long rod-short rod?

[rapman1]

i am about to purchase another rod for crappie and panfish. currently, i have everything from a 5 ft ul to an 8.6 light action. most of my fishing is either done from shore or wading. i would like one more long rod, but is there any more benefit to be gained with one? if not, i will get another 6.6 for float and minnow or jig fishing.

[deathb4disco]

I normally use a 12-footer for float fishing from shore. With it, I can easily fish a fixed float to 9' or 10' deep. Long rods are great for hook-setting and steering fish away from snags. Fish also feel bigger on longer rods. (They have more leverage.)

The only time I use a shorter rod is out of my float tube.

[whackmaster]

I usually use a 9 or 9.5 ft. ultra light rod for my float fishing and it really is a benefit when the waves drifts your float and you get a good amount of slack....you can set the hook and take up ALOT of slack that you wouldn't be able to with a shorter rod....and it really feels great fighting a fish with a longer rod....it is alittle tiresome sometimes because of the extra weight of the rod though.

[Iuka22]

Hi Rapman, I too mainly fish from shore. Imho I find the 6'6" rods to be great for me. I really like the BPS micro lite rods in light action, well balanced, good casting, and provide enough backbone when a larger fish is hooked (i.e. bass, walleye). I also use a 12' jig rod when fish are near shore and in the weeds.

[Crestliner08]

I have a great crappie rod for casting light jigs. It's a 7 footer by B n' M. The model I got (3 years ago) is the "Sam's SuperSensitive". I put a Shimano Symetre 750 FI on it, loaded with 2# test mono. This set-up is getting to be my No. 1 for most crappie fishing these days.

And, as the ole' Ranger once said, "She'll do to ride the river".

[CrappieKillerJigs]

for bank fishing i like to use a 11ft for the same reason that DB4D said...i can fish a fixed float 11-12 feet...i also think how the long rods load up and whip you get a lil more out of your cast