The Birth Of 10-Foot Bass Rods...

[fishballer06]

Well, this should certainly shake things up a bit in the bass fishing world. BASS is allowing competitors to use rods in length of up to 10 feet next year. The rule has been 8 feet maximum since 1976. What are everyone's thoughts on this?

 

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_123/bass-rod-length-92616.html

[Penguino]

All i gotta say is that it sure as hell will be fun to watch

 

 

[Jeff H]

I don't mind, will be interesting to see how they work with it. 

[00 mod]

This is just so rod manufacturers can make more money.  Seriously, these pros represent rod companies, and they know that if they are allowed to use longer rods, then everyone else will want longer rods and that means higher sales for the rod companies!

Jeff

[S. Sass]

7 minutes ago, 00 mod said:

This is just so rod manufacturers can make more money.

Exactly all about that $

[MassYak85]

I guess the extra length would be nice for casting distance but storage is gonna be a major pain....that creates a new market for guys to "need" to start buying boats with 10' rod lockers though. 

[OCdockskipper]

I would hazard a guess that the longer a rod is, the better chance it has being inadvertently damaged or broken.  Car doors, ceiling fans, doorways will all be drooling at a chance to munch on a 10 ft rod.

I don't fish tournaments and fish from a small boat, so I have actually been going to shorter rods while so many others go long.  I get it for flippin but for most other methods, a longer rod is more difficult to use and less accurate for casting.

[Goose52]

Hmmmm - there could be times when a 9 to 9 1/2 foot, 8 or 9 weight fly rod might be a nifty tool to have in the arsenal...

 

EDIT:  just read the linked article...looks like the rule might still limit the type of rods that may be used to "casting, spin-casting, or spinning".....

[S. Sass]

I have a 7'11" Flippin rod and yeah its a pita in the house. Its great when on the boat or out on a bank but dang a 2 ft longer rod would most likely get damaged around here. Great point OCdockskipper

[Goose52]

On rod length vs. handling issues and potential damage...I have a feeling that many of these >8' rods will end up being two-piece.

[KDW96]

I have a real nice shimano spinning rod, and a shimano 4000 reel. It 10ft long 2pc. You sure can cover some yardage with it. An excellent rod really,especially when im shiner fishin in florida.

[adrenalizd]

With ten foot you don't have to cast,  just drop the jig in the water. 

[webertime]

Float and Fly with a frog on a drop shot.  Got the whole water column covered with one 9' spinning rod.

[00 mod]

1 hour ago, Goose52 said:

On rod length vs. handling issues and potential damage...I have a feeling that many of these >8' rods will end up being two-piece.

Either 2 piece, or telescopic

Jeff

[craww]

I'm all for it. I have used a 9' saltwater rod for bombing trap baits for years (ask me how to spool a curado ). One of those rules I never understood anyway. Will be interesting to see how they implement. Perhaps reach normally hard to reach fish. Would be cool to get surgical and reach into a laydown or dock with a 10' broomstick. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

There is nothing that keeps me from getting a longer rod now if I want one. Just cause pros cant use them doesnt mean I cant. Ive thrown senkos lipless cranks on 9'-10' rods already. People that limit their use to what pros use are just being lemmings. The fish though might like the little extra leverage advantage they will be getting.

[Further North]

Couple of thoughts...I have a few rods that are >8 ft. now:

1. 9 ft. heavy musky rod.  Nuff said.
2. 9 ft. heavy, med. action.  It'll put a 1 ounce spoon, spinner, or whatever in Paris from Chippewa Falls WI.  There is an advantage here...Accuracy, however, it not its strong suit.
3. 8' 6" medium light spinning.  It'll chuck a floating crank bait or a light jig a looong way.  Again, accuracy suffers a bit...but when when you can present from that far away...does it matter?

Add in a buncha (you don't really want to know how many) fly rods...which really do give me the ability to show bass stuff things other guys are not showing them...and a 9 ft. rod on my boat is nothing new.

[Bankbeater]

You would not be able to use a 10' rod from the bank in some of the places I fish.  Too many bushes and trees. 

[Bluebasser86]

Perfect! Soon I'll be able to use my 12' surf rod to reach those pesky schoolers that want to keep coming up on the opposite side of the cove every time! 

I don't own a 10' bass rod and can't think of a reason why I would, but I don't care either way as far as them being allowed in the Elites. 

[fishballer06]

I've been trying to think when and where a 9-10 foot rod would be practical. I can imagine for pitching and flipping it would be nice. You could basically just drop a bait in there. It might also be nice around docks because you could quickly pull the fish away from the dock. Other than that, it would be beneficial for throwing some of those huge swimbaits that are on the market and that are coming in over the 5-6oz. mark. Similar to what the musky guys use. 

One point I brought up to my buddy whenever we saw this last night was "What boat out there will hold a 10 foot rod"? I'd imagine these long sticks will be left on the decks all day. 

Another concern to thing about is can you imagine trying to boat flip a fish with a rod that long. You'll be on the front deck and flipping the fish onto the back deck. 

[Team9nine]

That's fine, bring on the longer rods again. As long as they keep that Alabama Rig banned the bassin' world will be fine. Actually, now that the Elites no longer have co-anglers to deal with and only marshals in the boat with them, they should also reconsider allowing trolling

-T9 

[J Francho]

Oh boy, that trolling topic is a good one.  I used to catch a TON of smallmouth trolling.  It was the primary tool with nothing more than a flasher, and the giant desert that is Lake Ontario.  Find some reasonable breaks, catch three or so in the same spot, and anchor up, start dropping tubes.

Oh yeah, the 10' rod thing....  bring it on.  Dee just raised a fist through into the air from the grave!  Jigger poling!

[j bab]

Seems to me like most people don't want to go much over 7 foot, I can't imagine your average joe buying a rod over 8 feet long (regarding the rod companies). Sure some pros will probably come up with some reason you'd want a rod that long (maybe KVD will put out a 8.5' deep crankin rod ) but I don't see it taking over the market by any means. 

Maybe they'll make 10' doodlesockin bass rods to get to that inside edge of grass too 

edit: also, in response to "10' would get damaged," these are pros we're talking about (we have always been able to use whatever rod we want as we are not B.A.S.S. pros), rod damage is not an issue

[J Francho]

Float n' Fly

9' Fly rods (mayfly hatches have happened during tournaments)

Swimbaits

Cranking sticks

Jigger poles

Punching/flipping sticks

[Big Bait Fishing]

for swimbait rods , 8'6'' is the minimum , i use a 9' rod and there are lots that use them as quite a few people build of the Phenix 909XH , mine is built off a St. Croix . 8' rods are good for smaller baits , but for big baits you want a longer handle , put a 18'' handle on a 8' rod and you only have 6 1/2' of rod in front of you , not the best situation for slinging big heavy baits and wanting to do it all day .