length of a rod does it change anything

[TJHfishin]

i'm just wondering i was looking at rods today. is a 6'6 just as sensitive as a 7ft same power same action same rod .i'm just wondering because i know a guy who swears by shorter rods because he says u lose sensitivity in a longer rod. hope this isn't to confusing

[bass or bass ?]

You get more casting power with length. I prefer longer rods myself. All my baitcast rods are 6.5 or 7 feet. All my spinning rods except my light weight panfish rod are 6.5 or 7 feet. The light weight, light action panfish rod is 6 feet. My 7 weight fly rod is 9 feet. I also prefer 1 piece rods. My 9 foot fly rod is 2 piece though, for obvious reasons. Many fly rods are 3 or 4 piece though.

[Triton20XSD]

I don't think you lose any sensitivity in a longer rod.  Just about all my rods are 7' or 7'1".  You can move more line on the hookset with a longer rod and have more leverage in fighting the fish.

[BobP]

I think your friend is right.  A shorter rod of the same material, same guides, same line, same reel, same fisherman has a little less blank material to attenuate the sensation of a bite.  But in the mix of things, the slight difference is not very significant.  Longer rods cast farther, move more line quickly when setting the hook, and give more control while fighting the fish.  Short rods cast more accurately at short distances.  Both have their place.  It's natural for guys to rationalize why the equipment they use is the best.  And maybe it is for them if it increases their confidence!  But that's usually just self-justification, not fact.  Make up your own mind.

[SirSnookalot]

Given the same line rating, action and power the shorter rod gives more leverage to fight a fish, tuna sticks are usually about 5 or 5.5 long, 6 tops with a long foregrip for added leverage.

Longer rods are fun for playing a fish, but with less control.

Growing up fishing with old fiberglass rods, in the early 50's and using by today's standards lousy mono line, sensitivity is not really an issue for me, I know how to recognize the faintest bites.  The technology is great today.

[moby bass]

I have a 10' Sam Heaton Crappie rod.  It is so sensitive I can drag a lure across a beer can at the bottom of the lake and tell you what brand it is. 

[0119]

Maybe its more of a personal perception thing. I have the same model rods in different lengths and 'think' I can tell a difference. Im for shorter rods myself. I 'think' I feel more sensitivity and Im confident that I have more control. As far as casting distance goes, with todays hi tech reels I can get just as much distance out of a 6'6" or 6'3" rod as a 7'. At least at the distances needed for bass fishing.

[tracker01]

I don't think you lose any sensitivity in a longer rod. Just about all my rods are 7' or 7'1". You can move more line on the hookset with a longer rod and have more leverage in fighting the fish.

I am curious about this theory. Longer rods cast a bit farther and have more line to "move" and shorter rods do not quite cast as far and have less line to "move". So this should be a wash. As far as leverage, with a shorter rod you are closer to the fish.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have been having this long rod, short rod thing bouncing around in my head also.

[David P]

Longer rods cast further, move more line on the hook set, and can be more accurate if used right, even close quarters. Most of my rods are 7'6 to 8Ft and it has helped me incredibly. You do not lose sensitivity with the higher end rods. I also like longer rods for when fish take you around your trolling motor or shoot under the boat. Flipping is a very close quarters technique and the longer rods help you place the bait exactly where you want.

[Hot n Tot]

I have rods from 6' to 7' and use them all. As has been said, longer rods can cast further and you move more line during the hookset. I personally get fatigued much faster using 7' rods, even when using my 843 IMX, so I rotate and use rods of different lengths when I'm fishing all day. I don't seem to notice this as much with spinning rods, for whatever reason. But to me, higher end, 6' rods like legend elites and Loomis GLX and IMX are a real joy to fish with. Much of this proably has to do with having been fishing since the late sixties, as well as how they balance in my hand. Old habits are hard to break, I even bought a left hand casting reel thinking I could use it for flipping,  pitching and frogging, but after a few casts decided it just wasn't for me, and returned it for a RH reel.

[K_Mac]

I don't think you lose any sensitivity in a longer rod. Just about all my rods are 7' or 7'1". You can move more line on the hookset with a longer rod and have more leverage in fighting the fish.

I am curious about this theory. Longer rods cast a bit farther and have more line to "move" and shorter rods do not quite cast as far and have less line to "move". So this should be a wash. As far as leverage, with a shorter rod you are closer to the fish.

Please correct me if I am wrong. I have been having this long rod, short rod thing bouncing around in my head also.

Where is RoLo when you need him?! If where your hand holds the rod is the fulcrum (it is), the longer the rod the more leverage the fish has. That is not to say shorter is necessarily better when bass fishing. I use 7' rods most of the time because I like the amount of line I can move with the longer rod.

I think balance has much to do with sensitivity. A longer, tip heavy rod will not be as sensitive as a shorter balanced rod of the same material IMO. Over all weight is another factor. With most quality rods the difference between 6'6" and 7' is not enough to make any consequential difference in sensitivity.

[TJHfishin]

wow im glad im not the only one that had thought about this so thank you so much guys happy fourth of july