These new St. Croix Legend Glass rods look very interesting, I'm in the market for my first moderate action crankbait specific rod and these have my attention. The only issue for me personally is the size. I like a rod around 7' and medium heavy, they offer a 7'2'' in Medium and a 7' 4'' in Medium heavy that they call their most versatile rod in that class. What do you guys think, 7'4'' too long? I know its only 4'' longer than what I'm use to but I hear a lot of people say anything over 7' feels like a telephone pole. Anyway, thanks any input.

It depends on what you want to use it for. What are your intended uses? 

I refuse to fish anything under 7 foot personally, and fish up to 7'6" regularly and 7'10" in some cases. It's all personal preference, and if you're willing to spend the time to get used to it. Four inches isn't all that much difference though honestly. It might be harder to adjust if you were coming from 6'0" to 6'6" range.

21 minutes ago, PAfishing said:

These new St. Croix Legend Glass rods look very interesting, I'm in the market for my first moderate action crankbait specific rod and these have my attention. The only issue for me personally is the size. I like a rod around 7' and medium heavy, they offer a 7'2'' in Medium and a 7' 4'' in Medium heavy that they call their most versatile rod in that class. What do you guys think, 7'4'' too long? I know its only 4'' longer than what I'm use to but I hear a lot of people say anything over 7' feels like a telephone pole. Anyway, thanks any input.

I have one of their old original Pro-Glass rods in 7 ft M and love it (IMO, they're the best cranking rods ever). It is limited in that it's a chore to throw some of the bigger/heavier cranks on so I got a 7 ft MH of another brand for throwing the bigger/heavier and deeper diving baits but it's not a glass rod and not as forgiving. That being said, I also have several 7 ft 6 in rods for froggin, flippin/pitching, punching, and swimbaiting and that extra 6 inches gives more distance in casting and better angle for hooksets especially with lots of line out.

I like my cranking rods to be at least 7' long. I'd be surprised if you notice the difference except you'll probably cast a bit further, unless you fish a lot of tight areas (standing timber). 

I'm another one of the people who fishes 7'+. My cranking rod is 8' actually. I never found anything disadvantageous about a longer rod, unless I was fishing in the sticks from the shore. 

I think you'll be ok with the 7'4". Personally I like shorter rods as well but unless you're planning on going for accuracy with something like a squarebill, the added length will help you cover more water and get some baits deeper. 

I throw squarebills on either a 7'2" Megabass Orochi Swingfire or a 7'9" Phenix XG3 Glass rod - being a shore guy I don't mind the extra length, though there are times when I have overhanging limbs, side bushes, or steep banks where the extra length makes throwing crankbaits impossible or at the very least very cumbersome.  From a boat I don't see why you'd opt for a shorter length since nothing is in the way of your cast.