A simple question with many right answers.  Tried a lot of different rods for the same type of fish.  For me  the conditions rule which rod gets picked that day. High fast flood water I am doing short stiff rods & heavy lines. I just do not know what is going to hit 6 feet from shore in a swirling back water hole.  Could be anything and up to about 25 pounds. I am using a medium split shot on the bottom with with 2 hooks 1 foot apart farther up the line. 1 has worm. Other has Green Giant corn niblets.

It provides some action as the scent is picked up. 

 

I do use 2# test in clear open places.   👍

7 hours ago, fin said:

 

Cool! But ...why?

 

It was a Doug Hannon design.

 

Allows you to put the spine on the top of the rod, when under load, pulls nice and even downward. 

 

Rods work well. 

 

You would think impacts casting distance, but really doesn't. 

 

I really like these rods. 

I fish a small tight river with alot of overhanging trees. My main rods are 6'6 with micro eyes. 

 

Accuracy is King 👑 

Shorter rods are more accurate

46 minutes ago, NittyGrittyBoy said:

I fish a small tight river with alot of overhanging trees. My main rods are 6'6 with micro eyes. 

 

Accuracy is King 👑 

Shorter rods are more accurate

People are shocked when they see how small my micro guides are.

 

And those aren't big Red Bird matches either. 

as bank fisherman, I use my 6'6" and 6'10" a lot.

I bank fish and want to avoid any brush and trees. I also like to fish as light as possible. So my everyday rod is 5’4” E-glass paired with a Vanford 500 reel. 

Is your stream / lake edges right against & over bushes ?

I’m 70 and can remember teaching myself how to build rods to get something over 6 1/2 feet.  

ice fishing...

I am a short-rod lover!  Portability, accuracy, and style, short rods have it all!

 

Seriously, I really think they offer a lot, especially for bank or yak fishing.  I do a lot of hike-in fishing and the QoL difference between a 6' and a 7' rod when trying to work through thorn-choaked banks/bottoms is huge. When on the yak shorter rods let be pull up close to cover/under stuff to get out of the sun for a moment and make it less nerve-wracking to position myself parallel to the bank under trees to fish shallow. Functionally, I really like shorties for any presentation that I want to pop/walk/twitch/jerk.  Being able to work tip-down really opens up a lot of options in terms of action and I feel like I can make smaller/softer moves with a shorter rod vs a longer one.  I also think shorter rods, esp shorter casting rods, are just fun to fish with as you can make one-handed casts as you wade or walk along the bank. 

I miss shorter rods.  Was really sad that the refreshed Avid line from St. Croix didn't have anything less than 7' in casting.

My favorite rod is my G. Loomis IMX 783. Pinpoint accuracy out of my kayak, and great for bank fishing under trees. I have 7’ 3” rods and I do use them when I really need to bomb cast but in terms of overall feel and confidence that 6’ 6” Loomis is my sweet spot. Have a few other “short” rods like a 6’ 10” Expert Head Turner for heavier duty action around docks and overhangs, love that one as well. And a 6’ 9” Kaden for jerks and finesse jigs. And a sub-7 for jerkbaits. I think it just comes down to what you’re comfortable with and what you’re throwing and the distance versus accuracy thing. No right or wrong, really. 

5'6" pistol grip was what I used when I first started baitcasters.  I still use one for fishing Spooks, though I've gone longer since for cranks and jigs. I can fish it tip up, or tip down and it feels balanced in my hand. I doubt, however, that I'll ever go back to using one for any other application.

Roll casting in tight bank fishing spots it's hard to beat a 5'6" rod.

Shorter rods are generally easier for baits you walk or twitch, low hanging trees and skipping. Also when you are casting seated from your kayak, many people like shorter rods for that too.

I'd flip this question around and ask, what are the advantages of longer rods?  Because in my opinion, the only real advantage to a longer rod is casting distance.  I know some would say leverage, but I can easily put enough leverage on any rod to break it, so I don't feel as though that's a selling point to me.  

 

That being said, most of my rods, and all of the rods I've bought in the last 20 years, are 6'6" or longer, with most being around 7' (+ or - 2").  Casting distance is pretty important and most of the advantages of shorter rods can be minimized with a bit of skill.  

54 minutes ago, Bankc said:

I'd flip this question around and ask, what are the advantages of longer rods?  Because in my opinion, the only real advantage to a longer rod is casting distance.  I know some would say leverage, but I can easily put enough leverage on any rod to break it, so I don't feel as though that's a selling point to me.  

 

That being said, most of my rods, and all of the rods I've bought in the last 20 years, are 6'6" or longer, with most being around 7' (+ or - 2").  Casting distance is pretty important and most of the advantages of shorter rods can be minimized with a bit of skill.  

casting distance as you mentioned.  Fish fighting forgiveness on a more moderate actioned rod (look up noodle rods and catching 10 lb steelhead on 2 lb test).  Line pickup with less motion (which can be accomplished in other ways also).

49 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

casting distance as you mentioned.  Fish fighting forgiveness on a more moderate actioned rod (look up noodle rods and catching 10 lb steelhead on 2 lb test).  Line pickup with less motion (which can be accomplished in other ways also).

Yeah.  I mean, if you get away from bass fishing, there are some other advantages.  I know I've been wanting to get myself one of those 12' crappie jigging rods.  

I use a couple 6 foot pistol grip older TeamDaiwa Larry Nixon rods for spinnerbait and worms when in close quarters, bank fishing.

4 hours ago, Bankc said:

Yeah.  I mean, if you get away from bass fishing, there are some other advantages.  I know I've been wanting to get myself one of those 12' crappie jigging rods.  

even within the bass realm where we are talking about 6-8’ rods. There is nothing like a long limber rod for cushioning the runs of a fish that is barely hooked. You could be talking about a 7’6” spinning rod with 4lb leader and a 5# smallmouth vs a 6’6” and the same 4#/5# combo. I know which I’d rather have. 

I fish a couple of JDM Shimano Exprides. They're my only rods. 

 

And they are fantastic!

 

I have a 264-UL2 (6'4") and a 265-UL+ (6'5"). I use these in my inflatable boat (Scout 365) But I stand when I fish. And of course I use them from shore.

 

They can both cast small, tiny, light baits a MILE. They can also handle heavier (but still small) 1/4-3/8 oz. They are sensitive beyond belief. Through the rod, I can feel the weights squeaking as I pull them across the leaves of vegetation. And they have the backbone to catch big fish!

 

My first fish of 2023 was an incidental carp weighing in at 19lbs. Later in the year, a 14lb Channel Cat. Both on 4lb test.

 

Also...look how fat I am after winter hibernation (carp picture) and how much I slimmed down being active and fishing (catfish photo)! LOL 😆 

Over the last few years, I've definitely developed a preference for rod length vs technique.  One of my realizations is that I prefer 7' and under for worm fishing.  I have a 6'11M+ that allows me to work a t-rig downhill with my tip down in heavy cover.  It seems like I can pop free of the weeds at a lower angle, and glide closer to the bottom, which seems to translate to more bites, specifically in the summer.  I grabbed a 6'6MH this winter to add another option.

 

scott

I'm partial to short rods as I fish a lot of smaller streams and creeks.  A sub-6' is gold in that environment, and the range of motion afforded with one handed casting is the difference between landing your bait precisely or just getting in the general vicinity.  I do have a half a dozen rods that are over 6', but the majority of my quiver is anywhere from 4'10" to 5'4".

I fish from the bank. I find 6’10” rods to be a very happy medium for where I fish. 

On 2/5/2024 at 7:16 PM, ATA said:

as bank fisherman, I use my 6'6" and 6'10" a lot.

I usually go the other way, when bank fishing I take out a set of 7'4" for longer distance. 

I usually go for 6'10" to 7'2" on the deck, just easier to manage and and like many here state better accuracy