Short Rod Lovers Unite!! 2024

*Hootie reply :

I know I am not the only one who prefers a shorter rod, 6 to 6 1/2 footers. And for various reasons, transport problems, (biggest that will fit my car), fishing in smaller boats, (don't want to slap my partner in the face with my backswing), and, I simply like fishing shorter rods. Guess part of that is a holdover from when a 5 1/2 ft rod was the norm. Now I have noticed 6 1/2 footers are getting left out of the newer versions. I have seen a lot of new rods I would be interested in, but the shortest available is 6'8''. Sorry cant use it. Looks like us short rod guys are being weeded out of the market. Oh well, as Bob Dylan sang, ''The times, they are a changing''. Guess I am kinda giving away my age with that one, huh.

Hootie

Highhawk1948 reply :

I have 2 short, 5 1/2 foot rods that I use for finess fishing. I purchased them off of e-bay. Both are quality baitcasting rods with pistol grips. (Left over from when that is what you used). One is medium, and the other is medium heavy. They work great with small baitcasters with 10 pound test. I use them for Sliders, wacky worming, dropshot, and small crankbaits. I have caught up to 5 pound fish on them. Love'um. I also like 6 1/2 foot rods over the 7-71/2 foot rods. I have 2, 7 foot rods in the boat and use them for pitching and flipping regular texas rigged plastics but am not afraid of throwing those short rods!

Delaware Valley Tackle reply :

I have some 6 footers for close quarters spinnerbaiting and spooks. I've build a few for others as well that had a hard time finding what they want over the counter.

Goose52 reply :

I like short rods (which I personally define as 6ft and under), I like long rods; all are tools and suited for different jobs.

I do have two short pistol-gripped casting rods (5ft light and a 5 1/2ft medium) - never use 'em. Just can't get back into pistol grip rods. OTOH, I have some straight-gripped/trigger BC rods that I use all the time. I fish a lot of ponds with overhanging trees and brush and short rods are very handy. I've got a 6ft medium-light trigger rod that I've caught 96 bass on in the last 6 weeks. I've got another 6ft medium-light cranking rod that's great for light cranks. It never got much attention from anyone, but Shimano had a nifty short BC rod in the last Crucial series with the full cork grip - a 5'9" medium heavy - a great rod for all kinds of baits in close quarters. I've got an older 6ft medium with an Ambassadeur 5000 on it that gets dusted off and used from time to time.

In spinning rods, I have a 3ft medium that is handy when hiking and I know I've got fishable water on the trail (it's also great for clearing spider webs across the trail... ). I've got a 5ft-4in five-piece pack rod that fits into a backpack and is always in the trunk of the car for those moments of opportunity. I've got a 5ft ultra-light and a 5 1/2ft light-power that see service from time to time.

Short rods are great, I like 'em, but in the right time and place. I'm just as comfortable using a 7 1/2ft rod when the need arises...

cueball reply :

I would suggest not giving up on 6'8" rods. If you compare to 6'6" models, a lot of the time the extra two inches is behind the reel seat, so the effective length is basically the same.

Capt.Bob reply :

On 8/16/2012 at 7:44 PM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:

I have some 6 footers for close quarters spinnerbaiting and spooks. I've build a few for others as well that had a hard time finding what they want over the counter.

As DVC said, I have my custom rod builder make a lot of rods for customers that cant find what they want, they can dream up a lot of different design's and special lengths, but haven't found one that couldn't be built, and usually unless it is an extravagant request, for the same price or less than the brand name rods they normally buy.

smalljaw67 reply :

I have 3 rods over 7', then it is a 6'10" rod and a 6'9" rod and the others are all 6'6" with a custom 6' rod I had done for one purpose, to throw 3/8oz and 1/2oz spinnerbaits under overhangs. I got that rod and actually won the first tournament I used it in which paid for the rod but it doesn't do anything else very well. I like my 6'3" rods also, I have a Fenwick Elite Thech smallier rod and a G.Loomis Jerkbait series rod in that length for jerkbaits but the Fenwick is now used for square bills around cover too. The only diadvantage to using the shorter rods is the distance on the cast and if you are using deep divers it makes a big difference which is why I have a 7' glass cranking rod but thats it for me, perhaps a 7'3" cranking rod may be next if I have a need to get below 20' but right now the waters I fish don't call for it so the 7' is good enough.

*Hootie reply :

On 8/16/2012 at 9:47 PM, cueball said:

I would suggest not giving up on 6'8" rods. If you compare to 6'6" models, a lot of the time the extra two inches is behind the reel seat, so the effective length is basically the same.

The length behind the reel seat isn't an issue, it's the length behind the car seat. HAHA!

Hootie

S Hovanec reply :

On 8/16/2012 at 10:15 PM, hootiebenji said:
it's the length behind the car seat. HAHA!

That shouldn't be an issue. I can get a 8'er (1pc) in the cabin my wife's Malibu and probably a 10'er if I'd flip half of the seat down and put it in thru the trunk.

James Yalem reply :

All my baitcasting rods are 5'6". Of course, they are not new, but I have lots of them in heavy and medium heavy. My two bass spinning rods are 6'. I really don't like rods longer than 6' because I sit down when I fish. You can get pistol grip 5'6" rods from Custom Angle Rods.

*Hootie reply :

On 8/16/2012 at 11:05 PM, S Hovanec said:

That shouldn't be an issue. I can get a 8'er (1pc) in the cabin my wife's Malibu and probably a 10'er if I'd flip half of the seat down and put it in thru the trunk.

Do that in my Smartcar and I'll be impressed.

Hootie

S Hovanec reply :

On 8/16/2012 at 11:40 PM, hootiebenji said:

Do that in my Smartcar and I'll be impressed.

Hootie

Not gonna happen! I don't even fit in a Smartcar!

BassWhole! reply :

I don't think its a matter of preferring longer vs shorter per se, depends on what you're doing, I won't fish poppers with anything longer than 6', I prefer short rods for pitching spinnerbaits and cranks in close quarters, I like a 7'6" (old low mod flipping stick) for jigging spoons, most other things I'm somewhere between 6'6" and 7', I just go with what works and feels best, for some things rod length is critical for others not so much, but to each his own...

MichBassMan reply :

Hooti, Getting back to the context and implication of your original post "short rod guys are being weeded out of the market." I agree with your observation. For those of us who (for whatever reason) prefer rods 6' 6" or shorter the selections are fewer every year.

*Hootie reply :

On 8/17/2012 at 9:14 PM, MichBassMan said:

Hooti, Getting back to the context and implication of your original post "short rod guys are being pweeded out of the market." I agree with your observation. For those of us who (for whatever reason) prefer rods 6' 6" or shorter the selections are fewer every year.

Thank you MBM, it usually takes about three posts before context gets completely lost on a topic. Thanks for picking it back up. Thats what I was talking about, not personal preference.

Sheesh!!!

Hootie

J Francho reply :

Quote
Looks like us short rod guys are being weeded out of the market.

Or the market is weeding out the shorter rods. If there was a demand for them, they'd still be in production. One thing to keep in mind, short rods may not be marketed toward bass anglers, so you might be looking in the wrong places.

*Hootie reply :

On 8/17/2012 at 10:12 PM, J Francho said:

you might be looking in the wrong places.

Suggestions?

Hootie

J Francho reply :

I was just digging

Not sure what you're looking for exactly, but Saint Croix has a lot of options.

Saint Croix Avid has 9 casting models and 21 spinning rods that are 6' 6" or less. I have the AVC62MXF that is perfect for a lot tight quarter presentations - topwaters, jerkbaits, spinnerbaits, senkos, does it all. There's a Legend Tournament Walleye LTBC59MXF that you might like, too. I've held it, but not fished it. Cool little rod.

*Hootie reply :

J Francho, Just been looking myself. It seems you are right. The manufacturers are making them available, just not putting them out there. I saw some 6ft Premiers, also some 6 ft falcons, and some 6 1/2 ft Lomis GL2's. Just not stocked in my local BPS. Guess I will just order online.

Thanks a bunch.

Hootie

S Hovanec reply :

On 8/17/2012 at 10:32 PM, J Francho said:

There's a Legend Tournament Walleye LTBC59MXF. Cool little rod.

Yes it does look like a cool rod. That thing would be a dock skipping fool! Looks like a neat blank to put a pistol grip on too!

J Francho reply :

Speaking of pistol grips...I've often thought about a pistol grip on a flipping stick, but with the butt end of the blank poking through, and fighting butt.

bigdawg74 reply :

i have a 6.5 and a 5.5 that are always in the canoe with me. i love the 5.5 i plant the kids ontop of a brush pile and pull rock bass out of the water with them for hours with that rod.

The Rooster reply :

On 8/18/2012 at 3:52 AM, J Francho said:

Speaking of pistol grips...I've often thought about a pistol grip on a flipping stick, but with the butt end of the blank poking through, and fighting butt.

I have seen a rod like this before. Can't remember where or even when but I thought it was mighty strange when I did. Seems the BPS Extreme once used to offer one like it but I'm still not sure that's where I saw it.

On the subject of short rods, I'm a 6'6" rod guy but learning to like a 7' rod somewhat. Once had a 6' rod for cranks that was wonderful though. For 1/4 oz. cranks nothing beats that size for me. Gave it to dad and got a 6'6" to replace it and wish I had it back now. Wouldn't dream of asking though.

SissySticks reply :

I really like 6' spinning rods. They just feel great to me. I use them for a lot of things. I also use some 6'6" and 7', but really like the 6' whenever I can get away with it (read, anytime I'm in shallow-ish water). The one baitcaster I actually use is a 6'7" with the split pistol grip and the blank sticking out the butt. Marvelous finesse baitcaster, but not less than 6'6", I fear. G-Blanks rods makes them.

On the topic of availability, I have started making my own 6' spinning rods because in addition to the rod length, I also like a short tennessee handle on my spinning rods, which are even harder to find than short rods!

Alpster reply :

I have a couple of 5 1/2' rods and several 6 footers. I love em as much as my lengthy rods.

Ronnie

Jake P reply :

I am a fan of shorter rods myself. I feel most comfortable fishing spinnerbaits with a 6' mh/f baitcast combo since most of my spinnerbait fishing is at specific targets/ locations in 5 ft of water or less. Just feels right. I also like it for close quarters like slinging a tube or something way back in too a boathouse. Only thing i use 7 ft or longer for is jigs, topwaters and treble hook baits.

papajoe222 reply :

Just my $.02 the reason the industry is going to longer and longer rods is because that is where the demand is. Just ask any retailer in the industry how many short rods the have tossed because even when priced below cost they wouldn't sell and you'll discover why they don't carry them. Even the big retailers ran into this and the rod industry responded.

A good custom rod maker can make you a two piece 7 or 8 ft. rod as well as a one piece 6ft., but if the industry produced them, they'd end up getting tossed out by retailers too.

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

i love my pistol grip rods 5.6 to 6 ft would not trade or sell um for anything.matter of fact im going to a local fishing place when i get more money and buyin up the last 2 of there fenwick hooksetters .i bought 2 from him already and at 35 bucks its a steal deal for me .i do belive they sold them brand new yrs ago for 75 to 100 bucks

Maxximus Redneckus reply :

On 8/21/2012 at 10:59 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:

i love my pistol grip rods 5.6 to 6 ft would not trade or sell um for anything.matter of fact im going to a local fishing place when i get more money and buyin up the last 2 of there fenwick hooksetters .i bought 2 from him already and at 35 bucks its a steal deal for me .i do belive they sold them brand new yrs ago for 75 to 100 bucks

and they still have a lifetime warrenty on them lol wonder how that works as they are discontinued ???

*Hootie reply :

On 8/21/2012 at 11:00 AM, Maxximus Redneckus said:

and they still have a lifetime warrenty on them lol wonder how that works as they are discontinued ???

Upgrade maybe? Don't know for sure.

Hootie

0119 reply :

Make your own, thats what I do now. New rods look like they come off a old cadillacs hood or hanging on a chain around someones neck. Technique specific in all these odd ball length made just to catch fishermen. You can make your own they way you want them without a huge expenditure in tools.

Loop_Dad reply :

If I were to buy a 6'4"-6'6" rod today, is that' basically the same length above the reel if you compare with 6" pistol grip?

4043

Short Rod Lovers Unite!! 2024

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