6' or 6'6" for jigging

[MT523]

Almost about to pull the trigger on a Fenwick HMG and debating if I should go with the 6' or 6'6" medium/fast 1/4-3/4 lure rating. I will mainly be using it to jig with soft plastics, minnows, and spoons for walleye. Will the shorter rod give better action (barring my technique)? Will the longer rod make it easier to set the hook? Personal preference?

[Oklahoma Mike]

It depends on a couple of things, but the bigger consideration IMO is where you'll be fishing it. In open water/around moderate cover? Get the 6-6" or even a 7'. If you're going to be throwing it around heavy brush piles or drop them in hollow stumps with pinpoint accuracy, go for the shorter stick. 

[Steveo-1969]

Are you going to be vertical jigging under a boat or casting? FWIW - I've read most walleye guys like a shorter rod for vertical jigging and a longer rod for casting.

[BrianSnat]

I have lot of 6' 6" rods and often wish they were 7'.  I rarely wish I went shorter unless I'm fishing streams or shorline with trees. If you are fishing from a boat or shoreline without obstructions, go longer. I'm assuming from your post, you mean verticle jigging.  The shorter rod will work nicely for that, but that 6' 6" rod will be a bit more versatile and you can use it for methods other than jigging as well.

BTW the HMG is a very nice rod for the money. I love mine.

[Loomis13]

I mainly fish for walleyes and have used a 6'0" rod up until last year. Last year I got a 6'10" rod and much prefer the length of it to the 6'0" rod. If I am pitching jigs (which I do fairly often) it makes it nice. It also helps maneuver around the motor when I am in the back of the boat and helps control fish at the boat. I will never go back too shorter rods for my walleye fishing.

[MT523]

I plan to mainly be doing vertical jigging but also casting from a boat and fishing more open water looking for the fish. Sounds like 6'6" is the way to go, especially since I want to try and troll crankbaits. I guess I just need the righth technique for the longer rod 

[BrianSnat]

33 minutes ago, MT523 said:

I plan to mainly be doing vertical jigging but also casting from a boat and fishing more open water looking for the fish. Sounds like 6'6" is the way to go, especially since I want to try and troll crankbaits. I guess I just need the righth technique for the longer rod 

At one time I had mostly 6' 6" rods with a few 6' sprinkled in. I limited myself to 6' 6" because they fit in my rod rack in the hallway.  I bought a 7' rod because it was such a good deal at the time and now I'm a fan of the 7' + rods.  Those extra 6 inches add a lot of versatility and casting distance, especially if you are using a baitcasting reel.

The technique doesn't change, but a few extra inches will give you a much longer cast.

[MT523]

6 hours ago, briansnat said:

6 hours ago, briansnat said:

 

6 hours ago, briansnat said:

 

Not sure what happened on my last post.

 

Thanks for the help. I gotta say the more I think about it I might just get the 6' for jigging early spring, and pick up a 6'6" or 7' for trolling later in the season...