all things equal - does longer rod length = casting distance

been wet wading a smallish river lately with smaller lures for SM and as
usual it seems more often than not, I can't quite reach the real action
in the middle of the bigger pools or of course, the other shoreline with
the lighter lures (tiny torpedo, pins minnow, zara puppy, etc) and I'm
getting line knots as well. its a hike to the river so its a one rod
deal and I have been using medium action rods and its obvious the rod is
not loading up as it does with the heavier lures like a chug bug which I
whale a mile and figure I need to break down and get a ML rated action
at least.

so my question, all things equal (same make of rod, same line, same
reel, same lure weight rating), for overall casting distance, would it
be better to get the 7'6 over the 7 footer? will that extra 6 inches
add much? I figure my 7 footers cast further than my 6'6 but those are
all different makes and models so I really can't be definitive about the
added 6 inches, thus the question to experience on what would be my
first 7'6 rod. I don't want to get a 'light' rod as I think this would
be too much a noodle rod on the boat for LM and prove too selective as I
think I will like a light lure rod on the boat as well for situations
when the guy running the trolling motor is fishing different than me and
I similarly need the distance with light lures.

Practice practice practice....

I have a pretty good partner and we switch off whose boat we use, but
sometimes we wind up back boating each other. For puitching distance
Hammer (my partner) is pretty incredible, but I have gotten to where I can
pitch or sidearm well enough to get my bait in where I want it often enough
to catch soem fish.

I know I haven't really answered your question. Yes I do believe that rod
length can help, but for light lures I would look at line size and rod
action. On Oak Creek I have fished inline spinner baits as light as 1/16th
oz by going down to 6lb test on a light action rod. A comprimise might be
to use a small size of Power Pro. Supposedly the smaller diameter relative
to line strength supposedly gives slightly better castign distance, and the
no-stretch qualities might help to over come some of the slowness of a
lighter power and/or slower action rod. JMHO.

--
** FREE Fishing Lures
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** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"dscotts" wrote in message
...
been wet wading a smallish river lately with smaller lures for SM and as
usual it seems more often than not, I can't quite reach the real action
in the middle of the bigger pools or of course, the other shoreline with
the lighter lures (tiny torpedo, pins minnow, zara puppy, etc) and I'm
getting line knots as well. its a hike to the river so its a one rod
deal and I have been using medium action rods and its obvious the rod is
not loading up as it does with the heavier lures like a chug bug which I
whale a mile and figure I need to break down and get a ML rated action
at least.

so my question, all things equal (same make of rod, same line, same
reel, same lure weight rating), for overall casting distance, would it
be better to get the 7'6 over the 7 footer? will that extra 6 inches
add much? I figure my 7 footers cast further than my 6'6 but those are
all different makes and models so I really can't be definitive about the
added 6 inches, thus the question to experience on what would be my
first 7'6 rod. I don't want to get a 'light' rod as I think this would
be too much a noodle rod on the boat for LM and prove too selective as I
think I will like a light lure rod on the boat as well for situations
when the guy running the trolling motor is fishing different than me and
I similarly need the distance with light lures.

Practice practice practice....

I have a pretty good partner and we switch off whose boat we use, but
sometimes we wind up back boating each other. For puitching distance
Hammer (my partner) is pretty incredible, but I have gotten to where I can
pitch or sidearm well enough to get my bait in where I want it often enough
to catch soem fish.

I know I haven't really answered your question. Yes I do believe that rod
length can help, but for light lures I would look at line size and rod
action. On Oak Creek I have fished inline spinner baits as light as 1/16th
oz by going down to 6lb test on a light action rod. A comprimise might be
to use a small size of Power Pro. Supposedly the smaller diameter relative
to line strength supposedly gives slightly better castign distance, and the
no-stretch qualities might help to over come some of the slowness of a
lighter power and/or slower action rod. JMHO.

--
** FREE Fishing Lures
** Weekly drawing
** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"dscotts" wrote in message
...
been wet wading a smallish river lately with smaller lures for SM and as
usual it seems more often than not, I can't quite reach the real action
in the middle of the bigger pools or of course, the other shoreline with
the lighter lures (tiny torpedo, pins minnow, zara puppy, etc) and I'm
getting line knots as well. its a hike to the river so its a one rod
deal and I have been using medium action rods and its obvious the rod is
not loading up as it does with the heavier lures like a chug bug which I
whale a mile and figure I need to break down and get a ML rated action
at least.

so my question, all things equal (same make of rod, same line, same
reel, same lure weight rating), for overall casting distance, would it
be better to get the 7'6 over the 7 footer? will that extra 6 inches
add much? I figure my 7 footers cast further than my 6'6 but those are
all different makes and models so I really can't be definitive about the
added 6 inches, thus the question to experience on what would be my
first 7'6 rod. I don't want to get a 'light' rod as I think this would
be too much a noodle rod on the boat for LM and prove too selective as I
think I will like a light lure rod on the boat as well for situations
when the guy running the trolling motor is fishing different than me and
I similarly need the distance with light lures.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Practice practice practice....

I have a pretty good partner and we switch off whose boat we use, but
sometimes we wind up back boating each other. For puitching distance
Hammer (my partner) is pretty incredible, but I have gotten to where I can
pitch or sidearm well enough to get my bait in where I want it often
enough
to catch soem fish.

I know I haven't really answered your question. Yes I do believe that rod
length can help, but for light lures I would look at line size and rod
action. On Oak Creek I have fished inline spinner baits as light as
1/16th
oz by going down to 6lb test on a light action rod. A comprimise might be
to use a small size of Power Pro. Supposedly the smaller diameter
relative
to line strength supposedly gives slightly better castign distance, and
the
no-stretch qualities might help to over come some of the slowness of a
lighter power and/or slower action rod. JMHO.

--
** FREE Fishing Lures
** Weekly drawing
** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"dscotts" wrote in message
...
been wet wading a smallish river lately with smaller lures for SM and as
usual it seems more often than not, I can't quite reach the real action
in the middle of the bigger pools or of course, the other shoreline with
the lighter lures (tiny torpedo, pins minnow, zara puppy, etc) and I'm
getting line knots as well. its a hike to the river so its a one rod
deal and I have been using medium action rods and its obvious the rod is
not loading up as it does with the heavier lures like a chug bug which I
whale a mile and figure I need to break down and get a ML rated action
at least.

so my question, all things equal (same make of rod, same line, same
reel, same lure weight rating), for overall casting distance, would it
be better to get the 7'6 over the 7 footer? will that extra 6 inches
add much? I figure my 7 footers cast further than my 6'6 but those are
all different makes and models so I really can't be definitive about the
added 6 inches, thus the question to experience on what would be my
first 7'6 rod. I don't want to get a 'light' rod as I think this would
be too much a noodle rod on the boat for LM and prove too selective as I
think I will like a light lure rod on the boat as well for situations
when the guy running the trolling motor is fishing different than me and
I similarly need the distance with light lures.



I do a lot of small tackle fishing for bass and other species, and have
found that a full spool of the lightest weight line you can use (or thinnest
diameter if using a super line), coupled with a long, light-action rod gives
the best casting distance. I can fling a 1/16 oz rooster tail pretty darned
far using a full spool of 4# test Trilene -- even on a 5' ultralight action
rod. Farther in fact than on a 6'6" medium-light rod. I think it's easier to
"load" the rod with a lighter action.

The full spool, IMHO, is just as important. Fewer turns required for the
line to peel out as much line. Less friction thru the guides, too.

"Bob La Londe" wrote in message
...
Practice practice practice....

I have a pretty good partner and we switch off whose boat we use, but
sometimes we wind up back boating each other. For puitching distance
Hammer (my partner) is pretty incredible, but I have gotten to where I can
pitch or sidearm well enough to get my bait in where I want it often
enough
to catch soem fish.

I know I haven't really answered your question. Yes I do believe that rod
length can help, but for light lures I would look at line size and rod
action. On Oak Creek I have fished inline spinner baits as light as
1/16th
oz by going down to 6lb test on a light action rod. A comprimise might be
to use a small size of Power Pro. Supposedly the smaller diameter
relative
to line strength supposedly gives slightly better castign distance, and
the
no-stretch qualities might help to over come some of the slowness of a
lighter power and/or slower action rod. JMHO.

--
** FREE Fishing Lures
** Weekly drawing
** Public Fishing and Boating Forums
** www.YumaBassMan.com


"dscotts" wrote in message
...
been wet wading a smallish river lately with smaller lures for SM and as
usual it seems more often than not, I can't quite reach the real action
in the middle of the bigger pools or of course, the other shoreline with
the lighter lures (tiny torpedo, pins minnow, zara puppy, etc) and I'm
getting line knots as well. its a hike to the river so its a one rod
deal and I have been using medium action rods and its obvious the rod is
not loading up as it does with the heavier lures like a chug bug which I
whale a mile and figure I need to break down and get a ML rated action
at least.

so my question, all things equal (same make of rod, same line, same
reel, same lure weight rating), for overall casting distance, would it
be better to get the 7'6 over the 7 footer? will that extra 6 inches
add much? I figure my 7 footers cast further than my 6'6 but those are
all different makes and models so I really can't be definitive about the
added 6 inches, thus the question to experience on what would be my
first 7'6 rod. I don't want to get a 'light' rod as I think this would
be too much a noodle rod on the boat for LM and prove too selective as I
think I will like a light lure rod on the boat as well for situations
when the guy running the trolling motor is fishing different than me and
I similarly need the distance with light lures.



I do a lot of small tackle fishing for bass and other species, and have
found that a full spool of the lightest weight line you can use (or thinnest
diameter if using a super line), coupled with a long, light-action rod gives
the best casting distance. I can fling a 1/16 oz rooster tail pretty darned
far using a full spool of 4# test Trilene -- even on a 5' ultralight action
rod. Farther in fact than on a 6'6" medium-light rod. I think it's easier to
"load" the rod with a lighter action.

The full spool, IMHO, is just as important. Fewer turns required for the
line to peel out as much line. Less friction thru the guides, too.

I'd personally go with the longer rod, but not just for the reasons others
probably have in mind. I also fly fish, and a longer rod gives you some
advantages over a shorter one, assuming you have the room to use it.
1) A long rod does give you a slight casting distance improvement.
2) Longer rods give you better line control. If, for example, you throw a
tiny topwater plug across the current, a longer rod helps you keep more line
off the water, giving you more direct contact with the plug for better
hookset, less drag on the plug by the current and better overall control of
your bait.
3) A longer rod also gives an advantage in fighting a fish. You get better
leverage and angle control to guide the fish out of the nasty places they
like to hide. You also have a better shock absorber to cushion the surge of
a big fish. By using the rod to tire the fish out instead of ripping him
from the brush pile and winching him over the weeds, you can get away with
much lighter line than most bass fisherman would think possible.

Mark


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I'd personally go with the longer rod, but not just for the reasons others
probably have in mind. I also fly fish, and a longer rod gives you some
advantages over a shorter one, assuming you have the room to use it.
1) A long rod does give you a slight casting distance improvement.
2) Longer rods give you better line control. If, for example, you throw a
tiny topwater plug across the current, a longer rod helps you keep more line
off the water, giving you more direct contact with the plug for better
hookset, less drag on the plug by the current and better overall control of
your bait.
3) A longer rod also gives an advantage in fighting a fish. You get better
leverage and angle control to guide the fish out of the nasty places they
like to hide. You also have a better shock absorber to cushion the surge of
a big fish. By using the rod to tire the fish out instead of ripping him
from the brush pile and winching him over the weeds, you can get away with
much lighter line than most bass fisherman would think possible.

Mark


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 7/22/2004

I'd personally go with the longer rod, but not just for the reasons others
probably have in mind. I also fly fish, and a longer rod gives you some
advantages over a shorter one, assuming you have the room to use it.
1) A long rod does give you a slight casting distance improvement.
2) Longer rods give you better line control. If, for example, you throw a
tiny topwater plug across the current, a longer rod helps you keep more line
off the water, giving you more direct contact with the plug for better
hookset, less drag on the plug by the current and better overall control of
your bait.
3) A longer rod also gives an advantage in fighting a fish. You get better
leverage and angle control to guide the fish out of the nasty places they
like to hide. You also have a better shock absorber to cushion the surge of
a big fish. By using the rod to tire the fish out instead of ripping him
from the brush pile and winching him over the weeds, you can get away with
much lighter line than most bass fisherman would think possible.

Mark


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.726 / Virus Database: 481 - Release Date: 7/22/2004

yep...

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners

yep...

--
RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners