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Posts: 41
Location: Moline,IL | Obviously most people are now casting with Rods that are 8' and longer and the trend seems to be continuing to make even longer rods. How long is too long when it comes to rod length for casting? |
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Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | For me, over 8'6". For my Weagle rod, 6'10". But then, I am old school. |
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| Gotta agree w/ Steve... I can maybe see a 9 footer in certain specific situations, but 8' to 8.5" is the sweet spot for me. |
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Location: Latitude 41.3016 Longitude 88.6160 | Most of my customs are 9', got a 9'6" coming soon, for a jerk baits I use a 8'6" rod. So much nicer to do a F/8 with long rods, and my jerk bait rod has some flex in it by the boat, so I don't loose fish with it. For trolling I have 2 that are 11'.
Edited by PIKEMASTER 1/24/2009 1:08 PM
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Posts: 136
Location: Chicago | I'm 5'7 and fish out of a navigator thinking of a 9' ,but thought it might be a bit much to work some lures constantly to the side and banging water on down twitches any of you stout guys have an opinion or experience. |
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Posts: 401
| I built myself a 9-6 last year and sold it after the first time I used it. My max is 9 feet. I use a 9 footer for everything. The only stick I have shorter is my 8-6 two piece.
But I have built them 10 feet. |
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| Rollie and Helens had 10' rods in their booth at the Chicago show - that is awfully long. |
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Posts: 299
Location: Ontario, California | I bet you change your mind Steve. I recall you saying that you didn't think you would like an 8'6". |
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Posts: 124
| Going to have to go with 9' as well. I started using 8.5' back in 1999. People thought I was from the moon!
My personal opinion is that 8' is the bare minimum for the majority of presentations. 8.5' is perfect all around long rod. The only short rod I use is a 7.5' for Fish Sticks or WTD surface baits.
Casting baits that are wind resistant or heavy is simply easier with longer rods... not to mention the figure 8. It is very hard for anyone to do a large enough figure 8 on a 50"+ fish with rods shorter than 8', just a fact.
Lee Tauchen
http://www.leelures.com
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Posts: 1023
| I have an 8 ft Fig Rig and a a &.5 ft fig too. I am only 5'8" and I get more fatigued with the 8 footer. I have wondered if it was the design or action but I am leaning toward another 7.5 footer???? What are the real benefits to me using a rod longer than 7.5?? I heard Lee is vertically challenged like me and he fishes them. Maybe I just need to bulk up!? |
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Posts: 267
Location: Ft. Wayne, Indiana | I am 5'5" and I am switching to 9 footers this year. I threw 8 and 8.5 rods all last year and threw a 9 footer a few casts and fell in love. |
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Posts: 20219
Location: oswego, il | I have two 8fters and immediately fell in loe with them. Then I got an 8.5fter and I liked it even more. Now I want a 9fter and would not be shy about a 10fter. I have found the longer rods to be easier on me, I can fish harder all day with less effort.
I even found me an 8.5ft bass rod, love it too! |
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Posts: 124
| Landry - 1/24/2009 7:52 PM
I have an 8 ft Fig Rig and a a &.5 ft fig too. I am only 5'8" and I get more fatigued with the 8 footer. I have wondered if it was the design or action but I am leaning toward another 7.5 footer???? What are the real benefits to me using a rod longer than 7.5?? I heard Lee is vertically challenged like me and he fishes them. Maybe I just need to bulk up!?
I may be vertically challenged but... I can sling big rubber with the best of them. I do not get fatigued at all from my fishing rods. If you are, I would bet you are possibly throwing too hard which is most commonly done (especially by men). Let the rod do the work. Other tips may be to hold rod in front of the reel (not palming reel) if you have not tried that. I actually hold the rod but tighter under my arm than I do with the hand holding the rod during my retrieve. I know this helped me immensely when I was having fatigue issues.
To answer your questions now, longer rods make muskie fishing easier from casting, to figure 8's, and controlling fish.
One may wish to compare actual weights of rods and how they feel just holding on to. That is why I have been sold on Tica rods personally... they are simply lighter in weight! No brainer, also less expensive than many. The lighter the rod, the less work it is. Why do walleye guys willing to pay so much money for a quality jig rod? They are paying for weight reduction.
Hope this helps someone,
Lee Tauchen
http://www.leelures.com |
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Posts: 10
| I used a nine footer for everything last year. I'll never use another rod under 9' |
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Posts: 134
| Long rodders rule!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joe W
P.S. They catch more fish too. |
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Posts: 375
| go long or go home! p.s. - go stillers! |
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Posts: 41
Location: Moline,IL | Thank you all of the great replies. Your opinions are very helpful! |
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| go with a long one...8' minimum imo
Lee was one of the first to go with long rods way back when and got many of us from Madison hooked on the All Star Western Inshores...still to this day an awesome rod...I am using all 8'9" to 9'3" Rods except my walk the dog and jerkbait rod is an 8'. I work the rod to the side, not down and imo I do get a better hookset working the lures/rod to the side as opposed to the way guys work lures down with short rods..simply by the fact I will have a better angle on the fish when it hits ...rod to the side as opposed to down and the possible split second of slack line setting the hook...just my opinion though
as others have stated the benefits of 8'6" + rods FAR outweigh any negatives....
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Posts: 108
Location: Toronto, ON | I have embraced the trend too but for my gliders, I still like my 6'9" Premier...I find that I can make those baits 'dance' with the shorter rod. |
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Posts: 1023
| Now you all have me thinking. My experience says less than 8 feet but more experienced musky guys say longer. Guess I need to buy another rod!? |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | I agree with the short rods for gliders and wtd topwaters. Better action and more control. Longer (8' and over) for everything else. |
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Posts: 371
Location: Dixon, IL | I like 6 ft 10" jerkbait rod and 7 ft musky rods for shorefishing! Plan to buy 8 ft rod soon!
Longer rods seem fine on boat and great for figure 8! |
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