New era rods

[JeffD]

I'm in the need to buy or make a few rods. The last rods I bought were over 30 years ago and back then there wasn't anybody that I knew using the length of rods being used today. Back then I bought 3 identical 

5 1/2 foot rod and reel combos that weren't too of the line, but they were far from the bottom. Now, everyone is talking about 7 foot plus rods are the only way to go. I guess my question is how much of this extra length is because of the fighting butts? There weren't fighting butts back then that I can recall. Is a foot or so of the new normal in the fighting butt? I don't think I can control the cast with a 7 foot rod? Is a 7 foot rod with a fighting butt, like casting a 6 foot rod? Help me understand this new era of rods.

[NHBull]

7' for me is pretty standard except for SB and JB and for those 6'10" get the call.

 

For accurate cast the 7 works  for me, for open areas a 7'2"/4" are feeling pretty darn good.

 

Given the change in materials I don't think you can even compare rods of 10 years ago

[new2BC4bass]

Some rods are the same length from seat to tip even though the lengths are listed differently.  Overall length is different.  As you noted, this is because the extra couple inches is in the butt.

 

You can still find shorter rods, but it takes some searching.  A lot of searching for 5 1/2 foot rods.  Maybe look at JDM rods for ones that short...or shorter.

 

As NHBull said, today's rods are not the same as yesteryear. 

[WRB]

Today’s casting rods with handles about 14” from butt to reel seat vs the old style pistol grip about 7”. 

The handles aren’t intended for fighting fish like a salt water rod. The longer handle allows for 2 handed casting.

30 years ago would be 1990’s, during that era most bass anglers used 6’ to 61/2’, 6’ pistol grip and 6 1/2 striating or trigger grip handles. 

Around 20 years ago the casting rod started to get longer 6 1/2’ to 7’ on average with lighter weight materials starting to become standard. 15 years ago split grip handles started to show up the lighten the rod weight. Today the casting rods are 7’ to 7 1/2’ with 7’3” very/popular that weigh less then 4 oz. the handle length has stayed in the 14” length on average.

your 5 1/2’ pistol grip rods maybe in the 70’s era.

Tom

[Boomstick]

A lot of the handles are a little longer, but regardless I don't have much of a problem controlling a rod around 7' in most situations. Sometimes a rod that is a little shorter can be beneficial, like for throwing a jerkbait or a popper.

[JeffD]

So, I'm going to order some blanks and get started building. Are the newer style rods longer just for casting distance or are there other benefits to the longer lengths?

[BrianMDTX]

Jeff, last year I bought the first new rods in almost 30 years (save kid’s combos for my daughters). All my rods were less than 7’. Of my new ones, the spinning rigs are 6’ 6” to 6’ 10”, and the baitcasters are 7’ to 7’ 6”. 
 

I have no issues with any of them. Casting baits with a 7’ or longer baitcaster using two hands is much easier than the old pistol grip rods. 

[jimmyjoe]

1 hour ago, JeffD said:

So, I'm going to order some blanks and get started building. Are the newer style rods longer just for casting distance or are there other benefits to the longer lengths?

 

   I think distance  is the most obvious advantage, but if I'm fishing very low-n'-slow, the extra length helps me "snap" the hookset. And as @BrianMDTX said, two-handed casting is a heck of a lot easier than one-handed casting. I have arthritis, and I can testify to that.  ?

 

 

 

  

[JeffD]

BrianMDTX, that's my concern. I also have not purchased or made anything since the late '80's. All the rods I used then and up until now are 5'6" with pistol grips. They are very wearing on me for a full day on the water. I'm a bit concerned about being able to control a '7 rod. So, I'm happy to hear you say you were in the same situation.

[Alex from GA]

I'm one of the odd ones that use shorter rods.  Most of my bass rods are 6'6" with my finesse worm rods, 6'2" spinning and 6' casting.  I find they're more accurate.  I do have several 7'+ rods for slinging frogs, toads and bucktails a long ways.  Borrow a longer rod and try it before you spend the $.

[new2BC4bass]

Jeff, I grew up with spinning.  Six foot or less was normal.  I find I still prefer spinning rods of less than 7 feet.  When I got into baitcast rods, I purchased several 6'6" rods.  I soon found I preferred longer.  Shorter rods may be more accurate, but practice can even the score.  In the fall my targets when I practice are leaves floating downstream.  I can get pretty close sometimes.  Occasionally a hit.    Of course coffee cups and plastic water bottles are also often targets.  Love how people take care of their trash. 

 

It's nice that you can build your own rods.  The world is your oyster. 

 

Let us know what you wind up going with.

 

EDIT: I seldom cast one handed.  Much prefer 2 hands on the rod.

[BrianMDTX]

2 hours ago, JeffD said:

BrianMDTX, that's my concern. I also have not purchased or made anything since the late '80's. All the rods I used then and up until now are 5'6" with pistol grips. They are very wearing on me for a full day on the water. I'm a bit concerned about being able to control a '7 rod. So, I'm happy to hear you say you were in the same situation.

The only rod I find unwieldy is my HF at 7’ 6”. And that’s in my inflatable. If I’m on the bank it casts like a dream. 
 

Any baitcasting rod around 7’ is in my wheelhouse. 

[PressuredFishing]

On 7/16/2021 at 4:00 PM, JeffD said:

I'm in the need to buy or make a few rods. The last rods I bought were over 30 years ago and back then there wasn't anybody that I knew using the length of rods being used today. Back then I bought 3 identical 

5 1/2 foot rod and reel combos that weren't too of the line, but they were far from the bottom. Now, everyone is talking about 7 foot plus rods are the only way to go. I guess my question is how much of this extra length is because of the fighting butts? There weren't fighting butts back then that I can recall. Is a foot or so of the new normal in the fighting butt? I don't think I can control the cast with a 7 foot rod? Is a 7 foot rod with a fighting butt, like casting a 6 foot rod? Help me understand this new era of rods.

To put it simply, it's mostly marketing and the ability to cast using two hands comfortably. 7 foot rods have become popular over shorter rods for castability and accuracy. They are an "upgeade" but If you like the old school rods that are a glass or composite with pistol grip and catch bass effectivley on them keep doing it. There will be people saying "you need graphite to catch a bass" or "you need braid" or you need a new this or that it's all just marketing. I still use mono and copoly 90% of the time.  Bass fishing as a whole has become a marketing scheme. It could be as easy as taking a can of large live Canadian nightcrawlers or shiners and dropshotting or Texas rigging them to throwing a eppinger daredevil spoon. 

 

I think most of us just like all the new products because it makes the sport fresh and from becoming stail

[JeffD]

Unfortunately, at this time, there is not a lot of inventory of rod blanks. What is the rule of thumb (or is there one) for cutting blanks down to the desired size. Is is a percentage of the original length or... I'm just thinking that might be an option.

[new2BC4bass]

16 hours ago, PressuredFishing said:

To put it simply, it's mostly marketing and the ability to cast using two hands comfortably. 7 foot rods have become popular over shorter rods for castability and accuracy. They are an "upgeade" but If you like the old school rods that are a glass or composite with pistol grip and catch bass effectivley on them keep doing it. There will be people saying "you need graphite to catch a bass" or "you need braid" or you need a new this or that it's all just marketing. I still use mono and copoly 90% of the time.  Bass fishing as a whole has become a marketing scheme. It could be as easy as taking a can of large live Canadian nightcrawlers or shiners and dropshotting or Texas rigging them to throwing a eppinger daredevil spoon. 

 

I think most of us just like all the new products because it makes the sport fresh and from becoming stail

I'm using mono or co-polymer lines on at least 95 percent of my baitcast reels.  I like graphite.  I like my 704CB Glass and B-Hittay.  I've just started to get into fly rods.  There are quite a few fly guys loving 'glass.  Don't have one yet, but liking the idea of having one.

[PressuredFishing]

2 hours ago, new2BC4bass said:

I'm using mono or co-polymer lines on at least 95 percent of my baitcast reels.  I like graphite.  I like my 704CB Glass and B-Hittay.  I've just started to get into fly rods.  There are quite a few fly guys loving 'glass.  Don't have one yet, but liking the idea of having one.

They are way cheaper and are way more durable if you know how fragile fly rods are, they really thrive for trout with drys, nymphing is a little harder but doable. 

[Chris Catignani]

19 hours ago, JeffD said:

Unfortunately, at this time, there is not a lot of inventory of rod blanks. What is the rule of thumb (or is there one) for cutting blanks down to the desired size. Is is a percentage of the original length or... I'm just thinking that might be an option.

There is not really a "per se" rule of thumb...a lot of people will only cut the blank from the butt...but you can certainly cut from the tip if you want. 

One thing to consider, especially if you spend a few bucks, you will void the warrenty.

23 hours ago, Alex from GA said:

I'm one of the odd ones that use shorter rods.  Most of my bass rods are 6'6" with my finesse worm rods, 6'2" spinning and 6' casting.  I find they're more accurate.  I do have several 7'+ rods for slinging frogs, toads and bucktails a long ways.  Borrow a longer rod and try it before you spend the $.

I have to agree with @Alex from GA on the short rods...especially if you tend to fish that rod all day...and Im primarily talking spinning. Tough...I also have a shorter BPS Rick Clunn Drop Shot rod that I throw a swim bait with and its a total pleasure to flick that bait with one hand.

[king fisher]

I spent most of my life fishing for trout and salmon with conventional, spinning and fly rods, usually 8 to 9.5 feet long.    I had no issues casting accurately from the bank, and out of small boats with rods of that length.  The 7 to 7.5 foot rods I use bass fishing seem short to me.  It all depends on what you are used to.  If you like short rods, than there is no reason to change.  If you want to try longer rods, go for it, after awhile I think you will like them.  If you really want to cast far, try a 9 foot salmon rod.  They load all the way in to the butt section, and have a light enough tip to launch a crankbait in to the next county. 

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

On 11/16/2021 at 8:10 PM, JeffD said:

So, I'm going to order some blanks and get started building. Are the newer style rods longer just for casting distance or are there other benefits to the longer lengths?

 

On 11/17/2021 at 11:21 AM, JeffD said:

BrianMDTX, that's my concern. I also have not purchased or made anything since the late '80's. All the rods I used then and up until now are 5'6" with pistol grips. They are very wearing on me for a full day on the water. I'm a bit concerned about being able to control a '7 rod. So, I'm happy to hear you say you were in the same situation.

Yes more than just distance for a benefit of longer rod. That longer handle plays a big roll in added leverage throughout the day. Taking a lot of strain off your wrist and spreading it to lager muscle groups.

I took couple quick pics see how the handle rests up under my forearm but the pistol grip is nothing but your wrist taking the "impact" weight of a hard hookset. And while playing a fish on retrieve that handle helps reduce stress on wrist.

You get to relax your wrist/fingers more often while still in control of retrieve on bottom contact lures. Also as mentioned using two hands with one on the bottom butt area for casting is a great benefit to distribute energy over more muscles for less fatigue. 

Theres no doubt in my mind you will have more control using a 7' rod with avg handle length over a pistol grip.

[JeffD]

What are your thoughts about split grips compared to just longer length of a grip?

[Chris Catignani]

11 minutes ago, JeffD said:

What are your thoughts about split grips compared to just longer length of a grip?

If you go with a slit grip you would save some  weight. 1 cork ring weighs about 1.5 grams (+/-).

Burl weighs more...there is a little weight lost on sanding...but gained back with epoxy. Unless for some reason or another you have to grip the rod there on the bottom...I would spilt and save the weight.