We mostly fish 6wt or 8wt rods here in Florida. All have been 9ft, I have seen some 10ft or 8ft what are the advantages, disadvantages?
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by theliquorguy
From my experience a longer rod can help with line control when swinging or nymphing in a river
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by bcflytier
Shorter rods (8') apply leverage more quickly and are better for close-quarters fishing like under docks and mangroves. Longer rods (10') help anglers to reach out over current seams on trout streams but aren't much use in salt.
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by FLORI_DUH
9ft rods are standard. 8' or 7'11" rods can have an advantage fishing from kayaks and canoes where manuverability and accuracy are key.
7'6" rods, even 4wts, are just too short IMO (having a couple of them). 10' rods can act as a weight heavier and give more distance, or can be a tightline nymphing rod. 11' rods are extreme specialty and IMO are not useful on any but the most wide open of waters.
I've got rods, primarily in 4wt, 6wt and especially 8wt from 7'6" to 11'3" with an oddball 6' 3wt and the only ones I would buy again are in the range of 9' 4wt, 6wt and 8wts with some select 7'11" 8wts thrown in for bass from a boat. The 7'11" rod is basically a rule beater for some bass tournaments that restrict rods to 8' or under. I don't care at all about tourney legal, but like the shorter length when on a shorter 12' canoe or kayak where distance isn't an issue. Conversely, I pretty much hate my 7'6" 4wts as incompetent small crick specialty rods that are too limiting.
If I was to redo it, I would only get 9' rods in 4, 6, 8wt or possibly even 4, 7, 10 wt with maybe an 8' 7-8wt just for bass from a boat.
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by Independent
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