Does Anyone Still Use Short Rods?

[smalljaw67]

I was wondering if anyone uses the 6' to 6'6" rods anymore or is it just me? When I started using the 6'6" rod it was considered long at the time and I stuck with it and now it seems everyone is using long rods, 7' is almost a short rod now. Right now I only use a 7' rod for flipping, and as for pitching I like my 6'6" MH-F, I have more control and I'm more accurate and I can still get good distance on a cast. I do know one thing I learned about longer rods, and that is picking line up. Last season I got a Fenwick smallmouth 6'9" spinning rod, this was for tubes and light jigs but also for shaky head fishing, I noticed I was missing bites using the 6'6" rod but only the bites in deeper water, it was almost like I couldn't get enough leverage to set the hook and I was amazed at how much better I was able to set the hook in deep water with just a few inches in difference. Does the 7' lengths help when fishing spinnerbaits or cranks or is it best suited for bottom baits, let me know why you use the long rod.

[McAlpine]

I have gone to 6'6" spinning rods and almost exclusively 7' casting rods.

I did just pick up an 8' casting rod for big deep crankbaits.

I dont personally feel any loss of ability to be accurate with a longer rod and actually to me the longer rod makes me feel more in control of the bait. You can definitly move more line with less wrist.

[John G]

I went fishing the other day with a Calcutta100 mounted on a GLoomis CR723. That is a 6ft MH/F rod. I was using it for small swimbaits.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I have a 6' custom spinnerbait rod, a 6' pistol grip mod/fast action rod I throw shallow square bills with sometimes and a 6'6" spinning rod I throw small jerk baits with. 7' is a good middle of the road length and I work up or down from there to suit a particular application.

[tholmes]

Yep. I still have a couple of 5'6" pistol-grip rods that I use when I'm in tight quarters i.e. overhanging tree branches. I fish almost exclusively from shore and they come in handy in a lot of places.

Tom

[Chris Wilson]

I have a 6' and two 6'6"

[Packard]

Shorter rods have more leverage. I use mostly 6'6" rods. My longest is a 7'8".

[ww2farmer]

I am going back to having a few shorter rods. For years I skipped docks with a 6' spinning rod, last year I bumped that up to a 6'3", but that rod broke so I used a 6'8" for the rest of the season. This year I am going to split the difference and use a 6'6". I also used to use a 6'6" casting rod for jerkbaits and top waters, I though I could do just fine with a 7' for those techniques, but I hated it. Going back to a 6'6" for those again this year.

[BradH]

I use a 6' 3" casting rod for jerkbaits. I Just like pointing the rod straight down when fishing jerkbaits.

[Raul]

I only have 3 6'6" rods, most are 6´ and I still have a coupleof 5´6" pistol grips.

[Goose52]

Most of my rods are 6'6" or longer and I don't really consider 6'6" short.

Counting spinning and casting rods, I do have 11 shorter rods that are between 3' and 6'. Most are "niche" rods that are handy for certain things but aren't used as general duty rods. Two of the 11 are 5' and 5'6" pistol grip rods that I don't use anymore. The other 9 short rods all have their niche and get used from time to time. UL and L spinning, a 5"4" five-piece spinning pack rod, a 3' spinning rod, a couple 6' ML bc rods, a 6' M bc rod, and a nifty 5'9" MH bc rod that is handy for a number of things like close-quarters on the bank, spinnerbaits, etc. - but I mostly use it as a "chaser rod" in the front on my canoe (when you miss a fish on one bait you grab the chaser rod with a 5" stickworm on it to follow-up on the missed strike...).

[Jason Penn]

i used to use 6'6" casting rods for pretty much everything, and then i bumped up to 7'. i'm going back to using a 6'6" mh bps crankin stick out of financial necessity this year for spinnerbaits, squarebill and topwater, but it just seems short when practice casting in the yard.

i do kind of wonder sometimes if any company will make anything shorter than 7' in the near future. it seems in the past couple of years they just keep pushing it. a 7'2" is the longest rod i can fit in my rod box.

i've still never bumped up to 7' on spinning rods although i don't really know why. for some reason the 6'8"-6'10" range just seems right to me.

[Hooligan]

I have many 6-0 to 6-6 rods for specific applications, I won't be caught on the water without them. Period.

[jkarol24]

I use a 6'8" spinning rod for skipping senkos. Also have a 6'6" medium casting rod for topwaters and jerkbaits, and a 6'7" heavy casting rod that i love for pitching to docks and close range structure. IMO it allows you to control the bait a little better, and makes pitching easier as im kind of short (5'8" on a good day)

[Blue Streak]

I use my 6 foot rods every time I go out they are just as important in the scheme of things as my 7 footers. I love those old pistol grips.

[dcorp]

The longest rod I have is 7 feet. It seemed like when I started fishing in the 90's it was either 6' or 6'6" max. I am so used to the smaller rods that anything over 7 foot seems huge. I just bought a few G Loomis classic rods that are 6' on sale for $70... I also cant stand the long handles, guess I am stuck in my old ways.

[SirSnookalot]

I use 6'6 and 7' for bass, quite comfortable. On occasion I'll use a 7'6 or 8' rod because I'm on my way home from the ocean that's what I have with me. It's awkward at first, but a few minutes into fishing I become used to it, I like a long butt on my rods.

[LAO162]

Fishing from the shore around brush and tall grass, shorter rods are more convenient. I also like the shorter handles since I seldom need the extra leverage. However, once I hit more open areas, longer rods are nice for getting more distance,

[tugsandpulls]

i use 5 ft rods 6-6 rods and 7 ft is my longest for the fishing i do 6-6 is best for me

[elkriverangler]

I don't own a Rod over 6''6". The majority of my Fishing is River Fishing from a Kayak and the shorter Rods work better for me.

I will normally have 3 Rods, a 6'6 Casting Rod for Spinnerbaits and Cranks. a 6'3 and 6' Spinning for Senkos and other Plastics as well as Topwater.

A lot of Guys that fish from Kayaks prefer longer Rods but I prefer the shorter Rods.

[LgMouthGambler]

Im a 6'6 fan. Most of my rods are.

[James Yalem]

Would you believe that I still use 5' 6" rods for all my bass fishing. I'm 57 and got used to that length rod when I was a teenager. I sit while I fish so using a rod longer than 6' is difficult. Besides I do not like to flip, pitch or carolina rig (use texas rig) so I don't like real long rods. I can use and have tried 6' rods, but I prefer my 5' 6" rods which are not new. I use heavy and medium-heavy action.

[d3bf48]

My favorite rod is my St. Croix Avid 6'3 mlxf. Tons of fun on smallmouth

[0119]

I only use rods under 6'6" for bass fishing. 7ft and 8ft for catfishing. Ive got 2 7'2" Cumaras I never use hate them cause of their length. Caught 13 bass today using a 5'6" pistolgrip rod and gasp! A reel with only 2 ball bearings.....