' works best for me in terms of "ground clearance".

[WRB]

Overall rod lengths have slowly gotten longer over the past few decades, the length between the reel seat and rod tip hasn't changed a lot. What has changed is the rods handle lengths from 7" pistol grip to 15" trigger grip. The longest rods are crank bait and swimbait rods that are 7'6" to over 8'.

The majority of my rods are 6'10" that fit my casting deck area without interfering with the trolling motor etc. casting distance between a 6'9" and 7' rods is neglegable...maybe a foot or 2 everything being equal.

If you fish with a partner always cast so the back cast never is inside the boat and cast out the same side as your partner is facing.

Tom

[smalljaw67]

I use rods from 6'3" up to 7'6" and everywhere in between. As WRB stated, rods have been getting longer, I remember when 6'6" was considered long and the only rod longer was the original Fenwick flipping stick but they were almost impossible to cast with. Most were using 5'6" to 6' rods with pistol grips but like every thing else, it has evolved entirely to the point very few use those rods anymore, at least in the bass fishing world. I still use mostly shorter rods, 6'3" as I said to 7'2" are what I use 95% of the time.

[DaveT63]

I prefer between 6'10" and 7'2".  Most of my rods are 7', and I do a lot of bank fishing.  As stated before, rods are getting longer, but I'm not necessarily a fan.  I had a St Croix 7'2" MHM crankbait rod that I LOVED.  I broke it last year, and sent it in to St Croix under their warranty program.  Because they had changed their model lineup, they replaced it with a 7'8" MHM.  I haven't really gotten used to it, and ended up buying a 6'10" Elite Tech Smallmouth MHM to use instead.

[robster80]

4 hours ago, DaveT63 said:

I prefer between 6'10" and 7'2".  Most of my rods are 7', and I do a lot of bank fishing.  As stated before, rods are getting longer, but I'm not necessarily a fan.  I had a St Croix 7'2" MHM crankbait rod that I LOVED.  I broke it last year, and sent it in to St Croix under their warranty program.  Because they had changed their model lineup, they replaced it with a 7'8" MHM.  I haven't really gotten used to it, and ended up buying a 6'10" Elite Tech Smallmouth MHM to use instead.

im with u on this. that 7ft seems to fit me nicely. i need to pick up a cpl new rods to replace a couple shorter ones. gonna hang onto a couple for close quarter casting and topwater 

[Darren.]

Like WRB said, distance from reel to tip
hasn't changed so much as the butt end.
I discovered this when I cut a 6'6" rod
down to 6'3".

My main rods are 6'3" (spinning, casting),
longest I use is 6'6". All from kayak (or
shore).

It is entirely personal. I hate longer rods
as I fish a lot of close-quarter cover, under
bridges, etc., and rarely have to make really
long casts. That's me and how I fish.....

[Poolshark]

Those rod lengths are fine. No reason to overthink it.

[ww2farmer]

You can do pretty much anything with a 7' rod, and do it well............provided you match the rods specs. to the desired applications.

Most of my rods are 7'............I a have a couple 6'8" rods for things like skipping docks, and jerkbaits, and a few 7'3" rods for flipping/punching, and long bomb cast cranking. I DO NOT like short or long rods. 

[*Hootie]

My rods are 6'6" and 6'8". Can't fit anything longer in my car. 

Hootie

[Jaderose]

I have a new 7'4 Mojo Composite Cranking Rod and am really struggling with it.  That extra 4 inches over anything I'm using is causing me fits.  Don't know if I'll wind up keeping it

 

[new2BC4bass]

25 minutes ago, *Hootie said:

My rods are 6'6" and 6'8". Can't fit anything longer in my car. 

Hootie

What are you driving?  I could fit a 7'7" in my LaSabre.  Haven't taken anything longer than a 7'2" in my Camry, but pretty sure longer will fit.  Sounds to me like you need a bigger car.  Got to get your priorities straight.   

[*Hootie]

2 minutes ago, new2BC4bass said:

What are you driving?  I could fit a 7'7" in my LaSabre.  Haven't taken anything longer than a 7'2" in my Camry, but pretty sure longer will fit.  Sounds to me like you need a bigger car.  Got to get your priorities straight.   

Hyundai Accent. I wouldn't trade the gas mileage just so I could get a longer rod in the car. It's that excellent mileage that lets me afford to buy Loomis rods....lol. 

Hootie

[new2BC4bass]

2 minutes ago, *Hootie said:

Hyundai Accent. I wouldn't trade the gas mileage just so I could get a longer rod in the car. It's that excellent mileage that lets me afford to buy Loomis rods....lol. 

Hootie

Four words for you...........Roof rack...Ski rack.    I could carry about 10 rods in the ski rack with my Porta-Bote on the other side of the roof rack.  All my rods are shorter than the 12.5 foot boat.

[S. Sass]

 Since your choices are 6'9 and 7' with a whopping 3" difference it's just your preference now. 

I wouldn't use the, "I might tag my boating pal" as a reason to pick the short one though. Being only 3" difference because if your getting that close to him you already have him ticked off at you. 

[BillyBassMaster]

7 foot MH for sure if you are going all around. I used 6 foot 6 inch, but casts don't go as far and I think it depends on how tall you are. I'm only 5 feet tall and I still like the 7.