Specific requirements

[Drew03cmc]

Hey, I'm looking for something pretty specific. I want to find a 6 foot or under casting rod, M or ML, rated down to 1/8oz and affordable (preferred). I've tried longer ones but I'm not comfortable with rods over 6 feet long. 

[Yudo1]

G Loomis cr721.

[fishwizzard]

1 hour ago, Yudo1 said:

G Loomis cr721.

Maybe I am the odd man out, but I have one of those and don't feel like it loads well with anything under 1/4oz or even 5/16oz.  

 

OP, if you are not adverse to going custom, I have a pair of short spinning rods from a builder called SmallieStix.  They are both on MHX blanks and came in around $150-170.  The builder is a great guy and was really helpful in guiding me through picking components.  

 

I too have a fondness for short rods, although the longer I fish the more I find myself moving to longer 6'6" to 7' rods.  Major Craft has a huge range of rods with many of them being on the shorter side.  

[Drew03cmc]

I have some 1/8oz baits I'd throw, but mostly a 1/16-1/8 head and a small plastic like a 2.8 Crazy Flapper or 3" Little Spider.

[fishwizzard]

If you are going to mainly use small jigs with light hooks, really take a look at MajorCraft.  They have a lot of short light rods, but many of them are Regular/Fast action, which gives me trouble with weedless rigged plastics.  But with smaller and lighter open hooks the softness helps me keep the fish pinned without ripping the hook out.

 

 The Little Spider on a small jig is a great lure, I really like them for smaller rivers and streams.  

[Drew03cmc]

I've looked at Major Craft and don't see anything available in the US less than 6'4" long, but i haven't looked at their JDM options yet. Any suggestions?

[fishwizzard]

I have only owned one of their bass rods, a 6'3" ML/RF casting rod from the Go Emotion line. There is a ton of good info on them here and on TT.  They are all over eBay and shipping is usually pretty reasonable, especially if you can deal with a two part rod. 

 

 

[ohtheguilt]

On 9/20/2017 at 1:54 AM, Drew03cmc said:

Hey, I'm looking for something pretty specific. I want to find a 6 foot or under casting rod, M or ML, rated down to 1/8oz and affordable (preferred). I've tried longer ones but I'm not comfortable with rods over 6 feet long. 

You're going to think I am nuts, but I swear...I'm not.

Do some googling for "Shimano Fightin' Rod" or "Shimano Bullwhip"

This is some ancient technology compared to what is going on now, but back in the...uh, err...late '80s Shimano made these baitcasters (which were under 6'). They have short handles, and I have never seen a L or ML version, but my guess is they are out there...somewhere. I actually still have my original Bullwhip which is a 5'6" M (I learned to cast a baitcaster on this thing) which is incredibly sensitive and actually does throw 1/4oz pretty well (which is where it is rated)...I can't say I've tried to cast anything lighter on it in the past 25 years.

[Drew03cmc]

Kuying? Where does one find their sticks?