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Posts: 612
| I currently own a number of 7' and 7.5' long rods. I thinking of buying my 1st 8' rod. The portion in front of the reel is 6' 9" long so it doesn't have a overly long handle. Rod is fast action, moderately heavy. BTW I only throw up to ~4 oz.
Would you expect the longer rod to have advantages over my shorter rods?
Say better casting.
Perhaps more maneuverability with a fish near the boat.
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | Yes to both. |
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Posts: 1638
Location: Minnesota | Once you go long it's hard to go back shorter. |
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Posts: 7
| Yes, longer rods are no doubt better for casting and make it easier for big figure eights without leaning over so much. Right now i have an 8'6 and my next rod will most likely by a 9'. My suggestion would be skip the 8' and just go with an 8'6. |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | You will never go back. I'd say try an 8'6 if you enjoy bucktail fishing you will be pleased with the difference... casting, handling, figure 8's, everything is easier. |
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Posts: 670
Location: mercer wi | What kind of lures up to 4oz. I have a stcroix 8'h for glides baits and twitching bigger cranks. I can minipulate lures better with 8'. Rest of my rods are 8'6" +. Awesome for boat side work. Ypu don't have to bend over so far do its easier on your back on long days or trips. Bigger 8's and work a bait farther out to trigger fish to eat before 8. After ypu get use to longer sticks you'll love them. |
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Posts: 612
| I use 75 % Jerkbaits (1.5 to 4) oz. and 25% spinners. |
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Posts: 4269
Location: Ashland WI | NPike - 12/19/2016 7:44 AM
I use 75 % Jerkbaits (1.5 to 4) oz. and 25% spinners.
To me, that makes a difference. I have a 7.5 foot rod for jerkbaits. I personally do not like the longer rods for jerkbaits. |
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Posts: 762
| I agree long rods make figure eights, playing a fish, and casting for distance easier. But imo, shorter rods still have a place in my rod line-up. I like my 6'09" rod for gliders and jerkbaits. I also prefer a shorter rod, 7'-8', for working small weed pockets and shorelines with fallen trees or docks that require casts with more accuracy, placing your lure as near to the cover as possible. Kdawg |
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Posts: 4053
Location: Land of the Musky | 9' rods and you will never look back Easier and longer casting vs shorter rods BUT if you want to really work some jerkbaits go with a 76 |
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Posts: 612
| I felt the rod by St Croix. It's pretty stiff for a (3/4 to 4) oz. bait range and is fast action. I really need a single rod that can handle the smaller baits as well as the medium sized Jerkbaits w/o switching rods. And I need a 2 rod pc for transport as well. I'm thinking since it's a fairly solid rod and has the backbone to move the Jerkbaits OK, despite being 8' long. Trying to get a one rod fits all or as close to it as I can. I dislike switching rods while fishing and am cramped for room in my 14+'er. All my rods over 7' must be broken down. |
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Posts: 132
| See if you can find a used St. Croix 8' Avid Heavy. They don't make them anymore, but I used to have one and it was a good rod for what you describe. You may be able to find one if you do some searching/put a WTB ad up. |
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Posts: 20229
Location: oswego, il | I have an 8ft avid heavy and love it. I mostly use longer rods 8.5 and 9' for everything. The only reason i use an 8' rod anymore is when i am fishing in my small boat with 2 people or 3 people in the big boat. I work the rod laterally vs vertically with jerks and glides so i take up boat space. It is also a less fatiguing way to work baits. I do use a 7'6" flipping stick for small sfuff. |
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Posts: 162
| muskyhunter47 - 12/18/2016 8:35 PM
Once you go long it's hard to go back shorter.
LOL its hard for me to go under 10 1/2 ft now. |
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Posts: 785
| Longer rod = longer casts, better lure control, better hook sets/keeping fish pinned and way better for figure 8's
7-7.5' rods are easiest to run jerkbaits and they are terrible figure 8 lures anyways so the only advantage of a long rod is on the fight. I started out with that same system. Short rods and lots of jerkbaits with some spinnerbaits. Now my setups I rotate between are 9-3, 9-3, 8-6, 8, and 8. I use the 8' rods for jerkbaits and WTD topwater now. It's a bit more work but I feel I land way more fish with the longer rod. Keep a 7-6 for jerkbaits and get an 8-6 or 9' rod for everything else. I get the storage issue... I have it as well. I've found I'd rather fight with it then sacrifice the rod length now. Also just my two cents but if you are using jerkbaits 75% of the time you are over using them. They are a great tool but have a terrible hookup percentage. I only use them about 10% of the time now. Bucktails, plastic, minnowbaits and topwater should be used as well and will all be better at converting fish at the boat.
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | I love long rods, you can fling lures half way across the lake. I use a 9'6" TI as my general purpose rod. I want to upgrade to a Big Nasty but am scared of losing the extra 6".
Keep at least one shorter rod for gliders, they are great for making them dance |
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Posts: 1425
Location: St. Lawrence River | tkuntz - 12/21/2016 10:46 AM
I love long rods, you can fling lures half way across the lake. I use a 9'6" TI as my general purpose rod. I want to upgrade to a Big Nasty but am scared of losing the extra 6".
Keep at least one shorter rod for gliders, they are great for making them dance
9' plenty of rod yet.. |
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Posts: 815
Location: Waukee, IA | JakeStCroixSkis - 12/21/2016 9:19 PM
tkuntz - 12/21/2016 10:46 AM
I love long rods, you can fling lures half way across the lake. I use a 9'6" TI as my general purpose rod. I want to upgrade to a Big Nasty but am scared of losing the extra 6".
Keep at least one shorter rod for gliders, they are great for making them dance
9' plenty of rod yet..
I know, plus most of the different in length is in the butt section, which I can have extended. I just really like the TI length |
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