My experience - FWIW

I started my wife (all 5'1" of her) using my equipment, and quickly learned that 8"6" or longer rods were not a good fit.  She won a St. Croix Avid 7'6" rod in a raffle, and I paired is with a Record 51.  She loved the rod, but it eventually broke and had to be replaced (St. Croix warranty service is A+!) with a 7'3" Legend Tournament.  Unfortunately, she lost a shot at a monster on eagle last fall because the length of the rod limited her figure-8.  The Record was something of a meat grinder, but seemed to fit her hands well.  When her rod broke, she tried my Revo Toro Winch 61 and LOVED it.  Long story short, this year she'll have an 8' Legend Tournament rod (longer but still light weight, and she can throw the small hair, topwaters, and small cranks that she likes) paired with a Revo Toro 61 Winch (she likes the low profile, paddle handles, and low gear ratio).  I enjoy her in the boat, and want her experience to be as positive as I can make it.  we are getting there!

If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.