What happened with all the 6’6” rods?

[Mat_ski]

It looks like very few companies still make 6’6” medium fast rods. I just purchased tatula with those specs but was surprised with how few options I had. The industry trends towards longer and longer rods, but I like shorter rods and don’t want to see them gone. Am I in the minority? 

[cyclops2]

As the rods get longer. So does the price.  

[Columbia Craw]

Sales drive product.  

[Mojo Bass]

I have and use a 6’6 Medium Fast

St Croix Premier split grip rod and I like it for what I use it for. I’d actually like to replace it with the same rod of a 6’6 Medium fast Veritas PLX but that’s my own problem 

[gim]

I have a few 6.5 foot rods. Shorter is often better for accuracy and there are several situations every season where accuracy trumps distance.

[MN Fisher]

I've got three 6'6" rods - two are M/F (1 spin/1 cast).

 

These are relegated to my shore fishing as there are usually trees in close vicinity.

[TnRiver46]

I don’t know about medium fast but 6’6” is my favorite rod length, spinning or bait casting. I have A LOT of them haha

[gim]

I also have a 6.5 foot MH spinning setup that I use for dock skipping weightless or small soft plastics. Gotten to be pretty good with it the last 2 seasons too.

[Catt]

I have a different take ?

 

Talking to a couple guys at local shops they cannot keep on the rake!

 

They're more popular than anglers admit.

[Bird]

No, your not a minority.

I much prefer shorter rods 6'6 - 6'8 and cast more accurately.

I also don't flip though.

 

[E-H]

I have 2 St. Croix Avid-X's 6'6" medium-light fast and love them.  They stopped making them now. 

 

Argh.  Replaced with the Victory which I didn't like as much but it was xfast and the reel seat tightened from the bottom and wouldn't stay tight for me after several casts.

 

 

[ironbjorn]

28 minutes ago, Bird said:

No, your not a minority.

I much prefer shorter rods 6'6 - 6'8 and cast more accurately.

I also don't flip though.

 

Hardly anyone does, although they think they do when what they're actually doing is pitching. 

[813basstard]

I think people have gotten taller.

It’s inflation. I would assume. 

[Sam Spade]

It's been a long time since I've purchased a rod longer than 6'8".  I realized I was naturally gravitating toward the shorter rods (below 7') and unintentionally avoiding the 7' and up rods in my arsenal.  I really wish you could still find production rods between 6'0" and 6'6", but there aren't many.

49 minutes ago, E-H said:

I have 2 St. Croix Avid-X's 6'6" medium-light fast and love them.  They stopped making them now. 

 

Argh.  Replaced with the Victory which I didn't like as much but it was xfast and the reel seat tightened from the bottom and wouldn't stay tight for me after several casts.

 

 

Are the Avid X's you have spinning rods? I don't recall the Avid X casting rod being offered in ML, although I always wanted that option.

[zell_pop1]

 I have a 6'3" for jerkbaits/walking lures a 6'4" M for accurate target casting and a 5'6" spinning for skipping docks. There definitely is still a need for them and I would like to see them make a comeback and I want full cork grip rods to be more common too.

[NoShoes]

I like my 7 footers and don’t want to switch rod lengths through out the day. 
 

Supposedly you’re more accurate with shorter rods but I’ll counter you’re more accurate with what you’re comfortable with.  

[GRiver]

I have one 7 footer, the rest are between 6’ and 6’6”. 

[padlin]

I have 6'6" St Croix spinning in Medium Fast and notice the Victory casting comes in a Med 6'6", it shows up on the sites drop down, sort of.

[Deleted account]

Just for S&Gs I went into Tackle Warehouse and it lists 201 choices for rods between 6' and 6'9".

I think most folks perceive what is available as what is being talked about. 

I own and fish several 6'6" rods, as well as a couple of 6' dedicated popper rods.

I really get a kick when somewhat askes "what's the best all around rod" and the answer is a 7'3" or 7'4" rod. 

10 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

As the rods get longer. So does the price.  

Potato chips are packed by weight, not volume...  

[Diggy]

I see more in 6'6" Med than MH at this length, you can use the filter setting on TWH.

If I want a better variety of shorter rods at this point, gotta go with JDM/overseas models in most instances. Been eyeing the 166MH Poison Adrena. 

[MickD]

Getting exactly what you want is one of the big reasons many of us build our own.  And going shorter is easy since longer blanks can be shortened-pick the right one to start with and you'll get what you want.  Any action, any power.  Just about any price.

[new2BC4bass]

10 hours ago, Catt said:

I have a different take ?

 

Talking to a couple guys at local shops they cannot keep on the rake!

 

They're more popular than anglers admit.

When I read this, I wondered if it was mostly enthusiasts that wanted 7' or longer.  But I see in following posts that a few on here also like shorter rods.  I grew up with spinning umpteen years ago.  A 6'6" rod was long...for me.  I still prefer shorter rods for spinning, but prefer 7' or longer for casting.

 

However, this isn't to say that I don't have shorter than 7' that I like.  Have a few 6'8"-6'10" that I like....but all my 6'6" casting rods pretty much don't get used with the exception of an older Aetos MLM.  That rod is an absolute pleasure to fish.

[Hulkster]

Loomis still makes lots of 6'6 M F rods I believe. 

 

I too though have graduated to longer rods. Over the last few years i have switched my rods to 7'6 baitcasting and 7'5 spinning rods (both Loomis E6X). My muskie rod is 8 foot lol

 

I like the longer rods for longer casting from shore (I dont own a boat)

just checked the loomis site, GCX has 6'6 MF casting rod (MBR taper). would be perfect:

 

[gim]

9 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

and a 5'6" spinning for skipping docks

That is a really short rod.

[E-H]

10 hours ago, Sam Spade said:

It's been a long time since I've purchased a rod longer than 6'8".  I realized I was naturally gravitating toward the shorter rods (below 7') and unintentionally avoiding the 7' and up rods in my arsenal.  I really wish you could still find production rods between 6'0" and 6'6", but there aren't many.

Are the Avid X's you have spinning rods? I don't recall the Avid X casting rod being offered in ML, although I always wanted that option.

Yes- Spinning ML F 6' 6".  Amazing rod IMHO.  I have them on a Vanford 3k and a Procyon 2500.  Perfect balance with those light but powerful reels.  Great for tons of small mouths and I rarely miss even the smaller ones.  I may look for another now they are out of production.  The reel seat is great too.

 

I use spinners and lately the smaller ned on a bulletz finesse jig 1/10.  Rod is great for both of those applications.