Silly question. Help please.

[Dogfish]

Okay,

Gotta love my job, I went out for a property inspection today, and wouldn't you know it, I was by one of my zippers at lunch time. How'd that happen?

Anyway, I took my new Allstar 1263C out for a few casts. My issue with this rod is that soooooo long. Damn, it like sticks way out there. :shocked: So I am fishing a few little holes on about 300 yards of river and I literally can't fish some of them because the high bank/deep slot doesn't allow me to get to the water where I can wade and have enough room to cast. For the first time ever, my damned rod is too long. Go figure?

Has anybody ever tried taking one of those shorter Bass rods, like a 6' or 7' rod for fishing these little streams? Something with the backbone to catch a fish of 10-20 pounds, but the ability to cast in confined spaces. I thought about breaking out the Scooby Doo rod, which would have been perfect, really, but I left it at home.

What is your solution to bank fishing a hole like this?

Andy

[ampersat]

a shorter rod would be a solution but with caveats. with all that graphite out there, you've got a big shock absorber for those head shakes when you use a longer rod. you lose some control over the fish with a shorter stick and you've got to loosen up the drag to compensate. if you know what you're doing, you can still land your fish. also, think about the water you're fishing. if the fish doesn't have a lot of obstacles to get behind or places to go, you can afford the loss of control in return for tighter casting ability.

i'd be interested in hearing about alternative casting techniques here.

[Bill Monroe]

I use an inexpensive short rod all the time...gotta watch the tips, though...some of those bass rods have pretty light tips. I've got a coupla sturdy graphites with small reels on them (one 2500C)...they work just fine and that small reel controls things very well. I've had no problem landing steelhead, but would be pretty careful with a salmon...

[alwyze fishin]

hey dont bring up those zipper lip rivers on here some on here fear this word like blackdog

[Dogfish]

Well, if you can figure out the zipper I was on, considering I cover 5 counties, you are a mind reader.

Nice little river(more like a creek, about 15 feet across at the widest), wild fish only, all catch and release.

I love working on the OLY Pen!

[fishing is life]

i find in tight spaces spinning gear is easier to cast. a 7 ft rod isnt too bad either.

[Snagly]

One point made two ways, or if you prefer the executive summary, "A short, stiff rod exerts more leverage (and control) over fish than a longer rod." IMO you can definitely cast better, hook and control fish with a shorter rod. On the other hand, it's easier to pull hooks when fishing with a pool cue.

In greater detail:

1A. My favorite saltwater casting rods are all 5'6" muskie sticks (15-30lb line), made by Loomis for the Australia market. You simply have no chance to stop a big fish short of mangrove roots with a longer stick -- there's too much "give" built into it's length.

1B. Rod length vs. effectiveness is all about physics. The longer rods bend (bad from a control perspective) and, from a practical perspective, you often exert less force than by using a shorter rod. (Note that this is a different version of the same argument as above.) The short rod/ short lever arm is actually more effective than the long rod/ long lever arm even though it shouldn't be (esp. if you're using salmon or steelhead sticks).

* * * * *

So by all means take a short rod to a creek. The biggest downsides are that you'll sacrifice line control (line off the water) and casting distance. I think that the "lost fish due to stiff rod" argument is over done, esp. if you use mono as your main line.

[k9jeff]

I have landed several steelhead on a 7' rod. They also work better for kids because there is not a long butt to fight.

Just pick the correct rod and you should be set.