I fish primarily Lake Lanier and a local reservoir, neither of which has heavy grass. I have a G. Loomis IMX Pro Casting Rod 7'1" Heavy 854C JWR that is used for throwing hollow bodied frogs and Carolina rigs. Do you think a longer rod (like the IMX Pro 7.3 Carolina rig rod) would be better for these two applications?

I would bet the difference in length of those two rods wouldn't even be noticeable.  You also have to measure where the actual length comes into play as I have seen some rods of different lengths have virtually the same length of rod from the reel seat to the tip.

 

In theory a longer rod will help you get better leverage for a hookset and keep them up on top when reeling them in.  

2" ain't enough to really make a difference. 

I haven't used a 7'1" for frogs,  but I do use a 7'3" XH. I guess the idea is to have a longer fulcrum because the power is all in the rod when you try to drag a bass to the surface. The longer it is and the less it flexes, the farther you can move the bass by lifting the rod. So, given two rods that are identical except for the length, I'd take the longer one. I kayak fish, so I'm already at a lower angle. Every little advantage helps.

I doubt that the expense could be justified.  I use a 735 because of handle length not the rod.  Two of the favored enthusiast rods are the perfect pitch which is 7'2" and the xbd frog rod which is 7'4".  A lot of fans of the dobyns champion 735.  Your in the right area as long as the action works for you.

Personally, I am way more accurate with 7' rod, than 7'3".

I know 3" doesn't seem like much of a difference, but when trying to skip or cast frogs into really tight spots it was..... for me. I had to really adjust my casting/skipping technique when I tried the longer rod...it was almost as if I had to relearn how to cast again. Plus the extra 3" threw off my timing when walking a frog, especially after a long cast. 

Now, for bombing long casts across vast matted grass, the longer rod is fine. But since so much of my frogging is close quarters, target oriented, I just use a 7 footer all the time.

At those lengths it is more about balance and the situation you are going to fish. Only you can tell

This is where I'd be wary of rod companies trying to market rods that are nearly identical except a couple of inches of length, and putting a label on them as being for different techniques.

On 5/21/2018 at 8:10 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

2" ain't enough to really make a difference. 

That's what she said ?

There's not much of a difference between those two. 7'1" and 7'3" are both longer frog rods where some people prefer a shorter rod, around 6'6" because it's easier to walk the frog.

I use 7' 4" and 7' 6" myself. Depends on cover and situation.