What length rod for kayak fishing?

[Deleted account]

20 hours ago, Darren. said:

 

My favorite under 6 rod is a 5'9" Shimano Compre, cork

handle, circa 2009, I think.

 

I "borrow" my wife's Compre 5'9"/stradic 2000 a lot. I gave it to her for Xmas quite a while ago. Good stick, but.....

[MassYak85]

If I could buy an arsenal strictly for kayak fishing I'd keep everything under 7'3. But I fish from kayak, bank, and boat so I usually buy rods for the technique first so I have a 7'6 and 7'11 that sometimes I bring in the kayak. My issue usually has more to do with the handle length. I HATE longer handles when kayak fishing, I always am bumping them into my chest when trying to maneuver or work the rod. 

[Jimmyb819]

On 5/30/2017 at 5:49 PM, Darren. said:

 

Welcome aboard, Jimmy!

 

I like your thinking  

Thanks Darren!

 

Honestly, I've been lurking here so long I didn't even realize that was my first post!

[bigfruits]

i use 6'6"-7'3".

 

if you are sitting, walking baits and jerkbaits will be fished with side twitches and its easier to pitch baits with a shorter rod. i do a lot of roll casts when sitting.

 

for long casts i dont see any reason why not to use a longer rod.

[faygo1979]

The longer the better for me.  Sitting so low I like the range I get from a longer rod. Most of the rods i use are between 7'3" and 7'11"

[the nitz]

I think you have to consider the length of the kayak too. If you are on 14foot kayak, for me it needs to be at least 7’ in case you hook a nasty fighter fish fighting all corners of your yak. but if u are on 10-12’ yak, its best to have 6-7’.

im on hobie PA12, my artillery are 2x 7’ and 1x 7.3’ for heavy casting. Im 6’ person. My setup suits me well with no issues.

[waymont]

6'10"-7'1" for me.

[Boomstick]

I use the same rods I shore fish with from the shore and on a boat. I can do a sitting pitch with rod around 7' or 7'1" just fine. I can cast my 7'4" frog rod just as easily. I can stand and flip and pitch my 7'6" flipping stick.

 

The rods that I really want shorter are rods that I am using to walk baits or maybe throw jerkbaits. Since when you stand on the kayak, you are not that high off the water, a shorter rod is definitely beneficial here.

[Deleted account]

I figured by now the Zombies would have eaten all the adults fishing from these roto molded things...

 

[Dens228]

I'm a gigantic 5'9" and my rods go from 7'0" to 7'6" with no problem.  

And yes the "gigantic 5'9" is tongue in cheek.   

 

[Bankc]

Most of my rods are 6'6"-7'.  But that's just what I like, regardless of where I'm fishing from.  For the most part, I don't feel like kayaks need special rods.  I do, however, have a 5'5" pistol grip rod for poppers and walking baits.  I find the shorter rod helps with popping the rod from a standing position, since unlike a boat, you're pretty much standing level with the water.  If you stay seated, then it doesn't matter.  I've thought about a shorter rod for jerkbaits as well, but I don't fish them often enough to justify buying a rod only for kayak jerkbait fishing.  So I just use a 7' rod for that and pop the rod more to the side than straight down.

[GrumpyOlPhartte]

I use rods from 6’8” to 7’9”. I find I get better hook sets with a longer rod since I can’t get the swing I want while sitting in my yak.  The bigger concern for me is the length of the rod grip.  I try to keep the length from the reel seat to the butt at under 12” to avoid snagging in my PFD.  That being said, I can, with care, use up to 13”.  Probably this issue is not a big deal depending on the kayak style as size.

[J Francho]

My preference has more to do with what I'm throwing, where I am fishing, and how I'm fishing and nothing to do with being on a kayak.

[the reel ess]

36 minutes ago, J Francho said:

My preference has more to do with what I'm throwing, where I am fishing, and how I'm fishing and nothing to do with being on a kayak.

Same. I use the rods I'd use from a boat. I do have a shorter 6'8" jig rod due to the fact I'm close to the water. Most of my pitches are sidearmed. There are advantages of shorter rods for kayak fishing. For one, if you need to reach the end of the rod, you will have a hard time doing so with 7'+ rods. On the other hand, if a fish goes from one side of the boat to the other around the front you can reach past the end of the kayak with a longer rod. I usually don't though. I just let the fish turn the kayak. So it becomes a matter of personal preference.

[J Francho]

1 hour ago, the reel ess said:

Same. I use the rods I'd use from a boat.

 

1 hour ago, BaitFinesse said:

I use my "normal" rods that I use on the bank or boat in kayak if casting out in open water. 

 

Thanks goodness!  For so long I was alone on here.  Everyone said you had to have a special "kayak" rod to fish from a kayak.  If whatever they're marketing for kayaks works, that's cool too.  I wouldn't want to have to own a separate set of rods.  I will say I prefer to leave most rods over 7-6 behind, but that doesn't mean I don't bring an 8' swimbait rod with me sometimes.  Those 8 footers are a pain to transport in anything other than rod locker in a bass boat.

[bulldog1935]

Inshore drift fishing, sitting, 7' rods pretty much across the board.  

Sitting with a fly rod and sight-fishing in sloughs, 7-1/2' to 8' glass is perfection.  

Just picked up a kayak bass rod, again sitting, and it's 6-1/2'

 

My kayaks aren't really for standing, but for distance and wind-slick.  

[Koz]

I have 6'6" and 7' rods on my kayak and have no issue with the length of either one. But as others have mentioned, the butt end of the rod is the issue. I don't want to go to one of those pistol grip rods, but I need to find some with shorter butt ends.

 

I was thinking of picking up a St. Croix Mojo Yak casting rod.

[Darth-Baiter]

7' seems to be my sweet spot, and I am clearly gravitating towards them.  my spinning setups are longer by a few inches.

 

here's why according to my own thought process.  I love how a long rod scoops up more line slack due to the larger arc-length.  my kayak is rarely sitting still.  sometimes fish my kayak are moving towards each other and just having that bigger arc sweep will set the hook with authority.  I like moving a fish to my left side of boat (aft? - sorry I am a land person) so I like the extra length to move the line around the nose of my boat.  I have a bad habit of grabbing my net too early.  once a net is in my hand there is no more working the reel handle.  I love high-sticking the bass into my net.  

 

my least favorite rod is a 6' GLoomis I have owned several decades.  its too short.

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, Koz said:

I have 6'6" and 7' rods on my kayak and have no issue with the length of either one. But as others have mentioned, the butt end of the rod is the issue. I don't want to go to one of those pistol grip rods, but I need to find some with shorter butt ends.

 

I was thinking of picking up a St. Croix Mojo Yak casting rod.

That extra rod butt comes in handy on a frog hookset though. I know I had a good day when I have sore ribs.

[dj1975232]

I use between 6'9" - 7'3" on my kayak.  

[LCG]

I only own three rod combos, 6'6" - 6'9". All work very well for me for kayak, boat, or bank. 

[Bass Junke]

I pretty much only fish from a kayak. All my casting rods were either 7' or 7' 1". I liked that length. I wanted to build a heavy rod for pitching into weeds and pads. Decided to build it a little shorter 6' 8". I pitch alot with that rod and a 7' Bu Coo. Even pitching from a seated position, there really isn't much difference between the two. 

[Deephaven]

If I only bring one rod it will be a 7'10" rod.  If I bring more that one still comes.

[michaelb]

If you can stand, any rod length you like and are comfortable with can work. If you are sitting, I agree that handle length is the most important factor, and so the reason "kayak" specific rods have shorter handles is for sitting. Since all of you are always wearing your life jacket, and the rod handle can get hung up on the life jacket and/or just otherwise get in your way. The factor that can be important is for the rod to be long enough to reach to the front of the boat and to clear the boat, for when the fish dives under the kayak and you decide you need to switch sides.

[Michigander]

I like to keep them short enough that I can easily get to the rod tip, so 7' or less. Also shorter handle is better for me.