When I shore fish it's on a canal with rip rap. I had an idea to try something different: I'm looking for a nine or ten foot pole that would work for spybaits, finesse swimbaits so that standing on the rocks I can fish parallel to the bank just off the rocks in slightly deeper water for the full length of the cast. I don't even know where to start looking, I'm guessing this would be a salt water rod?

Heavier fly rod blank seems like it would work.

I'm pretty sure there are inshore spinning blanks that approach 9ft as well.

Some sea bass rods come in 8'+ lengths and multi peice for ease of transport.

 

You can get something great from Japan or just test the concept with a cheap Aliexpress rod. @bulldog1935 should have some recommendations.

@Bigbox99

Japanese Rockfish and Shore Jigging rods are where you want to go.  While rockfish refers to species on both US coasts, in Japan, it refers to long casts from rocky shore - tide passes - same thing I use them for here.  

JDM Abu Garcia is the brand I would recommend you check first -  Salty Style is the $100 rod - Salty Stage is the $200 rod.  In quality, you can go all the way to EverGreen.  I began this decades ago with Lami steelhead rods, but the Japanese offer the finesse rods I need.  

You didn't mention specific weights, which is most important for me - my shore rods are for salt finesse in tide passes, imitating small bait concentrated into bait balls by tide and wind currents. I also fish these in a winter navigation channel under a row of sodium-lights on docks pointing into the channel.  

Here's an 8'7" example that fishes 3/8 to 1-1/2 oz.  

My first Salty Style 8'9" shore light jigging rod impressed me enough to go back for a second.  

1/8 to 7/8 oz.  

On Ali Express, you should also be able to search distance rod, rockfish rod, and shore jigging rod to find a range of examples.  One Ali Express rod that has really impressed me is PureLure Seabed SD-C782ML.  The 7'8" length is easier to haul on my kayak to tide passes, and it perfectly matches my favorite 1/4-oz plug, and Ambassadeur mini surf reel.  

In April, it was casting the 1/4-oz plug 200' across a tide pass (measured on google earth) and, probably more impressive, it was hooking fish at 180'

 

It's going back to work a week from today on Little Cut, which is only a 130' cast.  

Look at the lighter st croix steelhead blanks. I have a 9’ 1/8-3/8 that I fished for years down in the basement that is what you want. 

Tom would a “heavy” crappie rod suffice?

For a high end option there is the Daiwa Heartland Spinning HL 802MHFS-SV13 Shinzan Biwako Spec.  It's an 8' MH bass rod designed for shore casting.  Daiwa Hearland is one of their top teir rod lines and beautifully detailed.  

1 hour ago, bulldog1935 said:

@Bigbox99

Japanese Rockfish and Shore Jigging rods are where you want to go.  While rockfish refers to species on both US coasts, in Japan, it refers to long casts from rocky shore - tide passes - same thing I use them for here.  

JDM Abu Garcia is the brand I would recommend you check first -  Salty Style is the $100 rod - Salty Stage is the $200 rod.  In quality, you can go all the way to EverGreen.  I began this decades ago with Lami steelhead rods, but the Japanese offer the finesse rods I need.  

You didn't mention specific weights, which is most important for me - my shore rods are for salt finesse in tide passes, imitating small bait concentrated into bait balls by tide and wind currents. I also fish these in a winter navigation channel under a row of sodium-lights on docks pointing into the channel.  

Here's an 8'7" example that fishes 3/8 to 1-1/2 oz.  

My first Salty Style 8'9" shore light jigging rod impressed me enough to go back for a second.  

1/8 to 7/8 oz.  

On Ali Express, you should also be able to search distance rod, rockfish rod, and shore jigging rod to find a range of examples.  One Ali Express rod that has really impressed me is PureLure Seabed SD-C782ML.  The 7'8" length is easier to haul on my kayak to tide passes, and it perfectly matches my favorite 1/4-oz plug, and Ambassadeur mini surf reel.  

In April, it was casting the 1/4-oz plug 200' across a tide pass (measured on google earth) and, probably more impressive, it was hooking fish at 180'

 

Does this one look any good?  It's cheap but I maybe too cheap with heavy guides especially in the spinning model.

 

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256807158872005.html?

@Bigbox99 - might be worth a try for a spinning rod.  

Spinning rods can get by with fewer tip guides, because they're always loaded in pure bending.  

Casting needs higher-quality blank and more tip guides, because fish loads put torsion on the top third.  

A 9 foot rod made for steelhead will work fine.  It will also launch a deep crankbait a mile.

So 3/8 spybaits would be about the max weight for me  Nine foot minimum, spinning, I have a 7'8 that isn't near along enough. 

Lamiglas X-11 series is available in casting and spinning, lengths to 11’6”, lure weight 1/8 to 5/8 oz, $147.

Tom

5 hours ago, Swest18x said:

I had an idea to try something different: I'm looking for a nine or ten foot pole that would work for spybaits, finesse swimbaits so that standing on the rocks I can fish parallel to the bank just off the rocks

I've gone down this road and would recommend against it. They're unwieldy. Go to someplace like J&H and put your hands on a few 8' Light and ML inshore rods. They're more like a M-M+ freshwater rod and should give you what you're looking for.

I will reiterate what others have said about steelhead rods.  They are light and long and exactly what you are describing.  I have several in casting and spinning.  My favorite, though not made anymore, is a 9' Cousins spinning rod.

salmon/steelhead rod.   maybe a tad noodle-like, but it will get it done.    mine is 9.5', I think.  

Thanks for the responses.

Noodlish might be better if I'm throwing spybaits.

I know there's a JDM rod out there that's perfect for this application but it's a lot of time sifting through the internet. A jig rod might be too stiff for spybaits but would work ok for paddletails. I'll probably buy a cheaper steelhead rod but if anyone finds an exact salt model 9'6 to ten or so let me know. 

Could someone explain the difference between side drift, drift float spinner, and drift float models of the x11?

On 9/24/2025 at 5:25 AM, Swest18x said:

When I shore fish it's on a canal with rip rap. I had an idea to try something different: I'm looking for a nine or ten foot pole that would work for spybaits, finesse swimbaits so that standing on the rocks I can fish parallel to the bank just off the rocks in slightly deeper water for the full length of the cast. I don't even know where to start looking, I'm guessing this would be a salt water rod?

Look into Crappie rods, also Salmon and Steelhead rods.

Drift float rods aren't made to cast distance, but to "trot" (US calls Steelheading) a quill float to almost out-of-sight down the current.  Think Centrepin reel.  

Long rods with extreme soft tip to protect light tippet, and XFast over the remainder to strike a quarter-mile downriver.  

Likewise, a long crappie rod is made for dapping.  

 

See JDM Rockfish and Shore Light Jigging rods.  Between these, you'll find Rockfish rods with moderate taper, and Shore Jigging rods with fast taper, and both made to cast distance.  

^ what he said ^

 

Here's Rockfish spinner, check TZNano 93 specs and load curves.  

https://yamaga-blanks.com/product/lightgame/bluecurrent-tznano/

 

I fished the fool out of steelhead casting rods from the 90s through 2018, surf, jetties, to get away from boat hull slap, and to high-stick 1/4-oz jighead above the grass in kayak.  

All that changed when I went to rockfish rods and 7' baitfinesse, and could fish 1/8-oz and lighter on threadline braid.  The rods in my first post feel half the weight in-hand of a steelhead rod.  

On 9/24/2025 at 6:37 AM, Motoboss said:

Tom would a “heavy” crappie rod suffice?

That's what I thought initially as well.  

Suzuki rods are fun.  I bought one for late summer early fall when bigger stripers and blues are few and far between.

I bought 9" ML Dialuna.  It was rated for baits up to ounce or lose to it, so I thought it would have plenty of strength.

I knew it was going to be a slower action, not just because of the length, JDM rods are generally slower when in comparison to USDM rods.  

Other than being al little tip heavy, which is solved by adding Fuji gimbal cover or butt cap to the end of the handle, the backbone of the rod doesn't have enough power to really punch anything into wind.  Although it is rated for an ounce, if I were to put a 3/4oz plug on it and really put some mustard on the cast, I feel like there is a good chance of the blank folding.  Longer rods dont always equal longer casts.  While you're going to pay for the materials used in the blank, the result is a 7' or 7.5' that can cast as far as a 10'

It does well with 3/16-3/8 jigheads will gulp/elastomer baits and the occasional mirrodine or LC wander.

There are a good number of Suzuki style rods that are available here.  

Initially I wanted the 8'3 Daiwa Saltist Light Surf.  Its designed for CIF or Westcoast style JBs like the CIF pointers and smaller SP minnows.  For whatever reason that rod was virtually impossible to get for close 10 months, which is why I went with a Shimano.

Black Hole, a company out of South Korea, makes some great light surf blanks.  They have faster actions and a little more power when combined with similar JDM light surf rods.  They have an 8' 1/2-2oz Suzuki Special Light Inshore, which is essentially like a light heavy power blank with heavy duty guides and a short rear grip when compared to US style surf rods.  I think the Light inshore blank weighs like 3ozs.  

The Suzuki UL Surf is more of a light actioned surf rod.  They have 8,8'6,9', and 9'6 lengths.  They have more glass in the tip, giving them a mod F action and are lighter in weight than the Inshore Suzuki.  The sug. weight range is 1/4-1.5oz and 3/8-2oz on the heavier 9' and 9'6 models. The rear grips are a little longer, like 16-18" (i think) so you can really get some leverage.  The 8" blank is like 1.8oz and the 8.6 is just over 2.  The 9 and 9.5 are heavier in power, so they are little heavier, around 3oz.

The blanks are really good and much better quality than you get with other brands for the price.  The guy who used to import them has recorded himself beating all the black hole rods to death, from King Salmon and Halibut in Alaska, Roster fish in the tropics, giant bull reds in the gulf and cow bass off block island.  He's got blank testing videos too where he lifts water cooler jugs with the flagship models    

Both the inshore and UL surf are on clearance right now, I think either rod is under $200.

Dark Matter makes a rod modeled after a MB Suzuki rod.  The Dark Matter OB Surf is a 10' 1/2-1 1/2oz light surf rod.  The blank loads really well.  If you have the right technique, line and plug, you can cast over 80 yards.  The spinning model does weigh a little more than 7oz, but Dark Matter did a good job balancing it, so you don't feel that weight as much.  Its priced pretty good @$300.  They have casting models as well.  

Okuma has some option too.  They have a sub family of the Rockaway called the Rockaway SP.  Its designed for Westcoast surf fishing, surf perch, halibut and schoolie bass.  Just like the Rockaway they punch way above their price and have no business performing as well as they do.  They were $120, im sure they went up 10 or 20$, but its still a good buy.  I handed the 9' a couple years ago.  It was rated 1/4-1oz, which it felt like it could handle well.  I liked that the rear grip was short like a Suzuki style rod, that makes it easier to work minnow plugs and twitchn baits.  The overall weight was pretty light, but the length and use of sea guides gave it a tip heavy feel.  An 8 or 9oz reel would fix most of that.

 

                             

17 hours ago, GetFishorDieTryin said:

Suzuki rods are fun.  I bought one for late summer early fall when bigger stripers and blues are few and far between.

I bought 9" ML Dialuna.  It was rated for baits up to ounce or lose to it, so I thought it would have plenty of strength.

I knew it was going to be a slower action, not just because of the length, JDM rods are generally slower when in comparison to USDM rods.  

Other than being al little tip heavy, which is solved by adding Fuji gimbal cover or butt cap to the end of the handle, the backbone of the rod doesn't have enough power to really punch anything into wind.  Although it is rated for an ounce, if I were to put a 3/4oz plug on it and really put some mustard on the cast, I feel like there is a good chance of the blank folding.  Longer rods dont always equal longer casts.  While you're going to pay for the materials used in the blank, the result is a 7' or 7.5' that can cast as far as a 10'

It does well with 3/16-3/8 jigheads will gulp/elastomer baits and the occasional mirrodine or LC wander.

There are a good number of Suzuki style rods that are available here.  

Initially I wanted the 8'3 Daiwa Saltist Light Surf.  Its designed for CIF or Westcoast style JBs like the CIF pointers and smaller SP minnows.  For whatever reason that rod was virtually impossible to get for close 10 months, which is why I went with a Shimano.

Black Hole, a company out of South Korea, makes some great light surf blanks.  They have faster actions and a little more power when combined with similar JDM light surf rods.  They have an 8' 1/2-2oz Suzuki Special Light Inshore, which is essentially like a light heavy power blank with heavy duty guides and a short rear grip when compared to US style surf rods.  I think the Light inshore blank weighs like 3ozs.  

The Suzuki UL Surf is more of a light actioned surf rod.  They have 8,8'6,9', and 9'6 lengths.  They have more glass in the tip, giving them a mod F action and are lighter in weight than the Inshore Suzuki.  The sug. weight range is 1/4-1.5oz and 3/8-2oz on the heavier 9' and 9'6 models. The rear grips are a little longer, like 16-18" (i think) so you can really get some leverage.  The 8" blank is like 1.8oz and the 8.6 is just over 2.  The 9 and 9.5 are heavier in power, so they are little heavier, around 3oz.

The blanks are really good and much better quality than you get with other brands for the price.  The guy who used to import them has recorded himself beating all the black hole rods to death, from King Salmon and Halibut in Alaska, Roster fish in the tropics, giant bull reds in the gulf and cow bass off block island.  He's got blank testing videos too where he lifts water cooler jugs with the flagship models    

Both the inshore and UL surf are on clearance right now, I think either rod is under $200.

Dark Matter makes a rod modeled after a MB Suzuki rod.  The Dark Matter OB Surf is a 10' 1/2-1 1/2oz light surf rod.  The blank loads really well.  If you have the right technique, line and plug, you can cast over 80 yards.  The spinning model does weigh a little more than 7oz, but Dark Matter did a good job balancing it, so you don't feel that weight as much.  Its priced pretty good @$300.  They have casting models as well.  

Okuma has some option too.  They have a sub family of the Rockaway called the Rockaway SP.  Its designed for Westcoast surf fishing, surf perch, halibut and schoolie bass.  Just like the Rockaway they punch way above their price and have no business performing as well as they do.  They were $120, im sure they went up 10 or 20$, but its still a good buy.  I handed the 9' a couple years ago.  It was rated 1/4-1oz, which it felt like it could handle well.  I liked that the rear grip was short like a Suzuki style rod, that makes it easier to work minnow plugs and twitchn baits.  The overall weight was pretty light, but the length and use of sea guides gave it a tip heavy feel.  An 8 or 9oz reel would fix most of that.

 

                             

Those long limber rods don't benefit from the wrist snappy type casts we employ with our short stiff bass rods.  I learned this when I got my 7'6" L powered Kuying Leadership.  Normal casting made a wave form undulate down the blank and yielded worse and worse casting the harder I cast.   I learned to more softly cast and to get tip speed with vortex casting instead of wrist snap and actually began to prefer my linearag brake reels when paired to this technique.  @bulldog1935 knows all about this and is how he fishes his saltwater finesse.  

 

There is a related topic up right now on the snappy casting mechanic we use with bass rods.   Basically, don't cast this way with these long limber saltwater rods but do cast this way with you average 7' MH bass rod.

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/267975-casting-mechanics/

With any wrist snap, you must have centrifugal brake to prevent start-up backlash.  

(spinning cast always rewards wrist snap with extra distance, but it's only backlash with baitcast, unless centrifugal subtracts the extra jerk energy)

With smooth power and wrist follow-through acceleration, the light lures don't weigh enough to jerk the spool, and you only need mag brake to prevent mid-cast backlash before the lure crosses the elevation hump.  

13 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

With any wrist snap, you must have centrifugal brake to prevent start-up backlash.  

With smooth power and wrist follow-through acceleration, the light lures don't weigh enough to jerk the spool, and you only need mag brake to prevent mid-cast backlash before the lure crosses the elevation hump.  

This was a real discovery for me when I got my 1st saltwater finesse rod.  I got it to distance cast finesse baits with my Pixy using an Airy Red spool.  Longer rod = more distance but after struggling with normal casting and rod not responding as I expected I began to research different casting techniques from outside the US bass fishing scene and discovered vortex casting.  I specifically ignored all bass fishing context because I had a hunch that a seabass rod might require techniques not employed in freshwater bass fishing.  There is a whole different world of casting out there using magnetic braking and long rods.  I began to see why distance competition using surf rods were using these techniques and mag braking.  It's very different from the 7' MH bass rods were are accustomed to.  

@Bigbox99

While that looks like a tension knob, surf/tournament casters use Zero end tension.  

The knob is a knobby dual-mag brake that moves in and out - you preset for max brake, then back it off.  

On 10-oz tournament distance, 14' rod, they'll start with max brake for start-up, dial it down, then dial it back up a bit right before the hump, then turn the brake to zero to get max distance on the fall.  

Tournament casters don't care about backlashing at end of cast, and they only line their expected cast distance + a little extra for hope.  

Mine are simpler, also shallow spool for threadline braid - I run fixed mag tuned for my lightest weight to clear the hump.  

 

Thanks for all the great information. I have a couple  saltwater JDM rods I bought on recommendation from a user here, not for this particular application but I was really pleased with the quality so I know I could find something going that route eventually.

 

In the meantime I just wanted to test out my idea so I went to the local Dicks store looking for a Lamiglas and came across an Okuma SST 9'6 ML Mod Fast rated 1/4 to 1/2. It felt better than the Lamiglas in hand,  not sure if it's a steelhead rod or what but for 99 bucks I decided to try it out. So this afternoon I went out, sunny calm clear water, and very first cast with it an 18" smallmouth ate the spybait! That's a trophy fish on this fishery, they max out right about there, how's that for luck? Anyways, I fished a couple hours and apart from being a little heavy I gotta say I'm very pleased with that rod for launching spybaits. It also fought the smallie very well, lots of give in the first third or so to keep her pinned. Kind of reminds me of a longer version of my ALX McSmalls, but the extra two feet keep me off the rocks in deeper water on parallel casts. We'll see how it works out long term, but thanks again.