I do most of my spinning with tubes, jigs, soft jerkbaits, and very small cranks, and while I've used both 6 1/2 and 7 foot spinning rods, I have grown to really like my 7 foot medium action fast tip rods.

In searching for another blank to build from it is obvious that there are a lot more 6 1/2 foot blanks than 7's that are described as medium power, fast tip.

It appears that I am swimming upstream while most everyone else is swimming down.  Can you spinning experts tell me if I am missing something in favoring 7 over 6 1/2 for the type of fishing I described?  Are there advantages to 6 1/2 that I've been missing?

thanks, Mick

I dunno if you are or not.  But I've started to gravitate to longer rods myself.  My last several rods, baitcasters and spinning, have been 6'8" to 7".  I have a 6'6" and 7' medium/fast with the same reel and line and I used them for the same thing, but I just prefer the 7'.  

For me I can cast much longer distances with the 7 ft. rods. I prefer them on a boat, if I am fishing one of the Ponds or the Leigh River from shore  I prefer the 6'6" rod because of over head branches and such. If I am throwing plastic I like the fast actions and anything with a treble hook I like Mod action

I think a 7' gives you a little advantage in casting distance and fighting a fish, while a 6'6" is a little better casting under tighter conditions. I use the 6'6" for non-fishing reasons: I like one-piece rods and a 7' is not something I can easily transport or store in my basement. But I've never felt deprived by limiting myself to the shorter of the two.

Another factor is that I like short handles, and my short-handled 6'6" rods probably fish close to the same as a long-handled 7'.

I like 7' rods (or longer) for just about everything. The exceptions are skipping under docks, I like a 6' or shorter for that. Also I like to use 6'6" or shorter rods for jerkbaits and/or topwater baits that require alot of rod action.