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Posts: 9
| I'm relatively new to the game and I only have one rod and reel specifiacally for musky. Planning on adding a set-up to my arsenal and I was hoping to get some of your opinions. I have about 15 rods for bassin but none of them are over 7'. I am only 5'9" tall and have never felt very much control with longer rods. With that said now I'm in the market for a descent all-around musky rod and I'm leaning towards an 8' heavy compre. My other rod is a 7' MH so I'm thinking I need to beef-up my next rig. Do you more seasoned musky guys recomend an 8 footer for a guy planning to get away with using two rods? Or with my height, or lack of it, would you guys suggest staying with a 7.5' or even 7' still? I appreciate any suggestions you might have. I've already decided on the reel per the advice given on this site. Thanks!
Dan |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Your height really shouldn't matter. I would suggest an 8'6 if I were you...
I made the switch to 8 footers a few years back...then got an 8'6 loved that....then tried the 9 footer and really loved that....and now I have a 9'6.... 
I would go with an 8'6 Edge Rod from Professional Edge. They are great rods and you can't beat the price for what you are getting! |
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Posts: 620
Location: Seymour, WI | Once you start using an 8' rod, you won't use your 7'6" much any more. They make figure 8's and controlling the bait so much easier.
Gander Mtn Guide Choice is a good 8' rod at a fair price.
Grass |
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Posts: 344
Location: Musky Country | 9' Hammer rod By Jason Hammernick, Great price for a excellent rod |
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Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Dan,
I don't know if this well help, but when I hear people talk of height relative to the length of fishing rod they use or want to use, I think it still boils down to preference rather than a person's height. There are guys on here using 9'ers that I know are average height (meaning around 6' or so). I use an 8-6 heavy and I'm 6'2" so I don't think you really have to consider height in relation to the length of the musky stick you want to use.
I may be wrong on this, but I would think a person that is a bit shorter than average would have a bigger advantage using a long rod with regards to figure 8s b/c your 8s will be deeper since your arms naturally will be closer to the water. Since the 8's will be deeper, that also means you can bring the bait up a longer way on the 8 as well.
IMO, a longer rod would be an advantage in various ways for most people regardless of height, but again it boils down to what you're comfortable with.
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Posts: 9
| Well that didn't take very long to figure out. Mike, you really had me laughing with your evolution through rod lengths. On a serious note though that really illustrates the reaction that I'll probably have. At the very least i will get an 8 footer, but now I'll take into account an even longer rod which was suggested and also look into the reccomended brands. Thanks again.
Dan |
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Posts: 9
| Hey Mike H,
Do you just order those edge series rods from the professional edge website?
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Location: Sun Prairie, WI | Bassmandan - 2/18/2008 12:34 PM
Hey Mike H,
Do you just order those edge series rods from the professional edge website?
Dan,
Call Keith at 612.802.4629 to order. I can attest to the Pro Edge Rods. The 8-6 I talked about above is a Pro Edge and it's a fantastic stick! I'm probably gonna order another soon.
His web site is http://proedgefishing.com. |
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Posts: 133
Location: WV | I started with shorter sticks, 6' then 6 1/2, then 7. Im now throwing 8' and the stats of figure 8 catches is amazing. Bigger sticks catch more fish. And thats right you will seldom use your shorter rods so put them on the trader forum!!! |
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Posts: 32
Location: Frankfort, IL | I'M 5'4" and love my 8'6" rod. Being shorter usually means smaller arms so the longer rod makes it much easier to do a deeper figure 8. I am looking into having a couple of 9 footers built for this year.
Ken |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | I'll throw in my 2 cents.. I previously used a 6'3" and 7' rod before I picked up my 8' last season and man do I love it. There was no getting used to it; it just performed so much better. Less wear and tear on throwing all day and as most have mentioned way better lure control. I won't go any shorter than an 8' ever again. I've actually been trying to find a less expensive XH or XXH for throwing dawgs, cranks, and big gliders in the 8'+ range. |
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Posts: 79
Location: South Dakota | Don't you shorter guys have a problem with WTD top water baits on those longer rods? That is where I get frustrated. |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Point the rod more at the bait and then do your 'taps'. It may take some getting used to but you get better hook sets. If you're 'slapping' water your pointing your rod to low. I know everyone has their preference but it's just something to think about for people who work their rods lower for WTD top waters and jerkbaits. |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | You should have a problem with walk the dog topwaters as I have used my 9 footer with Weagles, Jackpots, etc...and I have even thrown them out of a bass boat. No problems what so ever. My rod never comes closer than 2 feet or so from water.
And yes, you can get those rod by contacting Keith with Pro Edge |
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Posts: 1237
Location: South Portsmouth, KY | Madmanmusky - 2/18/2008 12:59 PM
9' Hammer rod By Jason Hammernick, Great price for a excellent rod
Where can one get a hammernick rod and how much are they? |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | From Jason himself.
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Posts: 1046
| A rod is still a TOOL in the overall big picture of musky fishing. the right tool for the right job. There is no way i limit myself to just super long rods for all fishing applications. there are many times that a shorter rod can do things better then a long one. I feel it is completely wrong to tell newer fishermen to just buy a huge stick.There is many a lesson to be learned from a 6`9" to a 7`6" rods and you never know you might actually like it and fish better with it. One other point is that a super deep figure 8 is not needed that often. Watch most of these new tapes out and watch the bait right below the surface, Most of the time. Don`t let someone talk you into something you might not like and always keep your options open, remember TOOLS! |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | Longer rods are not just for deep figure 8's and that is probably one of the benefits that is furthest down the line.
Now BIG figure 8's, LARGE turns, ability to quicky change dephts of 10 inches to a foot, fighting a fish, changing direction on a bait, hook up percentages, ease of casting, etc....
I have no use for anything shorter than 8'6 |
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| The Handyman - 2/18/2008 5:01 PM
A rod is still a TOOL in the overall big picture of musky fishing. the right tool for the right job. There is no way i limit myself to just super long rods for all fishing applications. there are many times that a shorter rod can do things better then a long one. I feel it is completely wrong to tell newer fishermen to just buy a huge stick.There is many a lesson to be learned from a 6`9" to a 7`6" rods and you never know you might actually like it and fish better with it. One other point is that a super deep figure 8 is not needed that often. Watch most of these new tapes out and watch the bait right below the surface, Most of the time. Don`t let someone talk you into something you might not like and always keep your options open, remember TOOLS!
amen to that intelligent reply |
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Posts: 35
| Does anyone have the specs on the Gander Mtn rod? |
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Posts: 2427
Location: Ft. Wayne Indiana | I am only speaking from experience and from what my clients tell me...
I have alot of people in my boat every year and some of them bring their own rods. They are usually 6'9, 7, 7'6.
I tell them they can use their rods, but I prefer if they use mine. Most will start out with their rods, then switch to the longer rods I have for my clients. Within about 5 casts they all tell me..."I don't know why I thought this rod would be to long....I am never going back to my short rods".
So I am just trying to help people out. If they want to spend the money and another year of not maximizing their tools, that is fine. Spend the extra money on a short rod then a year or two down the road when you try a long rod and fall in love with it....just remember my advice.... LOL
Besides fishing a creek or flip pitching, which I will never do, I see no need for a short rod. To me a 8 footer is now a short rod and I can't stand even using one.
Spend the extra money if you want to, but I would go right for the best, most effective and more comfortable way to fish. |
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| One thing I never see in the discussion about rod length is how a guy who fishes alone nets a big fish on a long rod. Without a separate net guy a long rod, big fish and huge net are very tricky. A shorter rod is much easier netting a fish when fishing solo.
Also, for someone making the transition from a shorter rod to a longer rod, I agree that the adjustment to casting and retrieving is very easy. But handling a big fish as boatside with a long rod was more of an adjustment. With the long rod it's very easy to get the tip too high and exert too much pressure on the fish which can mean surface thrashing, jumps, lost fish. I really have to concentrate and remind myself to keep the rod down. |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Mike,
All advice aside, I use a 7' rod as a tool for working certain baits I can't work as effectively with an 8.5' rod. I use an 8.5' rod as a tool to work baits I can't work as effectively with a 7' rod, and so on. Maybe I don't work all my lures the same way you do(in fact I'm sure of that...) but I'll continue to buy 7' rods for that application and 6.5 foot for their application, and so on....so I can 'go right for the best, most effective and more comfortable way to fish' for me. My preference, and I own everything from 6'9" rods to 8.5' rods...and use 'em all happily. |
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| I agree with Sworral. Different rods for different applications. I've tried to work a Weagle with my 8'6" rod, but it doesn't come close to what I can do with that lure with a shorter rod. Just personal preference. |
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Posts: 1289
Location: WI | How do you guys haul your equipment? My longest rod is 7.6 and I have to either lay it on the floor of the boat or put it in the cab of the truck with part of it sticking out the back window. My rod locker is too short (93 Lund Explorer). |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Very carefully. I have an 8' rod which I put in the back of my Chevy Ext. Cab P/U (6.5' box) and it barely fits diagonally. They are tougher to move around and store I will admit that. |
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Posts: 1716
Location: Mt. Zion, IL | best advice is to use what is comfortable. i have an 8'6" rod and i throw heavy swimbaits......it definitely wears you out if you are trying to sling them a long way. hooksets are nice but realize too that with a longer rod it feels like the fish is pulling harder, and it takes more force to hold the rod at the same angle. think of a tire iron.....shorter tire iron and you can turn with the same force, but you exert a lot more energy. add a pipe and the length of the rod does the work. there is a balance for everyone and i would say if you are used to 7' rods, i would probably go 8'. and unless you have a long bed pickup or suv with nothing inside, transportation of longer rods is "interesting" most rod lockers that i have seen do not accommodate rods over 8'. get what makes you happy. |
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8' Rods