I notice that it seems longer rods are the main stream now. I can remember when I started fishing that a 6' rod was long. I did most of my fishing in high school with a 5'6" pistol grip lightning rod. Do any of you use 6' rods and if so for what lures or baits?

I occasionally use a 6' rod for skipping underneath overhanging branches or docks, or sometimes for bank fishing where I'M underneath the overhanging branches and then a longer rod would be in the way, hanging up on everything. Also, one of my favorite rods was for shallow cranks casting from the boat to the bank, maybe 60' away from it and bringing it back again. Being short, the rod was easy to fish in a downward pointed position so it stayed up out of the water and yet the bait was able to achieve all the diving depth it needed by having the rod pointed downward so there was no upward pull until the line itself finally started drawing it back up again as it neared the boat.

On the whole though, I use 6'6" and sometimes a 7'. The 6' stuff is now reserved for "as needed" applications.

yup shorter rod is great for accurate roll casting underneath overhead cover.

I have a 6' med. spinning rod that is with me all the time for working a shoreline with a weightless senko tied on.

I am using a Castaway SB2 for spinnerbaits. It is 5'9" and will take up to a 1/2oz lure.

I have 5' and 5.5' pistol-grip BC rods that mostly only get used for spin-cast reels nowadays. These would be handy for the uses quoted above (casting under cover, etc.) if I could ever get used to using them again (I'm not big on pistol-grip rods anymore...) I have three 6' trigger BC rods. One is an ML-Mod cranking rod and another is an ML-Fast - both of these are modern rods that I use for small/light baits (both have BPS Pro-LiteC reels on them). I also have a mid-80s vintage Med-Mod cranking rod that has an early-60s vintage Ambassadeur 5000 on it - this is the nostalgia rod that I use just because...

One of these days, I might see if I can take the 5.5' pistol grip rod and put a trigger grip on it - I've been thinking that I "need" a very short & handy BC rod to keep in the front of the canoe for quick follow-up casts with a different bait when you miss a strike with your primary rod. The rod would have to be short to fit in the bow of the canoe (all the other rods are behind me, pointed aft, and hard to get to quickly).

I have two 6' rods and I throw weighted and un-weighted worms, jigs, spinnerbaits and crankbaits.

i have a 6' m/f compre i used for top waters and jerbaits. now its a canal rod. distance isnt much of a concern fishing canals.

I use a 6'6" BPS Extreme rod for my t-rigs

I use a 6' 2" Avid for my poppers and hard jerkbaits. It's light so it doesn't fatigue my wrist as fast and I can work my bait without slapping the water. I used to have a 5' 4" Cabela's XML I used for spinnerbaits but it was a pain fighting a big fish on it, literally would torque my wrist so hard with a big fish I quit using it.

I have a 6'-3" that I use quite a bit. I use it for everything but cranks.

2- 6' Team Daiwa's, great for jerkbaits and topwaters.

I notice that it seems longer rods are the main stream now. I can remember when I started fishing that a 6' rod was long. I did most of my fishing in high school with a 5'6" pistol grip lightning rod. Do any of you use 6' rods and if so for what lures or baits?

Funny, I still have my 5'6" pistol grip lightning rod that I used in highschool(20+ years ago). I was thinking about buying a inexpensive reel to put on it.

Have a 6' BP bionic blade med/hv with a pistol grip......

It is probably late 90's, I like it for shore casting, pitching under stuff, top water, and some cranking.

It does not make every trip, but it has made an appearance on several trips this summer and has caught some fish.

I have a 6-2 for topwater and jerkbaits.

6' custom for top water, jerk baits and in close spinnerbait casting. Not a pistol grip but a short one.

6' custom for top water, jerk baits and in close spinnerbait casting. Not a pistol grip but a short one.

Ditto, except mine is a St Croix..............Al

I have 2 5-1/2' rods. One is a heavy pitchin stick for jig/trailer in tight thick cover and the other is a MH top water. Also 2 6' spinning, and 2 6' BC that I use for everything.

Ronnie

I cannot stand, operate the trolling motor and fish in my bass boat. So I sit down when fishing. Thus, I still use my 5'6" pistol grip rods. Most are older Bionic Blade rods, but my reels are older Black Max 5600 Garcia reels. The good new is that I have found a source for a heavy action 5'6" casting rod.

http://customanglerods.com/

Just finished out a 5' baicaster for walking the dog while seated in my canoe. Its a heck of allot better than the 5'6" rod it replaced because it provides a much better rod angle when sitting down low. I used a 4" straight cork grip instead of a pistol grip and I'm liking that better too. A 5'6"-6'6" would be better if your up high on a bass boat or standing.