Is 7ft the best all around length? 2024

Grim_Reaver reply :

My fishing partner keeps telling me that 7' the best rod length and a recent *** video on the subject got me thinking. If you could only have one rod length to do everything, what would it be?

garroyo130 reply :

6'8"

jimmyjoe reply :

Manufacturers end up concentrating on what the public buys. For the average bass fisherman, that looks to be right around 7'. Yes, there are specialist actions and lengths. But the average Joe seems to like that 7' category.

And I must admit, I'm not averse to it myself. I have rods from 6' up to 8', but most are 7'. They seem satisfactory. jj

zell_pop1 reply :

On 2/11/2020 at 11:30 AM, garroyo130 said:

6'8"

A 6'8-10" rod is best if you can only have 1 or 2 rods.

Hulkster reply :

i prefer 7'5 or 7'6.

Smokinal reply :

I like a 7 as long as it's light enough; if I could only have 1 length

JLBBass reply :

i think it actually depends on your height. If you're 6'2", then yes. if you're 5'4", then no.

I'm 6'1", and every one of my rods, both spinning and baitcasting, are between 6'10" & 7'4".

Boomstick reply :

Anything over 7' is going to be extremely hard to walk a lure, and anything too much shorter is going to sacrifice casting distance and maybe some hookset power when that comes into play. I'm 6'3" and I could argue that 6'10" is the best rod for any scenario because walking a lure is still easier on 6'10" and is easier to cast around brush, but then again I might prefer a 7' rod the majority of the time as well.

new2BC4bass reply :

I have favorite casting rods from 6'6" to 7'6". One of my favorite spinning rods is 6'.

Michigander reply :

Depends where I'm fishing, but the broadest brush I can use to paint this picture is:

7' from a boat or open shoreline.

6' from a kayak or tree filled shoreline.

Tennessee Boy reply :

7' seems to be the new 6'

MickD reply :

Only one rod for whatever I'm doing? Yup, 7 foot.

J Francho reply :

6-8 to 7-3 is the new 6-8 to 7-3.

Back in 90s, we had 6, 6-6, 7, and 7-6. For those times one didn't quite fit, we now have choices of all sorts of sizes. Not sure what "7 is best means." Use what works for you. If I was limited to one size, I'd go 6-8, and then eventually quit fishing.

OnthePotomac reply :

It is for me except for jerk baits, then it is 6'6".

WRB reply :

7' is the most popular Rod length the past decade, 7'3" to 7'4" seems to be gaining in popularity the past few years for MH /fast baitcasting rods.

My personal favorite baitcasting rods are 6'10" the past 2 decades.

Tom

928JLH reply :

7'3 for me.

scbassin reply :

I do not limit myself to 1 length rod. I have rods from 5'6" to 7'6". It depends on what I am doing on what rod I am using. My boat has 3 rod lockers so I carry plenty of choices.

J Francho reply :

I want my 6' pistol grip back. That rod was cool, like a 7', but with a short handle.

Columbia Craw reply :

I've always preferred longer rods, even since the later 70's. I like the 7-3 overall but would agree, if there was one length only available it would be a seven footer.

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

Only one rod? Easy gimmie a 6'6 all day

WI_Angler1989 reply :

My 6' 10" Legend Bass feels just about right for me. I've got shorter and longer and those feel good too. I guess it's what I use most that feels the best.

keagbassr reply :

I would choose a 7'3". Shorter than my longest and longer than my shortest. I've done alot of things with a 7ft. Rod so I know I don't like punching and frogging with one that short.

Log Catcher reply :

I would also have to go with a 6'6" rod. I also use several 6' rods. 6'6" are the longest rods I own.

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

@Log Catcher- I treasure accuracy over distance ????

Tackleholic reply :

Many of my rods are Duckett Micro Magic, 6'6" to 7'11"; I wish I could get the same rod in a 6' pistol grip.

LCG reply :

I think it depends on the person, how you fish, and where you fish. I am am 5'10" and mainly fish from the bank, a kayak, and sometimes a boat. I have found the sweet spot to be 6'8"-6'10". I think it's more about feel than anything else. YMMV

Fishes in trees reply :

best for what?

NittyGrittyBoy reply :

On 2/11/2020 at 11:28 AM, Grim_Reaver said:

If you could only have one rod length to do everything, what would it be?

@Fishes in trees

Angry John reply :

What is the purpose of the exercise. Do we have a minimalist with a decent budget, or a young kid who only has money for one rod. Is transportation the issue or assembled length the cut off? What is my primary type of fishing? If I choose 7' does that mean I'm fishing an ugly stick. I fish 6'6" to 8 foot and no desire to fish the new super long rods. If I could only have one rod it would be my st croix 70mhf sc5. It's the rod always with me.

J Francho reply :

On 2/12/2020 at 10:23 AM, Fishes in trees said:

best for what?

redmeansdistortion reply :

I'll admit, when it comes to bass, I can be pretty unconventional when it comes to what gear I use. I do tend towards rods in the 6' to 7'6" range, but something must be said of using a longer rod for smallmouth. My favorite rod to use for pre-spawn smallies is an 8'6" Lamiglas 1/4oz-3/4oz steelhead rod. I wade along the shores of Lake Huron, and that longer rod with the slower action will really put your bait out there, even a smaller 1/4oz tube jig. I can cover much more water in that situation than my friends that usually fish with 6' to 7' rods. Plus it makes for a more fun fight. Once the smallies are post spawn and in deeper water, I target largemouth with my shorter rods. I caught my PB smallie on Muscamoot Bay (back when you could wade it) with a 9' light power Guide Series spinning rod with 6lb mono.

J Francho reply :

On 2/12/2020 at 11:49 PM, redmeansdistortion said:

something must be said of using a longer rod for smallmouth

Two things I can think of. I catch smallies in current using my centrepin rigs. They are 11-15' long, and work well for the same reasons you cite. Back when we soaked softshells, leeches, or crawlers on split shot rigs for smallies, an 8'+ slow action rod was preferred. You could lob the live bait rig pretty far, without whipping the bait into the stratosphere, and the rod acted like a big shock absorber, keeping the tiny hooks pinned.

redmeansdistortion reply :

On 2/13/2020 at 12:24 AM, J Francho said:

Two things I can think of. I catch smallies in current using my centrepin rigs. They are 11-15' long, and work well for the same reasons you cite. Back when we soaked softshells, leeches, or crawlers on split shot rigs for smallies, an 8'+ slow action rod was preferred. You could lob the live bait rig pretty far, without whipping the bait into the stratosphere, and the rod acted like a big shock absorber, keeping the tiny hooks pinned.

That's my favorite thing with the slower action, keeping the fish pinned. It helps immensely on the rivers because you have a much better chance of steering the fish away from logjams and such.

Khoa Vu reply :

When I see "all around", I think it has to be optimized for good enough accuracy and distance, and that's probably has to fall somewhere in the middle of the pack in terms of rod length. We see rods from 6'6 to 7'6 being the extremes on both ends nowadays, so 7' is a good middle ground, in my opinion. Long enough for distance compared to 6'6 rod, but short enough to still be accurate.

wisconsin heat reply :

On 2/12/2020 at 12:52 AM, NittyGrittyBoy said:

Only one rod? Easy gimmie a 6'6 all day

Same. I love my 6'6s. Both spinning and casting. I like them better than my 7's and 7'+s for accuracy in a kayak or from the bank around trees and brush and whatnot.

Once upon a time I had a 6'8 spinning and a 6'10 casting but both of them, the tips broke off relatively early in their lives- so not much experience with anything between 6'6 and 7'. A little extra length might be nice, so If I build myself a custom rod, I'll probably try for something in between 6'6 and 7'.

dodgeguy reply :

One rod only would be 6-6.

Bankbeater reply :

Most of my rods are 6'6". I have a couple that are 7'0", but the shorter rods are easier when your walking through brush.

galyonj reply :

On 2/12/2020 at 12:25 AM, J Francho said:

I want my 6' pistol grip back. That rod was cool, like a 7', but with a short handle.

My firs baitcaster back in the late 90s was a 6 or so foot pistol grip combo. It's long gone now, but I learned a whole lot about how not to use a baitcaster with it. lol

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Is 7ft the best all around length? 2024

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