|
|
Posts: 39
| im curious how well these longer rods perform in the 8. the one thing that scares me is how deep the bait will be in the boat side loops. did you guys using these longer rods have to change your boat side routine at all to use them. im not an extremely tall guy at 5 9. im fishing out of a bass tracker boat so im not very high off the water either. im planning on buying a new rod for throwing big blades this fall just not sure if i want something that long |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2015
| the longer the better for converting fish boatside!!!..I fished out of a bass boat for years with 9' rods.... even low to the water, when I had really big fish going in the 8 I wish I had a 12' rod!!! I use a 9'8" rod for bucktail's now and its the "cat's meow" ! If you like throwing blades and rubber.. Get some 9' rods you'll wish you had sooner! |
|
| |
|
Posts: 9
| I have two 9' rods Ive been using exclusively for 2 years. I am building a 10 footer now. I can't forsee any disadvantage. looking forward to being able to make wider more sweeping turns near the boat. I think you can actually keep the lure at the same depth under the surface as before just be farther away from the boat |
|
| |
|
Posts: 525
| I started using a 10'6" TI that I built this summer. I fish out of a bass boat and absolutely love the extra length in the 8's. Like IAJustin said the longer rod will help in converting those followers into biters. You will be able to make way bigger turns and get the bait to "hang" way out from the boat on the turns, and get a lot of speed. Only thing that's a little tough is netting them on your own. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 20218
Location: oswego, il | All great posts so far. I will just add, when the water gets to about freezing big fish need a really wide turn. I have seen them not able to make some turns with the bait. You will get used to a longer rod.
The only time I go to a shorter rod, 8ft is being the middle guy in a boat or fishing in my 14ft boat. I work the rod across my body not up and down in those instances can get in the way of a fishing partner. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2325
Location: Chisholm, MN | Too give a different perspective on the debate, I'll say that there is a disadvantage to long rods with bucktails in the 8. My 9'6" predator XH has a little bit of a soft tip that makes me feel like I'm working extra hard in the 8 with big blades. It's not enough of a disadvantage to stop using a long rod, because the advantages are greater. And when I'm burning a big bucktails it is riding pretty high in the water. As you get to the boat you for force the bait down deeper as you bring is next to the boat. I'm not sure how I feel about that. It may take the fish's eyes off of you, but it sort of takes the bait below their eyes as well. Too me there is no perfect rod for the application but it's close enough for me! |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | imo 9, or maybe 9'6" is all that is needed... 12'? seems crazy and I don't think it would really add any benefit, maybe even more negative..really a good 9 foot rod in the hands of a good figure 8'er is plenty.... I do agree, softer tips are not great for fast figure 8s...so the rods you throw big blades with on 'speed reel's are better if they are on something like a big nasty... slow 8s at night are a piece of cake with a sling blade... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 102
| The only disadvantage I've come across is netting fish when solo. It's a bit tougher w/ a 9ft than a 7'6" or 8'. Not much, but just enough to make me upset a time or two... |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | 12' is overkill for some lakes, on some it's the only way to go. You'd be surprised. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | I'm a short guy 5 7 and I love my predators. Buck tail is a 9 foot x h if I did it again I would take 2 inches off the tip it is a little soft.my pounder rod is a 9 foot 8 inch XXHeavy the length don't bother me at all and my xxx heavy is also a 9 foot 8 inch . I really like the long rods .I'll take a 9 + rod over a 7 any day of the week. |
|
| |
|
Location: Contrarian Island | I had a 9 foot Diamondback that was a bit soft in the tip for big blades...I just simply hacked 3 inches off and put a rod tip back on... easy and did the trick |
|
| |
|
Posts: 179
Location: Wisconsin | I have been testing the new TI 10'6" XH all year. There was a learning curve on how to us it boat side. The advantage of the longer rod means you can go into the 8 sooner and further from the boat. Which will help with keeping the fish on the bait and not having it spooked by the boat. A longer rod also helps with changing the lures depth on the 8, and making the bait hover on the turn. Plus you'll gain the advantage of easy casting with added distance. And the nice thing with the new TI 10'6" is it telescopes down to 9' |
|
| |
|
Posts: 390
| use a 9 ft almost exclusively however I did miss a fish this spring because I hit the bottom with the rod tip. Dirty water and didn't realize I was in 2 fow so you need to be conscious of how deep you can plunge. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 525
| In reply to Kirby-
I have found a few times that when a fish is following changing the level of the bait in the water up or down can actually trigger the fish to strike when it reappears in their line of sight. Especially in the 8. I like to make my wide turns and hang the bait close to the surface and get speed and go a little deeper coming out of the turns into the next turn. The extra length of the 10'6" xxh TI allows me to do that much easier than my 9' big nasty. I love both rods, but the TI is my go to bucktail rod now for these reasons. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 39
| thanks alot for the imput guys im just gonna have to make a trip somewhere so i can handle some |
|
| |
|
Posts: 427
| if I can get the link to post here is a figure 8 fish from last weekend with a 9 ft TI rod . never mind, I suck at technology. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 8
| I have been using the TI 9' rods for several years now. The 8s are easy from a shorter boat. I think FFDONNIE hit it. My preference now is longer. The 10'6" rods from TI I have are great from my boat. I am up high and still don't have to bend over or reach much. Bigger wider 8s. From your boat the 9' would be very workable. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1828
| My boatside catches have gone way up since I started using a 9' rod for bucktails. If they bolt from the boat, I go deep and fast and they usually come back, peeed off. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 265
Location: Manitowish Waters WI | Not an issue at all. I fish out of an esox mag standing right on the water. I have no problem running an 8 right on the water without going deep. I cant even think what I do when I get on my inside turn but I can tell you it happens fine out of instinct. Its a none issue in my opinion. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | Just an FYI but my wife and I just got everything done! The new 96, 10 106 rods are READY!!!!
http://www.tackleindustries.com/muskypikerods.html
James
|
|
| |
9foot plus rods in the eight