Hey guys, l lost my dad last year and have been eyeballing some of his rods. He was a trout and steelhead guy but he's got some nice rods but they're long and lm wondering if l can make use of them in the bass waters. 

G Loomis 8'6" med/xfast

Lamaglass NW special 8'6" MH/fast or extra fast

 

Id love to find a use for these but haven't bass fished with such long rods. I was thinking maybe the Loomis might make a good dropshot rod. Do you guys see any good uses for these? 

First, sorry for your loss. Losing a parent is never easy. Interestingly enough, I have that same norwest special but the extra heavy version. My version was meant for large steelhead, chum and kings but your dad’s rod would be more “general all around” but could handle larger fish if required. Definitely Overkill for the typical bass.  These rods can work but it will not be ideal especially if it’s a technique where you have to work a lure to give it life. We’d be tired using a 7’ bass rod fishing with 1/2oz jigs all day. Now imagine doing the exact same thing with an 8’6” or 9’6” rod. That’s just insane and tennis elbow waiting to happen. 
 

If you were in a river setting and planning to fish with floats, or fishing in-line spinners or spoons (you let the current work for you) or still fishing, those long rods will kick booty.

 
The longer rods give you greater line control and allow you to set the hook from much farther away and this is not uncommon when targeting salmonids. With that said, this is not normally needed in bass fishing because more often than not, we target bass in closer quarters. 

Both are very desirable rods.  @islandbass described their river use perfectly.  

They also have a couple of salt uses - make great surf rods, both for light spider weights (2 oz +bait) and, especially, casting lures in the surf.  

Inshore, drifting grass flats, they have the advantage of getting a 1/4- or 3/8-oz lure far away from boat hull-slap, also the reach helps keep a weighted paddletail in the zone above 2' grass.  

 

For any shore fishing, the cast distance will be a boon.  

I’ll add to the already given advice by letting you know those rods would be great for trolling & long lining treble hook baits in open water areas. Lots of possibilities.

@Dwight Hottle  Dagnabbit, how could I have forgotten about trolling? Excellent point. 
 

@snowplow I forgot to mention that imho, those are rods worth holding onto. 

Thanks guys. I do love long rods for trolling.