I’m looking at a 7’4” rod.  All of my rods are 6’ 6’6” or 7’… I have  weird hang up about a 7’4” being too long to use in my native ultimate 12 kayak. Sit in style yak and I don’t stand much in it.  

Anyone use 7’4” or longer in a yak ?

Yes I have a few that are 7'4" or over and haven't noticed any issues. The longest one I've got is 7'6" and even that one has been fine but that's also about as long as I'm willing to go. The main issue I've noticed is actually dragging my kayak to certain spots where I have to go under trees or something like that. Fortunately there are plenty of options out there in the 7' to 7'6" range and I've got enough to throw everything I want to throw at this point.

 

I'm betting you won't notice it as much as you are worried about once you are on the water. The only thing I can think of is if your rod storage is limited in height somehow or if you go under a lot of trees or bridges or something like that when you are on the water. If you are on mostly open water there's really not much of a difference and the extra length can help with casting distance for moving baits or for instances when you are fishing really deep on bottom and want a little extra leverage.

I agree with @Brian11719. It's no biggie.

The issue for me with a low seat like my Wilderness is the handle length moreso than the overall rod length.   No problems on my Hobie or Native Slayer with the higher seats.

I switched from a bass boat to a kayak recently. I had two 7’4” rods and now seldom use them. In fact I’m replacing the 7’4” Heavy with one that is 6’9”

 

I think there is somewhat of an issue casting a longer rod from a kayak - but for me the bigger challenge is fighting an aggressive fish boat side with a long rod… I’ve found shorter helps the landing ratio. 

 

41 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

The issue for me with a low seat like my Wilderness is the handle length moreso than the overall rod length.   No problems on my Hobie or Native Slayer with the higher seats.

Thanks !  I agree on the handle length, I sit down in the Ultimate 12.  Short handle on my Loomis CR722 works great.  Longer handles can be awkward for sure.  Made a seat riser, helped a bit.   The cr722 feels oddly short in my boat, but perfect in my kayak 

Sitting a longer rod can hit whatever is behind you. Simply adjust the cast motion to more 45 degrees side arm cast.

Tom

Depends on how big the water is, and how far away you need to fish - I fish up to 7'5' here

longer than 5-1/2' is tough here

Not a problem; maybe an adjustment.  2 of 4 rods I use from my sit-in are 7’6” and pose absolutely zero issues.  I purchased them this season, and they quickly became 2 of my favorites.  

Not a huge issue but I found a longer rod will allow the lure to slap the water in the back swing when casting and fighting a fish boat side is a bit more difficult as @FryDog62 noted.

I prefer the 6’6”, 6’8” and 6’10” rods, but I do use a few 7 footers.

 

My last outing throwing an A-rig on a 7’6” in the wind ended up with my line caught up in the trolling motor, no bueno! Managed to save the A-rig but had to pull the trolling motor off the canoe, pull the prop off and remove 15 yards of braid from around the prop shaft. Didn’t throw the long rod again all day.

@Jaybert  I was reluctant to try longer rods from my kayak.  I eventually put reservations aside, bought two and am glad I did.  
Don’t let the bad experiences of a few dissuade you from getting a longer rod.  Using a rod longer in length than you are used to will require minor adjustments in casting, retrieve and landing fish.  These adjustments are pretty straightforward and surprisingly easy to make.  If you think about it, similar adjustments would be necessary if you went to a rod shorter in length than you are used to.  
A longer rod provides added distance when casting.  It has also allowed me to more easily flip while seated to spots among rocks that otherwise might go untested.  Given the number of rocky stretches on the rivers I fish, I consider this a huge benefit.  Another advantage I’ve enjoyed is that the added length enables me to more easily guide my line around the bow of my yak rather than being helpless when the fish has decided to go under it.  The only disadvantage for me is having to pay more attention to heights of tree limbs when carrying my rods to the water or back to my truck.  In short, there is absolutely no compelling reason to deprive yourself of a longer rod.  If you overcome your apprehension and get one, you won’t regret it.

Not at all for me... Most of my rods are 7'3 to 7'6...i prefer the longer lengths in rods... 

I use a 7' 9" and 7' 11" swimbait rod in kayak with no issues. Most of my rods are 7' or longer and I'm a majority of the time a kayak angler anymore. 

I've got an 8 footer for deep cranks.

 

My kayak is a sit on top, but doesn't have a high seat like some people do.

 

You have to make sure on a cast the lure doesn't hit the water behind you or you will get a birds nest.

 

7'4" isn't an issue unless you want precision casting.

I use rods up to 8' in my kayak.  Its the butt length of the rod that is the concern.  Not the overall length.

I've used a 7'4" for frogs on a 14' Gheenoe which is basically a canoe with a square back.  Just don't swing it over your partner's head.  

It not a big deal.. until you want to use your kayak to get in tight spaces where kayak fishing shines. When I'm going to the main lake and fish mainly open water I do carry the 7+ rods. When on the river or thinking of going in certain areas they stay home. 

I really think it is up to the angler in the kayak. I for one,

prefer shorter rods, at least shorter butt-end rods that

don't get caught on my PFD when casting, etc.

 

There are times I think a longer rod might be beneficial,

but I tend to stick with my short rods.

 

All that said, kayak bassing is changing, adapting, evolving

to the trends. Use what YOU think is best for how YOU

fish not what the trend dictates. Just my .02.

I have both 7' 4" and 7' 6" rods that are part of my rotation depending upon where I am fishing. The 7' 6" rod comes in handy when I'm standing and pitching into cover.

 

Most of my rods are in the 7' - 7' 2" range as I feel I get better accuracy with the longer rods. However, I also like to skip baits from a seated position and in those cases I have a 6' 9" rod. I'd like to step down to a 6' 6" rod for that purpose, but I haven't found one that I like.

I use 7'6" rods every time I go fishing in my kayak.  I have even used a 9 foot rod with no problems.  My only complaint with long rods in my kayak are when I am fishing around trees and if I'm not careful the rods that are stored vertically will catch in tree branches.  I'm not sure if shorter rods would even make much of a difference.  Even a six foot rod will stick up high enough to catch a branch if I'm not careful.

@king fisher when we were fishing 1/4-oz jigheads and fluoro, 

8-9' steelhead rods were go-to, to help keep the heavy weight lifted above the grass.  

Everyone who borrowed my Loomis GL2 MH spinner wanted to take it home.  

It’s certainly a preference, it’s all in selecting the right handle length. If you have a bow mount motor, rod length might be an issue when you need to work a bait. 

7 foot is almost my minimum. I like to work a fish around the nose of the boat.  So much is handle anyways.  
 

I have a 6-8 I’m about to try in the ocean.  I don’t expect troubles. 

I like shorter rods in a kayak but it’s more because of where I fish. River with current. We float under lots of low hanging limbs and in heavy current I don’t have time to lay them all down and back up, 7 4 on a lake no problem.

 

i also like a shorter rod for relining a rod in the kayak. If my line breaks off and I’ve gotta run line through the eyelets a 74 gets pretty difficult try to do in my sit down only kayak. I’ve have to like drop the rod  tip in the water or something really silly to do it.