Use for a 5.5 foot rod.

[billmac]

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now? What is the best setup for a shorter fishing rod?

[Finessegenics]

They'd be good for skipping baits under docks or low hanging tree limbs. Or maybe wading a river where you're wanting to throw heavier lures? I find shorter rods more comfortable when wading. 

[Sissyfishing]

I use them for everything and exclusively but I’m light line 4 to 8 lb and small lures

[soflabasser]

48 minutes ago, billmac said:

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now? What is the best setup for a shorter fishing rod?

Rods like that can be useful when bank fishing in areas with lots of overhead trees and not much space for casting.

[FishTank]

Bank fishing for panfish or a rod to take hiking.

[roadwarrior]

1 hour ago, billmac said:

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now? What is the best setup for a shorter fishing rod?

Tomato stakes

 

[Log Catcher]

I like a 5.5' rod for for top water poppers and walking style baits. This works well for me since I am sitting down to fish instead of standing up and hope I don't fall out of the boat.

[jimmyjoe]

2 hours ago, billmac said:

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now?

 

   They have the same utility now as they had then. In other words, they'll do everything now that they did then. Don't confuse freedom of choice with utility or function.      jj

[billmac]

Believe it or not, I've got a 5'5" Zebco Boron rod, when boron was going to be the next step after graphite.

[NOC 1]

2 hours ago, billmac said:

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now? What is the best setup for a shorter fishing rod?

I use 5' 10" Megabass MH Jigging Special rod for vertical spoons and jigs when fishing for bottom hugging Stripers. No advantage to longer rods at all when vertical jigging, in fact the shorties offer better leverage and control over the larger fish which are always going to come up under the boat.

 

I also use a  6'1" Destroyer Speed tip Special (solid tip)  when throwing Texas rigs into brush where accuracy trumps casting distance.

 

I also use a 6'3" Evoluzion Super Griffin MH/M for throwing top-water and various cranks in places like brush and stump fields.

 

I'm sure there are other good uses as well. But I guess my repertoire is sort of limited.

[J Francho]

Use them, if they work for you.  If you update to newer stuff, see of there's a scouting group, or boys and girls club or someone that could use them.  Any that you have some sentimental attachment to can be cleaned up and displayed.  My shortest rod in regular use these days is 6'2", followed by several 6'3" rods.  The first is casting and used for topwaters and jerkbaits.  The latter are all vertical drop shot spinning rods.

[WRB]

2 hours ago, billmac said:

Most of my old graphite rods (from 15-20 years ago), are in the 5'6" to 6' range.  What utility do they have now? What is the best setup for a shorter fishing rod?

It's amazing how time flies bye. 5 1/2'- 6' bass rods date back into the 70's....4O+  years ago.

Those rods were pistol grips that phased out, a few 6'-6 1/2' where still around in the 80's. The rods are still good if you like pistol grips.

Tom

 

[MN Fisher]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

It's amazing how time flies bye. 5 1/2'- 6' bass rods date back into the 70's....4O+  years ago.

Those rods were pistol grips that phased out, a few 6'-6 1/2' where still around in the 80's. The rods are still good if you like pistol grips.

Tom

 

I hear you there, Tom. I've still got the 6' pistol grip Ambassaduer rod that came with my 500R reel. That was 'state of the art' for length back then. When I got my 6'6" Diawa 1312 spinner - one guy looked at me my first time out and said (I kid not) "There's no reason for a rod that long when fishing fresh water."

[billmac]

6 minutes ago, WRB said:

It's amazing how time flies bye. 5 1/2'- 6' bass rods date back into the 70's....4O+  years ago.

Those rods were pistol grips that phased out, a few 6'-6 1/2' where still around in the 80's. The rods are still good if you like pistol grips.

Tom

 

Yeah, it's crazy.  I remember being very "discerning".  I looked for graphite, and I wanted them as stiff as possible.  And 1 piece.  I hate 2 piece rods.

 

I think longer rods only became a thing when flipping became popular.

[NOC 1]

1 minute ago, WRB said:

It's amazing how time flies bye. 5 1/2'- 6' bass rods date back into the 70's....4O+  years ago.

Those rods were pistol grips that phased out, a few 6'-6 1/2' where still around in the 80's. The rods are still good if you like pistol grips.

Tom

 

True to a point, but I have probably a dozen or more good quality 5'6" to 6'6" rods that aren't pistol grips and that are from at least the 2000's. I favor Japanese rods because they still sell shorter but modern rods. Many of my shorter rods are Megabass, not exactly outdated and cheap. In the US you can still buy 6'6", but shorter rods are rare here unless you are wanting UL trout and pan-fish rigs.

[WRB]

In the 80's a newer design 6' doodling Rod was being promoted by Don Iovino that was state of the art at thectimecandchad a pistol grip. There are exceptions and anglers who prefer shorter rods for casting accuracy and tight places. However they are specialty items in today's world of anything under 7' is too short. 

My rods are 6'10", my preference.

Tom

[NOC 1]

5 minutes ago, WRB said:

In the 80's a newer design 6' doodling Rod was being promoted by Don Iovino that was state of the art at thectimecandchad a pistol grip. There are exceptions and anglers who prefer shorter rods for casting accuracy and tight places. However they are specialty items in today's world of anything under 7' is too short. 

My rods are 6'10", my preference.

Tom

I came up with the pistol grip rods too. But other than plonking around for sunfish, I have to say that I don't miss them.

 

Most of my rods are 6'6" to 6'10". I would have to say that 6'10" is my ideal if it is balanced.

[Sissyfishing]

Tennessee handles are hard to find now too

[Linewinder]

The short pistol grip might be easier to deal with on a kayak perhaps.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

Shorter rods are good for bridges and marinas.  I like a shorter rod for vertical jigging.

[PourMyOwn]

I still have a few pistol grip 5'6" rods, most notably  two 1970s Lew's speed sticks. They're great for easily fitting in the trunk of my car so I can make a few casts on my way home from work.

 

[The Bassman]

Shorter rods are much easier on arthritic hands. The possible disadvantages of them are offset by their ease of use. This applies to straight grips. Pistol grips don't work for me anymore.

[J Francho]

2 hours ago, The Bassman said:

Pistol grips don't work for me anymore.

Since I use both hands to cast, I think this may the case for me as well.  I had some shoulder issues, and switched to a two handed cast for everything, except pitching.  I had a 6' medium/fast pistol grip Bionic Blade that was awesome for spinnerbaits, squarebills, traps, even spooks type topwaters way back in the 90s.  It's funny, it was one of my most expensive rods, before getting a pile of Berkley Series One and Fenwick HMG. I miss those days.  $80 was an obscene amount of money to spend on a rod.

[redmeansdistortion]

I like short rods in smaller rivers where there may be a lot of brush to contend with when casting.  My river rods range from 4'6" to 5'6" and my favorite is a 4'10".  They're also much easier to cast one handed which I greatly prefer.  I typically don't reach for something 6' or greater unless there's a lot of wide open space or I'm fishing from a boat.

[Mobasser]

Stout mono, high speed casting reel for Spook fishing. Short rods work well for a walk the dog bait