Found rod 5 foot 6 inch

[lenogris]

I found an old 2 piece five and a half foot baitcasting rod. I don't know the brand but it says medium action. I am currently borrowing a reel for it, a bass pro 7 to 1.

Is some off brand rod worth using or what brand is it? (only have 2 other baitcasting rods)

What would a shorter rod like that be best for?

What speed reel should I put on there?

[Chance_Taker4]

I couldn't tell you the brand but I would you such rod for jerkbaits, topwater if I had to. That length is still too short for me. My wife on the other hand who is 4' 10" can't use a rod longer than 6'6" so a 5'6" would be her ideal jerkbait rod. I would pair it with a 7:1 reel.

[lenogris]

Yea I am a little tall for it id guess im 6' 3". hard to pass up free though, if I can make it work for something better than my current rods.

7' 6" heavy extra fast

6' 6" medium medium.

[Pikeman12]

I also have a 5'6'' rod that I found. A shimano fightn rod. Before I retired it I was using it as a frogging rod. 

[Raul]

d**n, I didn't know I had to purchase rods according to my height, being 1.70 mts what the hell I'm going to do with some of those 7 fters I got .....?

[Fishes in trees]

Back in olden times, 5 1/2 feet rods were pretty common - with the old pistol grip handles.  I knew guys who were very accurate with this gear.  A 5'6" MH rod was pretty common in the Ozark for throwing jigs.  Believe it or not, most people sat down to fish then and outside of an occasional roll cast (Jimmy Houston style) pitching wasn't very common.   Heck, standing up to fish wasn't very common.   A rod that size in Medium action would be more suited for reaction baits - spooks - poppers - Buzz baits, stuff like that.  I always considered that length and style of rod a " wrist killer ".   I was glad when longer, straight handled rods became more common.  When I'm not pitching, I make 2 handed casts ( roll casts, side arm, overhead, whatever )  and 2 handed casts, with a longer handled rod, are much easier on my wrists over the course of a day.

 

All my short piston grip rods are permanently retired.

[fishnkamp]

I know a professional angler on the FLW tour who had a few under 6 foot rods custom made to put his custom Pop R style baits way under docks. i watched him send that bait way under some docks in a boat house and was amazed the distance and accuracy he had developed with them. I also watched as he caught the 5 pound bass he had wanted ME to catch, but I have to admit I could not reach that fish myself.  It ws fun to watch the master though.

[lenogris]

Well I made an attempt to use a pop r with it. I found out doing anything other than a little under hand flip felt awkward. I realised that I use two hands on almost all of my casts. I think I will store the rod and find me something with a longer handle.

 

Thanks for all the input.

[Jaderose]

I use an old 5'6" pistol grip Diawa (I think) as a top water rod.  Works very nice for that application.