Rod Length

[WRB]

The shortest bass rod I use is 6'6" the longest 8' swimbait rods. My J & W are 6'10" .

Tom

[Siebert Outdoors]

The main ones I use range from 7'1" to 7"11".  I am waiting on another St Croix spinning rod to come in.  6'6"

[fishwizzard]

I use a lot of shorter then 7' rods, my collection is about 50/50.

 

Things I like shorter rods for:

• Kayak use.  Easier casting, better fish control, easier lure-working, less high-sticking danger, and I can land to take a pee in far more locations with shorter rods sticking up. I am going to start using longer rods this year, some 6'6" and maybe even a 7'!
• Hike-in fishing. A foot less rod makes a huge huge difference in my bushwacking speed/piece of mind.  Overgrown ponds are the norm around here and sometimes I am standing in a beaver drag and trying to cast with brush touching both shoulders. 
• Any and all twitching, popping, jerking, and walking retrieves.  From little poppers to some frogging stuff, I want a rod as close to 6' as I can find.  
• BFS/UL casting.  I love having a short rod and a small reel so I can make one-handed casts, it is so much fun in just a physical sense.  I feel like I have a lot more control over lighter lure with a shorter rod, even one where I cast with two-hands.  I do want to get a longer 7'5"-ish BFS rod at some point to see how they fish. 

[NOC 1]

On 5/13/2020 at 1:48 PM, Vilas15 said:

I agree. I think it's ridiculous when somebody says they prefer a 7'2 over 7' in the same power and action. Take the labels off and there's no way they could tell the difference. I do think there's a discernible difference between say a 6'9" XFast vs a 7' Fast but some guys just need to justify having 30 different rods. All this is assuming you're comparing within one brand, since two "identical" rods from different brands can be different.

 

Back to the original post, shorter rods have their place and don't fall for the trap of using what everyone else says just because.

I can tell the difference. A 2 inch difference in length is a significant change in leverage, and the longer rod will have a different action to it even if they are the same action on the label, the blank has a different taper.

 

I'm not saying that a guy can't work around it, but there sure is a difference. If you cast that 7'2" rod exactly the same as the 7' rod with the same lure and line etc. That lure will land in a different spot. It's physics, no way around it.

 

If you can't cast that consistently it might even be worse at every bit of additional length will increase the effects of any inaccuracies and randomness that you have in your casting motion. sort of like target shooting. If you shoot 1/8" off at 10 yds. The exact same shot will 1-1/4" off at 100 yards (not including wind, ballistic co-efficient, etc)

[hdanger07]

I'm a 6-6'6" guy. Then again, I prefer 1 piece rods so this isn't surprising.

[RoLo]

 

We can't ignore the fact that everyone's fishing experience is unique.

In my own exposure,  I've had more instances where power was more important

than a long cast. so I naturally gravitate toward the shorter rod.   

 

Saltwater anglers who target bluewater species such as sharks, tuna and billfish,

use a rod called a "stroker". As the name suggests, a stroker is a short rod, rarely over 5½ ft, 

that's geared for power (Like 'low' gear in an automotive transmission). 

Stroker rods are designed for standup fishing, when going toe-to-toe against powerful fish,

but are unnecessary for bass fishing. In any event, the choice between a shorter or longer rod

hinges on your current need, not on some magical length.

 

Roger