Shakespeare Micro UL 5.5 or 6.5 for bank fishing panfish & pond raised rainbow trout?

[clay slayer]

I have a Shakespeare Micro UL 7ft with an older Pflueger 6925 spinning reel. It's my favorite ultra-light setup & that will never change.

Yesterday, I took my 11-year-old son bank fishing at a local pond recently stocked with rainbow trout. He doesn't fish that often and I had a 6ft Eagle Claw Featherlight with Zebco 33 Gold Triggerspin lying around that I let him use since it's easy to cast. It worked pretty good for him. I wasn't too thrilled with the drag adjustment, but that's a subject for another day. Ha!

Back to the rod length question. I really like my Shakespeare Micro UL 7ft, but they don't make a 6ft, go figure. So, now I'm trying to decide between a 5.5 or 6.5. I'm looking for a more compact package that I can "grab and go" and keep in the truck bed more easily. Also, something that will be easier for my young son to handle and learn with.

I REALLY like the fact that I can easily fit a 5.5 rod in the back of my covered crew-cab truck.

So, for lazy day bank fishing and the occasional canoe float on a local pond and bayou, is there a significant difference between 5.5 and 6.5 when using, say, 6lb and fishing live bait under a float? I've never used a short 5.5 rod and just wanted a few informed opinions before I buy a couple.

Thanks.

[CrappiePappy]

Biggest problem is hook sets from a distance, with the shorter rod. IMHO.
If the 6.5ft rod isn't a one piece, it would be just as easy to store for travel, when broken down. Though I wouldn't keep it in a vehicle for long periods of time without changing the line on a regular basis. Heat or direct sunlight will deteriorate mono when left under those conditions for extended periods of time

[DockShootinJack]

It is hard to beat those Shakespeare rods for the money. I have several generations of them around the house. One of my other all around favorites is a Berkley Cherrywood in 6 foot length

[Ketchn]

if you are casting floats with mono , it would be best to have something close to 7 ft and a bit stiff , like mentioned for long range hooksets . those that say soft hooksets are key to ketchn crappie are mistaken in the approach to loading the stringer , just saying .
short whippy rods tend to fail with mono at any distances , the rod bends too much and do not transfer the energy needed for a solid hook set as the line stretch occurs.
this was learned by me and my reading EVERYTHING I could find fishing related WAY back when around 50 years ago . There was a bass fishing article I read with multiple tests done at different distances and it was amazing the amount of loss of energy the further out it got. Some of the hook point actual lbs. per square inch versus the angler's hookset were difficult to fathom, if you will .
so in the end when see some fool out there really rippin his rod, ( like a pro bass angler ) float fishing way out there , remember this >>>> it might be me .....
disclaimer time : I only go to set my hook like I mean it and feel the rod load up with a fish ,so I might be somewhat biased in my opinion

[hdhntr]

It is hard to beat those Shakespeare rods for the money. I have several generations of them around the house. One of my other all around favorites is a Berkley Cherrywood in 6 foot length

love those cherrywoods, very good rod for the money and just got a 8 footer after having a 6 footer for many years

bought a couple of 7 foot shakespears two years ago they were total garbage as both broke under minimal action within a couple of uses.

[hdhntr]

just get a 7 footer in 2 sections. keep one in my car all the time for that impulsive day on the water. they are fine. 5.5 would be fine as well if that works for you, use slip bobber and you might lose a little set but for panfish not that big a deal

[BobC]

if you are casting floats with mono , it would be best to have something close to 7 ft and a bit stiff , like mentioned for long range hooksets . those that say soft hooksets are key to ketchn crappie are mistaken in the approach to loading the stringer , just saying .
short whippy rods tend to fail with mono at any distances , the rod bends too much and do not transfer the energy needed for a solid hook set as the line stretch occurs.
this was learned by me and my reading EVERYTHING I could find fishing related WAY back when around 50 years ago . There was a bass fishing article I read with multiple tests done at different distances and it was amazing the amount of loss of energy the further out it got. Some of the hook point actual lbs. per square inch versus the angler's hookset were difficult to fathom, if you will .
so in the end when see some fool out there really rippin his rod, ( like a pro bass angler ) float fishing way out there , remember this >>>> it might be me .....
disclaimer time : I only go to set my hook like I mean it and feel the rod load up with a fish ,so I might be somewhat biased in my opinion

Sounds like you read the Bill Dance “Yank and Crank” article! Just Sayin…..
Bob

[DockShootinJack]

if you are casting floats with mono , it would be best to have something close to 7 ft and a bit stiff , like mentioned for long range hooksets . those that say soft hooksets are key to ketchn crappie are mistaken in the approach to loading the stringer , just saying .
short whippy rods tend to fail with mono at any distances , the rod bends too much and do not transfer the energy needed for a solid hook set as the line stretch occurs.
this was learned by me and my reading EVERYTHING I could find fishing related WAY back when around 50 years ago . There was a bass fishing article I read with multiple tests done at different distances and it was amazing the amount of loss of energy the further out it got. Some of the hook point actual lbs. per square inch versus the angler's hookset were difficult to fathom, if you will .
so in the end when see some fool out there really rippin his rod, ( like a pro bass angler ) float fishing way out there , remember this >>>> it might be me .....
disclaimer time : I only go to set my hook like I mean it and feel the rod load up with a fish ,so I might be somewhat biased in my opinion

No timid hook sets here either. Light action rod, braid, and not much slack in the line. Most of the time the hook is buried deep in the tooth patch in the roof of the mouth.

[Ketchn]

Sounds like you read the Bill Dance “Yank and Crank” article! Just Sayin…..
Bob

I think way before anyone ever heard of him my friend , might have been Tom Mann ?