Short Rods

Bud Kennedy · January 26, 2020, 10:12:21 AM

I am from an era when rods tended to be short by today's standards. I fondly remember those days where a 5'6" pistol grip rod was not uncommon. With the upswing of bass fishing during that time rods started to get longer. For the longest time rods between 6' and 6'8" became the norm. Now of course the common bass fishing rod seems to be between 7' and 8'. Even the bass boats of my younger years sized their rod lockers for rod lengths in the 6' to 6'8" range. I have a vintage ranger boat that will turn 30 on its next birthday in September. There is no way I can store today's longer rods in its lockers. Some of this is because of the dual console design where as the single console boats of that era usually had one locker that could handle longer rods but unfortunately my current bass boat is not designed that way. My first Ranger was a single console and I had one locker that could handle longer rods.

Fishing styles change for many reasons but one you don't often think about is what senior citizens like myself deal with to enable the continuation of our fishing passion. Although I have a preference to stand while fishing, I have found that sitting is much more common than in the past. We older guys are not as solid on our feet as years ago and sitting is much safer. Even operating the trolling motor is usually a sit down deal. I still stand from time to time but more often than not I can be found sitting down.

The purpose of this post is an effort to describe why some of us like using shorter rods. I am a short person sitting down to fish and using a short rod just makes the whole process easier to accomplish. Currently I have rods ranging up to 7'3" but seldom use anything over 7' and most likely I will have my favorite Lee Smith rod in my hand. The Lee Smith rod was made for me at 6'6" and it just fits my ability to a tee. If I was buying a rod today the 6'6" length would be my preference but it is hard to find anything like that above a 3 power but they are available but seemingly becoming more difficult to find. I know the longer rods provide much better performance and balance for a wide range of applications but they no longer fit my geezer style of fishing. My fishing partner Terry G also has a preference for using shorter rods as he too sits down to fish. Getting old requires compromise and I guess for us it is extending our fishing by using tools that fit our abilities or disabilities.

Princeton_Man · January 26, 2020, 12:34:17 PM

I like a shorter rod (6'6-7') for skipping and in close quarters conditions.

Terry G · January 26, 2020, 03:08:53 PM

Love my 6Ft Lee Smith rod.
I only have 6Ft. rods they are all old as I can't find a quality 6Ft rod at a price
I can afford <$120. their are a lot of choices 7Ft and longer.
Step up to the plate someone and give us a good MH fast rod in the shorter lengths

Smallie_Stalker · January 26, 2020, 04:13:13 PM

I know they are out of fashion now but I'd like to see more shorter rods. I still prefer a 6' - 6' 4" rod for throwing jerkbaits. It's even more relevant for me now being a bank fisherman. Longer rods slap the water or the ground, neither one being something that you want.

Fortunately Dobyns has 2 rods in the Champ XP series that are 6'3" models. I hope to add them as funds allow.

apenland01 · January 26, 2020, 08:40:39 PM

The Dobyns 635CB is an amazing topwater rod. I haven't used it for actual crankbaits, but I'm sure it work for that lol.....

Oldfart9999 · January 27, 2020, 07:39:18 AM

Quote from: Princeton_Man on January 26, 2020, 12:34:17 PM
I like a shorter rod (6'6-7') for skipping and in close quarters conditions.

Dittos, 6'6" mh works well for me. The only rods I use over 7' are for crankbaits/spinnerbaits/topwater away from cover.
Rodney

zippyduck · January 27, 2020, 08:30:59 PM

I too grew up using 6-6.5' rods but have fallen in love with the longer rods. Even skipping and jerbait rods.

I use an LSCR point blank 7'3" MH for jerkbaits and have excellent hook up and landing ratios.

I also skip with Dobyns 734 and 744 rods and am able to get the fish out from the cover and docks faster making a better landing ratio.

znate80 · January 28, 2020, 03:09:28 AM

All of my rods except my jig rod and swimbait rod are all 6'6". I have used that length since I was young and am very comfortable with them.

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jwkelley51 · January 28, 2020, 05:58:41 AM

My back will no longer permit me to stand much and I use mainly 7 ft. or so when sitting. I think I get a longer cast with less effort and a better hook set with them. There aren't many docks where I fish so that is a big factor. I was looking at a couple of old Lew's speed stick pistol grips in my garage the other day....I may give it a whirl but I'll have to stand. I used to throw them more or less underhanded which can't happen sitting. They're really short, maybe 5'5".

TWBryan · January 28, 2020, 08:30:29 AM

I'm able to cast with decent accuracy with a 5'6" rod. I can do passable work with 6'6". Much longer than that it becomes difficult for me to cast. I'm trying to learn how to cast using both hands with the longer rods, but I find it horribly awkward..

SteveTX · January 28, 2020, 09:58:53 AM

Quote from: Terry G on January 26, 2020, 03:08:53 PM
Love my 6Ft Lee Smith rod.
I only have 6Ft. rods they are all old as I can't find a quality 6Ft rod at a price
I can afford <$120. their are a lot of choices 7Ft and longer.
Step up to the plate someone and give us a good MH fast rod in the shorter lengths

I'm not sure if this would be something you would consider but you might try getting a Medium 7' rod in like a Berkley Cherrywood and cutting it down to a 6'6" or so.

The rods are inexpensive ($24.99) and a pack of replacement tips makes for a inexpensive experiment to possibly get you a rod you may like. The shortening of the Medium rod will bring it closer to a MH feel.

Of course how much you cut back effects the action and power so you would have to experiment. Maybe even start with a Medium Heavy 7' and trim it back as I find these rods to be very forgiving like they were rated more towards a beginner so they wouldn't lose fish.

TWBryan · January 28, 2020, 10:18:00 AM

There is a 6' mh ugly stik I have thought about,but not sure if I want to go with it or not. It's about $40,so not a huge investment...

TWBryan · January 30, 2020, 01:50:06 PM

Beginning to think my username should be 'thread-killer'.. Read an article this morning that made a case for having all your rods the same length. Doing so means all the rods would have the same 'release point', which varies by length. Problem is it is difficult to get all your rods in the same length as some techniques favor longer or shorter rods.

Smallie_Stalker · January 30, 2020, 02:10:07 PM

Quote from: TWBryan on January 30, 2020, 01:50:06 PM
Problem is it is difficult to get all your rods in the same length as some techniques favor longer or shorter rods.

My feelings exactly. In the end fishing rods are just tools and using the right tool for the job gets the job done better.

Sure you can use a wrench to pound in a nail (just ask my wife

) but you'll do a better job and get it done faster if you use a hammer. And the right hammer makes things even easier.

TNDiver · January 30, 2020, 02:23:21 PM

Smallie, I think you hit the nail on the head. As a Bank fisherman, I think the smaller rod is better. Less likely to get hung up, hit the ground or water, etc. But on a boat, you are up an additional foot or more off the water and I think the longer rods are better. I also think the height of the fisherman can make a difference. Being 5' 8" I have wondered if a smaller rod might be better for me.

Smallie_Stalker · January 30, 2020, 02:51:55 PM

Quote from: TNDiver on January 30, 2020, 02:23:21 PM
Being 5' 8" I have wondered if a smaller rod might be better for me.

You're not alone in in your thinking Brian. I've know a few guys who felt the same way. Each angler has to decide for themselves what they feel comfortable with or else they will be unhappy out on the water which is never a good thing.

Donald Garner · January 30, 2020, 08:21:00 PM

When I first started out bass fishing all of my rods were 6ft rods. I had a couple of those Lew's Pistol Grip rods I threw spinnerbaits with. Back in 2009 when I upgraded all of my rods I went with the BPS Extreme 7ft Casting rods. I have a mixture of Heavy; Med Heavy and Medium Action.

I prefer the 7ft rod when fishing from a boat. Now if I was bank fishing with a lot of overhead limbs etc I'd prefer a 6ft rod.

TWBryan · January 30, 2020, 08:32:45 PM

TNDiver,could be worse I'm 5' 6" ,I think I just don't have the requisite wing-span for a 7' rod.

Tonight I finally gave up on the fuego rod and put it back in the tube,in the unlikely event I find a use for it. Or more likely someone else will be able to use it. Went to my rack and pulled out a combo,took off a beautiful abu garcia 4600 c3 (converted to a c4) and put the fuego reel on the rod. The rod is a Zebco Rhino Rod. Think 'ghetto ugly stik' . Even so I already feel I will be able to handle the 6'6" rhino rod. I will try to cast with it tomorrow..

RocBass · February 20, 2020, 10:28:35 AM

Since I fish from a kayak - 6'6" to 6'8" is the ideal length for me. I am planning on cutting down the handle of the 711 Kaden I just got, and maybe a few inches off the tip to get it down to a 6'7" or so length. I think that will make it an ideal finesse rod for my kayak.
I know that this will void the warranty LOL (just saying this to eliminate posts from the warranty deputies reading this), however, I feel like experimenting and trying to get what I want, since Dobyns does not offer a kayak rod.
I'll provide an update in a few months when things thaw out enough to allow me to go out on the water and do some testing.

Lipripper · February 20, 2020, 01:17:19 PM

Quote from: TWBryan on January 28, 2020, 10:18:00 AM
There is a 6' mh ugly stik I have thought about,but not sure if I want to go with it or not. It's about $40,so not a huge investment...

I use a lot of Ugly Stiks from UL to MH ones.

Smallie_Stalker · February 20, 2020, 03:49:37 PM

Quote from: RocBass on February 20, 2020, 10:28:35 AM
Since I fish from a kayak - 6'6" to 6'8" is the ideal length for me. I am planning on cutting down the handle of the 711 Kaden I just got, and maybe a few inches off the tip to get it down to a 6'7" or so length. I think that will make it an ideal finesse rod for my kayak.
I know that this will void the warranty LOL (just saying this to eliminate posts from the warranty deputies reading this), however, I feel like experimenting and trying to get what I want, since Dobyns does not offer a kayak rod.
I'll provide an update in a few months when things thaw out enough to allow me to go out on the water and do some testing.

Dobyns does make some. There are 6' 6" models in both spinning and casting rods in the Fury line and two 6"6" casting models in the Sierra Micro Guide line.

6' 8" models for casting are available in both the regular Sierra and Champ XP series as well as spinning in the Champ XP.

RocBass · February 21, 2020, 11:35:18 AM

Quote from: Smallie_Stalker on February 20, 2020, 03:49:37 PM
Dobyns does make some. There are 6' 6" models in both spinning and casting rods in the Fury line and two 6"6" casting models in the Sierra Micro Guide line.

6' 8" models for casting are available in both the regular Sierra and Champ XP series as well as spinning in the Champ XP.

Thanks for the info on the Fury line and the casting models of the Sierra and Champ lines. I'm primarily a spinning guy, as this is easier from the kayak for me, and is just what I like.

I have a Sierra 692SF and a 693SF, which work ok from the kayak. I may just limit my experimenting on the Kaden 711SF to cutting out the 4" section between the 2 cork sections of the handle and piecing the 2 cork sections together with a small graphite piece in between the tube that the cork is on top of. I will then have a 691SF Kaden.

If this works out, I'll probably leave the tip section alone. I'll keep you posted with pics and results after I'm done.

zippyduck · March 11, 2020, 08:08:59 PM

Quote from: RocBass on February 21, 2020, 11:35:18 AM
Thanks for the info on the Fury line and the casting models of the Sierra and Champ lines. I'm primarily a spinning guy, as this is easier from the kayak for me, and is just what I like.

I have a Sierra 692SF and a 693SF, which work ok from the kayak. I may just limit my experimenting on the Kaden 711SF to cutting out the 4" section between the 2 cork sections of the handle and piecing the 2 cork sections together with a small graphite piece in between the tube that the cork is on top of. I will then have a 691SF Kaden.

If this works out, I'll probably leave the tip section alone. I'll keep you posted with pics and results after I'm done.

That is going to throw the balance off. And that is the best part of a Dobyns rod. Also you will still have the same length from your hand to the tip which is probably the part that is more of a hassle in a yak.

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Dink Dawg · March 11, 2020, 11:32:06 PM

I started bass fishing with the 5-6 pistol grips. That's all there was. I didn't like them then or now. That's what prompted me to build rods. I built custom rods with pistol grips at six feet but was still too short. I bought Lamiglas blanks designed for other species and cut them down and built rods to seven feet. My first flippin stick was built on a back bouncer blank. Finally, manufactures began to offer longer rods. Length was always a challenge because the rods were so tip heavy. Technology and rod materials and design have eliminated that issue for most manufactures. I remember watching guys set the hook fishing worms with a a 5-6 and lifting their arms all the way above their head to take up slack. That's not for me boys.

fishballer06 · March 12, 2020, 07:35:32 AM

Cutting the tip off of a rod blank is about the worst idea ever. Not only does it compromise the structural integrity of the entire blank, it also totally changes the power and action of a rod. I assure you that doing this will not leave you with "the same rod, but shorter". If you need short rods, then buy short rods.