1 hour ago, Maggiesmaster said:

A bunch of us fish a small lake with many overhanging trees. A 5 1/2 or (preferably) 6 ft. rod is perfect. Longer rods don't work as well. 

 

 

Yes, a big advantage when bank fishing by overhanging trees & dense brush (i.e. the best spots)

 

All other things equal, a shorter rod is also more sensitive than a longer rod (comes closer to hand-lining).

Also, a shorter rod offers more water clearance for working a jerkbait, without standing on your toes 

For sure, a longer rod offers greater casting distance, which has been done to death,

but a shorter rod offers better casting accuracy (less magnified lateral error)

As a bonus, shorter rods are easier to store than longer rods, in your home, your truck and your boat.

 

Roger

1 hour ago, RoLo said:

shorter rod offers better casting accuracy (less magnified lateral error)

 

I'd argue that practice = accuracy, but yeah - the shorter rods tend to be more accurate.  I know I go to a shorter rod when I want "sniper style" accuracy.

 I have 3 or 4 of the short rods, bought them back in the 70s to  stripper fish with. They are stiff , used 888s and 808s on them You needed short rods when bank fishing the Staunton [Roanoke ] river. We caught a lot of fish on those rod & reels. They are Berkley with pistol grip. Buck tails were the bate of chose, cheap at the time, you could trade a few deer tails for enough buck tales to last a long time.

 Oh I still use em too. But would not trust them to a 25 or 30 pound strip Bass now.