Long vs Short Rods? 2024
Quarry Man reply :
I started out fishing 7' rods when i started getting into bass. I then got a couple 7'3" rods. no I have a few 6'6" rods. I like the small rods for side hook sets, not hard sweeps but mostly pressure. i can't cast very far with them. I like longer rods so i can get way out there, but the issue becomes weight and balance. I was thinking that dobyns should be my rod of choice over 7'3" due to balance. is this a good idea. Also is a 6'4" M St. Croix Avid X good for jerk baits?
Nscheele reply :
My experience has been to use what is comfortable and what works for me, rather than spend time worrying about what I should use. My favorite rods for chatter baits and spinner baits are short, fast action, medium heavy bps extremes. One is a 6' the other is 6'6". That goes against all convention of a spinner bait rod but it works perfect for me. My favorite jerk bait set up is an abu promax combo that's medium power, who knows about tip speed, feels fast to me. My advice would be to try out the rods you are interested in if possible. Past that of you have something you use and it performs well, is comfortable, and fits your budget then you have it.
NHBull reply :
Anything other than 7 or 7.2 just feels foreign to me
The Bassman reply :
I fully appreciate the benefits of longer rods and their necessity in certain apps but personally prefer rods under 6'6". Lightness, accuracy, and maneuverability in tight places are key to me.
Darren. reply :
I'm with @The Bassman, 6'6" and under with about 5'9" or 6'
being the sweet spot for me.
I just prefer shorter rods. My son has a 7 foot inshore rod we
bought him for that purpose, but it just isn't in my wheelhouse
of size.
To each his/her own. I caught my PB on a 6' M casting rod, and
over a dozen 6# bass on my 5'9" Compre. They all get the job
done.
Simply a matter of preference in my book.
Angealy reply :
Personally, I use most rod sizes from 4-7,5-6,6 foot/etc.
It really depends on location and what not for rods and setups.
r83srock reply :
7' is where it stops for me. I have a 6 footer I use for topwater, square bills, jerkbaits. I use 6'6" for most things.
new2BC4bass reply :
Personal preference is the name of the game. Darren uses mostly spinning rods, and I am with him when it comes to spinning rods. I like 6'6" or less. However, with baitcast rods I usually prefer 7'-7'4".....but I have a few outside that range that have become favorites.
To answer your questions, yes a balanced rod is a good thing and will probably feel lighter than a tip heavy rod. Dobyns rods have a good reputation for being balanced...so I read. You will notice that they aren't particularly light. My experience with them is extremely limited. I only have one...a 704CB Glass. I like it a lot. The Avid X should make a good jerkbait rod, but I have zero experience with any Avid...X or otherwise. I just know that most seem to prefer shorter rods although you will find guys using a 7 footer so what is that saying? Oh ya, personal preference. 
Quarry Man reply :
On 9/18/2017 at 9:12 AM, new2BC4bass said:Personal preference is the name of the game. Darren uses mostly spinning rods, and I am with him when it comes to spinning rods. I like 6'6" or less. However, with baitcast rods I usually prefer 7'-7'4".....but I have a few outside that range that have become favorites.
To answer your questions, yes a balanced rod is a good thing and will probably feel lighter than a tip heavy rod. Dobyns rods have a good reputation for being balanced...so I read. You will notice that they aren't particularly light. My experience with them is extremely limited. I only have one...a 704CB Glass. I like it a lot. The Avid X should make a good jerkbait rod, but I have zero experience with any Avid...X or otherwise. I just know that most seem to prefer shorter rods although you will find guys using a 7 footer so what is that saying? Oh ya, personal preference.
Thanks for all the help! I also sent a PM about fishing sometime!
Muddy wolf reply :
Just me but I have rods from 5ft to 7 ft 6 in. I use the shorter ones for accurate casting and longer ones for distance. I use 6 ft to 7ft most often
tander reply :
Most of my rods are 6'6" except my pitching/carolina rod. I grew up where a 5'6" was the standard with a pistol grip handle. Shorter is a lot more accurate which is my most concern.
QUAKEnSHAKE reply :
My short rod is a 6'9" ML/XF CroixLTB it is the worst feeling tip heavy rod I use. I have a 7'6" MH/F Fenwick and an Avid 8' ML/M that feel lighter better balanced in hand so its not just the length that determines how a rod will feel. My lightest rod a 7' M/F is also one of my best balanced rods so being lightweight doesnt mean tip heavy like most seem to think that light equates to tip heavy.
I actually prefer longer rod from the banks on the waters I fish. I can better reach over and around bank brush piles and limbs overhanging than a foot and a half shorter rod. The increased distance has definitely caught me more fish as well.
scaleface reply :
A 5'6" pistol grip rod makes walking baits a lot easier to work but thats the only thing I like it for .
Crankin4Bass reply :
I fish from a kayak so mostly 6' to 6'6" for me, spinning and casting. I had an old 5'6" pistol grip rod in my youth and miss that. Wish they still made those.
Fishin' Fool reply :
To each their own, my sweet spot is between 7'3" and 7'5".
S Hovanec reply :
On 12/25/2017 at 9:03 PM, QUAKEnSHAKE said:My short rod is a 6'9" ML/XF CroixLTB it is the worst feeling tip heavy rod I use.
That doesn't surprise me at all. The LTBs are notoriously tip heavy. I have a 6'9" MLXF I built myself and the only reason it's not tip heavy is because of the 1.5oz butt cap and 2oz reel seat on it. Overall it's a heavy rod, but it doesn't feel heavy cause of the great balance.
Bluebasser86 reply :
I have rods from 6' 2" to 7' 11" that are main bass rods. I prefer the longer rods but the shorter ones serve a purpose too.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Each length rod would serve their own purpose and work best in some situations but not others. I'd rather have more rods than reels so I can pick the rod that work best. I don't limit the rod length that suit me but rather on what type of fishing I would mainly do with said rod. My all purpose rods would be 6'10 but I use 6' all the way to 7'9 depend on what type of techniques.
DogBone_384 reply :
On 12/26/2017 at 1:37 AM, Crankin4Bass said:I fish from a kayak so mostly 6' to 6'6" for me, spinning and casting. I had an old 5'6" pistol grip rod in my youth and miss that. Wish they still made those.
Funny you had a 5'6" pistol grip rod in your youth. I have a 5'8" BPS Pro Comp Graphite downstairs with a spin cast reel on it for nieces/nephews I might take fishing. I'd guess it's early to mid '80s.
Lastly, Merry Christmas, and what part of MA are you in?
Quarry Man reply :
I have family in lancaster, Hudson, and Marlbororough,likely more too.
On 12/26/2017 at 7:01 AM, DogBone_384 said:
Lastly, Merry Christmas, and what part of MA are you in?
DogBone_384 reply :
Another member turned me onto a couple of great SMB ponds in Plymouth. They’re worth the drive.
I don’t dare add up the gas receipts this year ..... I drive a Tundra, great truck, just a PIG as far as gas mileage.
MDbassin reply :
I have 1 rod over 7ft and it's a Dobyns Fury 735C (7ft 3in mag hvy) and as much as that rod comes in handy when I'm fishing in the slop, it's length can be a pain to deal with.
I use it's as a frog rod and a pitch/flip rod as I'm not a fan of the typical flipping sticks that come in at around the 7ft 6in mark but trying to work a frog with that rod is cumbersome and after a while day of frog fishing with it I feel like I did an 8hr straight forearm workout.
13 has a rod out I will be trying this year it's the *** 6ft 5in heavy specifically for making walking frogs easier. After that i will be leaving the 7ft 3in as a flipping rod but for the most part all my rods are 6ft 10in to 7ft with a few exceptions for topwater and jerkbaits (6ft 6in, 6ft 4in)
Bankbeater reply :
Most of the rods I use for jigs, and plastics are 6’6”. The rod I use for crankbaits is 7’0”.
scaleface reply :
Most rods have a handle that is to long for my liking . I have to hold them out further it is uncomfortable and makes my back ache. My worm rod is 6'8" and the handle is about two inches shorter than other rods of its size . I have tried to replace that rod two or three times but keep going back to it . One of these days I'm going to get brave and take a hack saw to a rod handle . I'd like to shorten most of them .
Darren. reply :
On 12/26/2017 at 11:54 PM, scaleface said:Most rods have a handle that is to long for my liking . I have to hold them out further it is uncomfortable and makes my back ache. My worm rod is 6'8" and the handle is about two inches shorter than other rods of its size . I have tried to replace that rod two or three times but keep going back to it . One of these days I'm going to get brave and take a hack saw to a rod handle . I'd like to shorten most of them .
I did that to two of my Carbonlites. Basically took off three
inches of the open split grip away. Both rods are now 6'3"
with short butt ends that are perfect for kayak fishing.
However...I need a better way of cleaning out the cut section
inside the cap. Probably could have ordered new butt caps
at mudhole, but wanted to keep the look.
WRB reply :
The rods length depends on the lures being fished and your personal preference. The shortest bass rod I use the past few decades are spinning finesse 6'6" & 6'8". The longest rods are 7'10" & 8' swimbait rods. My standard jig & worm rods are 6'10" & 7'. Crankbait rods are 6'10", 7' & 7'5".
Tom
Dtrombly reply :
6'6" is lowest I prefer to go, personally. And that's a jerkbait/topwater rod. 7'3" for jigs/worms. 7' for frogs.
fishwizzard reply :
On 12/26/2017 at 11:54 PM, scaleface said:Most rods have a handle that is to long for my liking . I have to hold them out further it is uncomfortable and makes my back ache.
This is pretty much me. I saved up and bought a GLX MBR and the longer handle on it is killing me. I am going to fish it through until the spring to see if not having five layers on helps, but if not some on here is going to get a good deal on it used!
OCdockskipper reply :
I fish from a smaller boat and am often sitting rather than standing, so rods in the 6' to 6'-6" range feel the most comfortable. As for specialty rods, I do more skipping than long range bombing of lures, so most of those rods are shorter, not longer. A rod that I can keep pointed straight down as opposed to some kind of angle yields longer & more accurate skips for me.
I even have a heavy 5-6" spinning rod that I put 20 lb braid on that I use as a small frog rod (frogs that are really too light to use on casting gear). The heavy rod & braid work well in the not-overly-thick weeds that show up in our lake in the summer and and the shortness of the rod allows me to fire the small frogs way back under docks on sunny, summer days.
S Hovanec reply :
On 12/26/2017 at 11:54 PM, scaleface said:Most rods have a handle that is to long for my liking . I have to hold them out further it is uncomfortable and makes my back ache. My worm rod is 6'8" and the handle is about two inches shorter than other rods of its size . I have tried to replace that rod two or three times but keep going back to it . One of these days I'm going to get brave and take a hack saw to a rod handle . I'd like to shorten most of them .
This is the exact reason I started building my own.
Don't use a hack saw. Use a chop saw with a sharp blade. I've hacked off quite a few rods with my chop saw.
MickD reply :
If your priority is balance why would you be considering a 7-3 rod over a shorter one? Given similar blank characteristics, the longer rod will always be more tip heavy. I think other considerations take priority over balance, a characteristic that is affected dramatically by the lure you attach and the attitude of the rod (when vertical, all are in balance, when horizontal with lure attached, almost none is).
Lures'n'Liberty reply :
I've got an 8'0 MH telescopic rod that's usually strapped to my tackle bag and sometimes comes out for frogs. It was cheap, it's on the heavy side, and it's next on the list to upgrade, but it's got braid on the reel and it makes a pretty good broom handle. I think it was $10 on eBay and it's a cheap POS with a main purpose in life as a backup for my catfish and carp gear, however it's relevance to the topic is key. The butt of the handle telescopes as well, and sliding that tube out makes all the difference in the world. The butt has a threaded cap and the tube has a little storage compartment for hiding your wee... um, small first aid kit. I put a 1/4" deep well socket in there, jammed in place with other stuff so it doesn't rattle or move and it makes a world of difference in the balance. sliding a couple big egg sinkers in the handle sure makes it nice when you're casting 3 oz of lead and a big hunk of cutbait, too.
^^^So that was an awful lot of words to say long rod + weighted handle = better balance. Don't like the balance? try adding weight.
Beyond the frog rod, my longest in the bass arsenal is 6'6" and most of my gear is 6'0". I might not be the best example, as I use mostly spincast reels, but my goodness do I wish they all had pistol grips. Yes, my reels are probably heavier than yours, which makes all the difference in the balance, but wow what a difference. Seated, they're so much more manageable. While standing, flipping and pitching is more natural and the angled grip gives better control and feels like kind of a mechanical advantage, plus the lower reel seat puts the big button in a more comfortable spot. I think @S Hovanec is going to get some of my money this summer, and I'm going to get a 7'0" pistol grip rod built for topwater swimbaits and a 14 oz reel.
Quarry Man reply :
Here is another question for all of you:
Popular belief is that the "ideal" rod for a spinnerbait, or any other random lure is a 7'0" MH Mod Fast. While both rods are the same length overall, one has a handle that is 6" Longer than the other. Should we really be describing rods as ideal when they have "X" feet of tip and "Y" feet of backbone? I feel like a 7' rod with a 24" handle would be used for different techniques than a 7' rod with a 6" handle. In a way, that is like using a 5' and a 6'6" rod. even if they were both considered 25/75 rods (25% tip, 75% backbone, those are two totally different rods.
I hope that makes sense...
WRB reply :
There are basically 2 handle designs for bait casting rods; trigger stick & pistol grip.
Pistol grip handles are short between 6" to 8" from reel seat to butt for rods 5 1/2' to 6 1/2', trigger sticks are longer between 12" to 15" reel seat to butt for 7' to 7'4" rods. The rod length from the front of the reel seat to the rod tip is shorter for equal length trigger sticks verses pistol grips, however I don't know a 7' pistol grip rod being made today.
No standards exists for rod power rating or action, just generalized mfr labels.
Tom
Yumeya reply :
6'11" is the shortest I have, that is my drop shot rod...
JawjaBoy reply :
Still have a couple of 5'6" and 6' pistol grips that get used fairly regularly. I fish in some places that are just too tight for a long rod. I also fish from a small boat so a rod much over 6'6"-6'8" is more of a hindrance than a help. That said, my personal favorite is a 6'6" medium to medium heavy with a little give in the tip section. Just a good feel to me and I can work a lot of lures well with it.
AC870 reply :
I’m really surprised how many guys on here like short rods.
When I got back into fishing seriously nearly 4 years ago, anything more than a 6-foot spinning rod felt totally foreign to me.
Then I got a 6-6 spinning rod and loved it and I started playing with baitcasters. My first baitcasting rods were 6-6. Then I bought a couple 7 footers then a 7-3 that I just love.
Just acquired a couple 7-6 rods and I imagine an 8 footer is in my future.
I love the long rods. You can get a bait way out there and the length helps in playing fish too, especially with a parabolic action. Make mine a 7-3 to 7-6 every day.
I do own a 5-6 ultralight for panfish but hadn’t used it in awhile because I favor the 6-6.
bigfruits reply :
i think a lot of the problem is that many rods are poorly balanced so the longer it is, the more fatiguing it is. a well balanced rod can feel way lighter than an unbalanced one even if it is considerably heavier. even after several hours of continuous use.
a well balanced longer rod can be a game changer. that being said, i like 7-7'3" for most apps. i am 5'10"
leftcoastBASS reply :
Longer rods cast further and more leverage while shorter rods are easier to twitch for jerkbaits, walking baits etc. I rarely bring more than 1 setup and i find 6'6 rods to be perfect
Crankin4Bass reply :
On 12/26/2017 at 7:01 AM, DogBone_384 said:Funny you had a 5'6" pistol grip rod in your youth. I have a 5'8" BPS Pro Comp Graphite downstairs with a spin cast reel on it for nieces/nephews I might take fishing. I'd guess it's early to mid '80s.
Lastly, Merry Christmas, and what part of MA are you in?
Merry Christmas! Waltham. Where are you?
DogBone_384 reply :
On 12/29/2017 at 10:35 PM, Crankin4Bass said:Merry Christmas! Waltham. Where are you?
I’m in Quincy but fish Plymouth/Cape Cod as much as possible.
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