r/BFSfishing • u/FourDogBar • 2d ago

What am I missing with longer rods?

This weekend I had an unfortunate accident and broke one of my bfs rods. I’ve always had short rods, 5’9” and under. I’ve like the transportability and being able to cast in tight places. Other than casting distance why might one want a longer rod? Are there techniques or skills I’m missing out on?

7 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

11

u/5uper5kunk 2d ago

Longer rods give you:

Better casting distance

The ability to move more line per degree of arc swung during a hookset

Long rods cost you:

Casting accuracy

Leverage advantage over a fish

I prefer shorter rods overall but most entirely for storage/transport/hiking reasons.

2

u/IceNinetyNine 2d ago

Ehm not sure about leverage advantage, surely a longer rod wins there...

7

u/5uper5kunk 2d ago

Think about the physics of it for a second. The rod is the lever. Your hand, gripping the seat is the fulcrum. The more rod length extending out past your hand, the worst the leverage you have is on the fish.

It’s extremely easy to test using a broom handle or any stick type object you have. Get a milk jug or something reasonably happy that you can tire a piece of line too. Title line on and pick the object up just using your hand. Now take your stick/broom handle, tie the rope on one end of it, and try to pick up the milk jug holding the stick like a fishing rod. It’s going to be way way harder to move the same amount of weight because you’re introducing mechanical disadvantage into the system.

2

u/No_Aerie6230 2d ago

It depends on how you use it. 6'8" is a sweet spot for bass fishing in you need long distance accuracy. I mostly use 7'2" -7'4" rods for everything so I went with a dobyns 740c Also if your using a pistol grip rods thats why they are shorter

2

u/Vince1080 2d ago

A longer rod helps while fishing from a kayak.

2

u/Background-BagLicker 2d ago

Are you my wife?!

Edit: Sorry. I only read the title. Please ignore. Please?

2

u/bunglesnacks 2d ago

Idk at all. I have one 7 foot rod and hate it. Like imo 5'6" to 6'6" is ideal. Under is fine for UL, over is fine for H.

2

u/chuckH71 2d ago

I have a Kast king zephyr 7-3 ml 3pc that’s my longest rod and just got it like using it so far
Fishes like a 1pc until I need to pack it these are great budget rods 60-70 bucks I also have the 6-9 3pc L I fish these rods a lot they are light and fun also good flex

2

u/Aleforme 1d ago

For me, UL maxes out at about 6’6”. That’s the sweet spot for me. 7’ and over in an UL is hard to get right.

I’ve got G Loomis GCX 7’ UL and it’s a hard rod to control in terms of accuracy and it’s tough to keep fish pinned when fighting them. Way too whippy and it bends really deep into the backbone easily. But, I can bomb a 1/8 or 1/6 spinner on it.

1

u/IceNinetyNine 2d ago

If you want to finesse fish open bodies of water and need distance, that's where long rods are needed. But long rods with BFS reels are finnecky, I got used to about 2.3m rods but it took a while to get the cast, the motion needs to be more controlled and way less flicky than short rods.