Anyone else making the shift to longer rods?

[Buck2thPerch]

Funny, I used to have mostly 6'6" rods but find myself with more 7'+ rods now. Wow, I only own two 6'6" rods now and eight rods over 7ft. I love flippin with my 7ft+ rods using Frogs and Jigs and plastics and buzzbaits to spinnerbaits etc. Even using topwater lures, I'll use my 7'6" Flipping Stick with 65lbs Braid on . Its just easier to cast and more power to set the hooks with longer rods IMO. Women just seem to stare at me when I am holding my long rod out in the lakes and rivers.

[btune]

We (wife and I usually fish T's together) have rods from 6' to 8'. To me it is all about what works for the particular technique. While I do sometimes wish for a 7' plus for jig/worm use, mostly I use 7' rods. Longer for - big cranks, flipping, swimbaits etc. My wife who fishes with no preconcived ideas really likes her old 6' Croix Avid, I am not about to take it away from her! I also remember when most casting rods were 5'6" and a 6' rod was a "long" rod! Funny I never knew I was missing anything.

[froteur]

. Women just seem to stare at me when I am holding my long rod out in the lakes and rivers.

is it tip heavy?

[bassbandit]

I've definitely found myself gravitating toward longer sticks. A few years back, all of my rods were 6'6-7'. Now most are 7'3-7'6. I just seem to feel more comfortable fishing with rods in this range. Over the winter I found myself looking at Powell 704 and 705 and thinking that it might be time to pick up a longer sticks.

[white03]

Absolutely shifting longer. Nothing less than 7' in my arsenal and mostly over 7'3".

[JerryC]

ive gone from 6'6"-6'8" to 7'-7'2" which is the longest ill cary for the fishing i do in jersey

[SC Bassin]

I have gone as high as 7 1/2 ft, but have 5 1/2, 6, 6 1/2, & 7ft & use them all.

[ah_long]

longer rods have a distinct advantage... but the MBR783C (anything from GL3 to GLX) has a special place in my heart.

The 6'6 is just so well balanced and feels so great in hand.

[Peacheater81]

The norm used to by 6'6" for me, but now its 7'4"

DX743c, 742SF, 744DX, 795ML, 765c, 735C

[froteur]

longer rods have a distinct advantage... but the MBR783C (anything from GL3 to GLX) has a special place in my heart.

The 6'6 is just so well balanced and feels so great in hand.

THAT is a sweet rod, especially in GLX

[karirick]

This is a good thread. Do any of you feel braided line alters your thoughts on rod length. I always thought the extral length assisted with hook setting primarily, then line control, casting etc. With braid a snap of the wrist is all you need.

I'm mainly asking becasue I am about to chop a CR721 from my arsenal, but I love the feel of that rod. Seems as though most of you feel 6' just isn't up to the task. Mainly Walleye, Smallmouth in rivers and lakes for me by the way.

[blakjack23]

This is a good thread. Do any of you feel braided line alters your thoughts on rod length. I always thought the extral length assisted with hook setting primarily, then line control, casting etc. With braid a snap of the wrist is all you need.
.

Good question. I think you're correct. I've never felt any disadvantage to using 6'6-7' sticks over the longer ones, and I use almost 100% braid.

[slipperybob]

After using some salmon/steelhead rods of 8'6" and longer, 7' rods just feels short.

[BassFreak]

I've actually gone the opposite way, shifting to shorter rods. Before, the arsenal comprised mostly of 7 footers and up, and i mainly fished from the shore so the extra distance in casting was nice. but since then, I've moved to slightly shorter rods. 6'6"-7'. I still have a few rods that are over 7 feet and they serve a purpose, but i find that i can be more accurate with the shorter rod and be more nimble with the bait i'm working. heck, even when fishing from shore, I dont try to cast that far out anymore.

[mhood]

I am about to chop a CR721 from my arsenal, but I love the feel of that rod.

...from my cold dead hands.