I wanted to try out one of these for my ponds setup and travel setup.  I got a great deal on a Mitchell 300 Pro to put on it.  The handle is so long on the Ugly Stik that is almost unusable.  When I compared it to my other rod handles, it was a good 5 to 6 inches longer.  Why do they do this?  I am going to cut off about 5 inches off the bottom and put a saltwater rod butt over it.  Anybody every done this?  I only paid $25 for the rod so I am not to worried about modding it.  

25 where? Lol mod it ain't gonna hurt

Academy Sports.  I got the 6'6 Medium Heavy rod.  Almost impossible to use efficiently from a kayak.

Fine to mod the rod. I've modded rods by lopping a few inches off the tip so I'd have a shorter length for yak fishing. We each have our own preferences when kayak fishing. My style, longer handles don't bother me so much.

 

I have handled the GX2 in-store, didn't think the handles were too long, but in fairness, I didn't stay long with the rods, plan to on next visit as I might want to buy one for saltwater live bait fishing.

I hate long handles and avoid buying them, although short-handled rods seem to be getting fewer and fewer. I've cut off a couple of inches on a few rods. I don't know why they make handles so long; I can easily make two-handed casts with handles that I consider short.

 

Don't forget that the longer the handle, the shorter the effective length of the rod is. As far as I'm concerned a 6'6" rod with a handle six inches too long for me is in effect a 6' rod.

I would only buy a rod that I liked, wouldn't cut it down to my own specs.  For using top lures shorter butts seem to work well for people, I often use 8' rods with longer butts, I'm so used to it I don't give it a thought.  I will choose a rod with a longer butt every time, also I will not buy a rod without a foregrip, I use nothing but spinning.  Some of my reasons, I have better casting control with longer butt, bigger fish on the line when I'm the jettie or a boat quite often that butt is under my armpit, on the beach or shore the butt is pushed into my waist like a fighting belt.  I cast with my hand on the foregrip, moves the balance point my rod doesn't feel as tip heavy.  I have more control working lures with my hand higher on the grip and way less wrist fatigue.  My hand is in strike position, I have more leverage on the fish, very useful to me in bass fishing to set the hook with less effort.  All this works for me.