Rod length

[Mac2]

I use a 7 foot rod when long arm casting with a wide sweep when fishing live crawlers on small hooks weightless, fishing for bream. Other than that, I use a 6'6" Medium Heavy action rod and a 6' Medium Heavy. I suspect the shorter the rod, especially in the MH action class, the more sensitive the feel. I'm thinking the 6 footer is a tad more sensative, but the 6'6" is easier to cast out the soft plastics, also weightless. I most often use the Graphite Series rods from Bass Pro, on sale at 19.95 and not on at 29.95 When you get right down to it, I rely on my suspicions without having done any verifiable scientific research on the subject. Good Fishing, Mac

[islandbass]

Alright, bama. I'll take your and WTL's word on it. There is something about how graceful it seems when fly anglers present their offerings. It looks so cool. I will give it a go some time this year.

[Backwater Charlie]

Long rods are made for long casts and playing the bass out of heavy cover. But I think any rod over 7' for bass is just ridiculous. I use 6' for top-waters, and 6'6 for plastics and jigs, and I also have a 7 footer that I use occasionally for pitchin' & flippin' jigs.

[wargoth]

I can correlate this to my cattin' rods as an extreme example, I have both a 7' cat rod, and an 11'... While the 7' rod is more manageable, etc. I can cast the same amount of weight about 30-40 yds further on the 11, additionally, I can horse that sucker out of dang near any cover with the 11. If it is a HUGE fish, I prefer the big rod, but the smaller fish are more fun on the little one. Not sure if any of that is at all clear, but there ya go anyway...

[fishen green]

I tried to get her to use my pocket fisher man