Your Height vs. Rod Length... does it matter? 2025

Riversidebassin reply :

So I’ve been noticing that a lot of people choose the length of their rods based on their height. For example, someone may say “I’m only 5’6”, so I never buy any rods over 7 feet.” Does it really matter though or is it just preference?

I’m only 5’4” (pretty average for a woman), and have never really considered that a 7’2” casting rod is “too long” for me. Of course, I did grow up mostly saltwater fishing/surf casting with rods up to 11 feet, so a bass rod a little over 7 feet feels perfectly fine with me, especially if the type of fishing I’m doing requires a longer rod, etc.

What’s your opinion on height vs. rod length?

redux reply :

I'm 5' 9" so I am exceedingly average. I have rods from 6' 6" to 8'. I use them all for different situations. But I prefer the 7' 2". That translates to a 1.25 ratio.

Using that ratio you would sit around the 6' 6" mark. However, dogma has no place in fishing so use what works for you.

roadwarrior reply :

Your height has nothing to do with the rod length you choose.

CroakHunter reply :

I second this. To a t actually. Skipping and roll casting I like a 7' ish. Casting or pitching I like 7'3 to 7'6. Heavy pitching and punching I like a 7'9 to 8'. Spinning rods I prefer a 6'9.

Scott F reply :

Your height doesn’t have any bearing on the length of the rod you choose.

Darren. reply :

On 8/10/2019 at 8:46 PM, Riversidebassin said:

So I’ve been noticing that a lot of people choose the length of their rods based on their height. For example, someone may say “I’m only 5’6”, so I never buy any rods over 7 feet.” Does it really matter though or is it just preference?

I’m only 5’4” (pretty average for women), and have never really considered that a 7’2” casting rod is “too long” for me. Of course, I did grow up mostly saltwater fishing/surf casting with rods up to 11 feet, so a bass rod a little over 7 feet feels perfectly fine with me, especially if the type of fishing I’m doing requires a longer rod, etc.

What’s your opinion on height vs. rod length?

Use what you feel comfortable with.

I'm 5'7" give or take and I prefer short rods with 5'9"-6'

the sweet spot for me. Just my preference. One of my

sons has a 7' rod and it's fine, just not my cup of tea.

Catt reply :

On 8/10/2019 at 9:38 PM, roadwarrior said:

Your height has nothing to do with the rod length you choose.

That's a 7' rod! ????

PourMyOwn reply :

Maybe that's old thinking. 7 foot rods, cheap or expensive are a heck of a lot lighter than they once were. I know that I use longer rods than I did 20 years ago.

Mobasser reply :

I'm 6ft, and have 6ft, 6'6, 5'6 and 7'6 flipping stick. I use them all, and don't feel my height has any bearing on my fishing

islandbass reply :

On 8/10/2019 at 8:46 PM, Riversidebassin said:

So I’ve been noticing that a lot of people choose the length of their rods based on their height. For example, someone may say “I’m only 5’6”, so I never buy any rods over 7 feet.” Does it really matter though or is it just preference?

I’m only 5’4” (pretty average for women), and have never really considered that a 7’2” casting rod is “too long” for me. Of course, I did grow up mostly saltwater fishing/surf casting with rods up to 11 feet, so a bass rod a little over 7 feet feels perfectly fine with me, especially if the type of fishing I’m doing requires a longer rod, etc.

What’s your opinion on height vs. rod length?

There isn’t one. Anyone who tells you otherwise is stating an opinion and not a fact. Let the species and conditions dictate the length of your rods, not your height.

I am about your height and use rods 8’6” and 9’6” and have no issues using them so I know you won’t either.

dodgeguy reply :

Gotta disagree guys. If you fish from a boat that's not flat like a Bass boat and you're short , pitching can be harder with a longer rod.Any other technique I don't think it would matter.

bayvalle reply :

I'm only 5'6" and longer rods are fine depending where you are fishing. On a bass boat or open banks a long rod is great to increase casting distance. On my kayak long rods are a double edged sword, although they increase distance they are harder to manage under trees and when changing line so I prefer shorter rods. On my center console boat with rods stored overhead and multiple fisherman onboard I don't go over 6'6" and prefer 6' rods. On a river bank with trees I prefer short rods.

Where my height comes into play relative to rod length varies by technique. For example I find it difficult to "walk the dog" with a rod over 6'6" and my casting to structure is more accurate if the rod isn't too lengthy.

dodgeguy reply :

Definately agree the type of boat and technique will make a difference if you're shorter than most ..Bottom line is wear shoes that fit and fish with what fits you. Don't fight your equipment.

waymont reply :

Use what feels comfortable for you. I feel the most comfortable with rods in the 6'8"-7' range so I stay around there.

I fish with my wife frequently from a small boat (10' long) so I don't want longer rods getting in her way while we are fishing. I do have a 7'3" Fury 735 for glide baits, I know if all my rods were that longs it would be a drag.

It a great thing there are so many options for use to all chose what we enjoy the most.

zell_pop1 reply :

I'm 5'5" and with jerkbait/spook type lures a short rod helps I use a Team Daiwa 6'3". I slap water with anything 6'6" and up. Otherwise no need to use shorter rods than a taller person.

Yumeya reply :

I'm 6'4" my shortest rods are my ice fishing rods haha.

I actually prefer a longer rod, my shortest rod is 7' up to 7'6" with only one rod being 8' and that is a swimbait rod.

BIGfryFish reply :

Just choose whatever you feel comfortable with at your planned fishing location.

When I was younger I used 6'6" rods. They were just right for me at the time.

I'm 6'2" tall and prefer rods between 7'6" - 8'6" now. My everyday rods are 7'6" which I use for spinning & casting reels.

Fishes in trees reply :

I fish out of a Lowe WF 180 - I'm 5'7" and I find that longer rods make some kinds of fishing more or a pain that it needs to be. Fishing top waters and jerk baits would be a couple of examples. I've tried fishing some of my 7' pitching rods sitting down in a high sided boat and it was awkward. Standing up in a V hulled row boat with a 7' rod was awkward. So I'm in the camp of in certain circumstances and in certain boats rod length does matter - quite a bit - to me.

OkobojiEagle reply :

I'm sorry to laugh while reading of all these men bragging about their long fishing rods... my wife has frequently reminded me that the majority of men don't know how long 8" really is...

Riversidebassin reply :

Thanks for all your opinions!! I kind of figured that it was all up to preference or situation, but just wanted to double check. It didn’t cross my mind too much before until a Bass Pro retailer showed concern that a 7’ rod would be too long for me lol.

BassWhole! reply :

It ultimately comes down to preference, but there certainly are times when over all length, handle length, as well as grip diameter and shape come into play, and may be more or less important. For me, I prefer the shortest rod that will get the job done most of the time, but when working lures tip down, particularly poppers, walking baits and the like I really lean on shorter rods. It will also vary if I'm doing so from a bass boat, a jon boat, from shore or wading, where I'll go progressively shorter. I do think that height makes a difference, but it only comes to play in the extremes, and most folks fall somewhere in the middle so it's not apparent. If you are 7 feet, or 5 foot 2, you'd probably gravitate towards a different rod (assuming you don't spend too much time on the InterWeb®) for the same presentation, conversely, someone who is six feet tall, and someone who is 5 foot 8 are not going to manifest a difference most of the time.

Hulkster reply :

On 8/11/2019 at 6:54 PM, BIGfryFish said:

Just choose whatever you feel comfortable with at your planned fishing location.

When I was younger I used 6'6" rods. They were just right for me at the time.

I'm 6'2" tall and prefer rods between 7'6" - 8'6" now. My everyday rods are 7'6" which I use for spinning & casting reels.

I'm the same. when i started hardcore fishing in the early to late 90s, the 6'6 rod was the thing.

now longer rods are more popular and I find I like the 7'5 and 7'6 rods the best

new2BC4bass reply :

On 8/12/2019 at 6:22 AM, Riversidebassin said:

Thanks for all your opinions!! I kind of figured that it was all up to preference or situation, but just wanted to double check. It didn’t cross my mind too much before until a Bass Pro retailer showed concern that a 7’ rod would be too long for me lol.

You've already proved an 11' rod isn't too long for you. As others have stated: the technique, area being fished (surrounded by trees or in open water?) and where you are fishing from (shore, bass boat, kayak, canoe, yacht, pontoon, destroyer, etc.) play a more important roll in rod length selection.

You asked for an opinion. Mine is that height has nothing to do with rod length.

Choporoz reply :

So....perhaps a better question than "does rod length matter?"....would have been:

"What are the odds that a clerk at BPS knew what he was talking about?"

bowhunter63 reply :

I don’t know I’m short I use 7 ft 6 carbon light spinning rod for wading in the river for Smallies. It casts light lures better and handles fish in the current really good. It’s my go to for sure.

BassWhole! reply :

On 8/13/2019 at 12:36 AM, new2BC4bass said:

and where you are fishing from (shore, bass boat, kayak, canoe, yacht, pontoon, destroyer, etc.) play a more important roll in rod length selection.

DD 974 and DD 988, thank you very much.

Choporoz reply :

SpruCans!

Krux5506 reply :

I mean, I do like 7' rods for the most part with bass fishing though I have some bigger and some shorter. I never considered my height having anything to do with it.

Ask anyone who would say otherwise how they determine rod length for something like a centerpin float rod. My setup for big water is 15ft....After using that a few times during winter, when I pick up my bass rods again they feel like a joke.

gilkeybr reply :

At 6'5 I rarely have an issue with rods being too long, although I definitely can see times where fishing jerkbaits from shore (instead of an elevated boat deck) a shorter rod is nice so as to not hit the water/shoreline. So i could understand why someone on the shorter end of the spectrum might want a shorter rod, especially fishing from shore.

However, I find the opposite issue: Rod handles being shorter than I would like. Due to the length of my arms, the handle sometimes won't tuck up nicely under my arm. Some rods are worse than others, but overall I wish rods had about an extra inch over normal between the reel and the rod butt. Recently added a few inches to the handle of one of my more favorite rods and now I find I can't put it down! Its awesome.

boostr reply :

I'm 5'10", and from the bank I use 6'6" casting and spinning except for my frogging/ heavy cover rod which is 7'. On my boat I use anywhere from 6'6" to 7'6".

WRB reply :

The rod length can affect the presentation you use, example jerk baits.

(I am aware of all the ways that sentence can be interpreted)

Tom

MickD reply :

Did someone mention tip-down techniques, like hard jerkbaits? Rods that are too long are a pain

Yumeya reply :

Its not the length of the rod that matters, its how you use it....

????

BassWhole! reply :

On 8/13/2019 at 2:24 AM, Choporoz said:

SpruCans!

Yup, Tin Can for life. Was embarked on the Roosevelt when I was with a Fighter Squadron. Didn't care for it, but mission is mission, so....

Mikeltee reply :

I think there is no correlation between height, hand size, race, or creed and rod size. As long as you are confident in your technique, you will catch fish.

BassKicker42 reply :

I say it doesn’t matter. A lot of guys will tell u that a topwater rod has to be under 7 to walk the dog but I say its just as easy to walk the dog with a side twitch instead of a downward twitch.

Shimano_1 reply :

The only time it would matter would be something like a jerkbait rod. I tend to jerk down towards the water. I'm 6'3 and prefer a 6'9 rod for this technique. I'd assume if I were 5'3 this would affect how I could effectively fish a jerkbait the way I fish it. Other than this I prefer all my other rods to be over 7'

OkobojiEagle reply :

Considering all of the other commotion going on in and around the water, why would a rod tip slapping the surface be a deterrent to a bass watching a top water bait splashing around 20' - 60' away from the tip slapping???

DanielG reply :

If you don't consider height then you'll wipe-out and possibly break a leg or something.... wait... this isn't the skiing forum? How'd I get here?

Nevermind....

Catt reply :

Same 7' rod standing on the bottom of a Jon Boat & flipping-n-pitching.

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Your Height vs. Rod Length... does it matter? 2025

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