Anyone? I'm starting to wonder because I always see or hear roland Martin using 5.5 foot graphite bait casting rods with either 14 or 20 pound test for worm fishing

I use a 5' 6" med power spinning rod for close quarters fishing when fishing from the bank(low overhanging trees).

I have 5' and 5'6" spinning rods in UL and L powers. I have a 5'6" pistol-grip casting rod that is gathering dust - just can't get back into pistol grips. I keep thinking that I'm going to see about getting a 5' trigger-grip BC rod to keep in the front of the canoe for quick follow-up casts with a different bait when you miss a fish with your primary bait. This rod would also be good for some close-quarters work as well....

When I first started fishing it seems like 5 to 6 foot rods were standard for most applications. He may just be resistant to change

*edit* In the late 70's early 80's 5'6" casting rods and 6 foot spinning rods were what we used for pretty much everything. a 6'6" rod was considered long. So yes, I have used them, but wouldn't go back. With todays rods I can cast accurately enough with 6'6" rod and get far more distance.

It just seems like all the rods he uses are like 6 foot rods for some techniques, but for example he likes a 5-foot graphite spinning rod for worm fishing, but one thing he says that I do kind of disagree with is that a graphite rod lets you cast farther

Yes.

For bream and bluegills.