rod length

[ellroy2]

I am looking at getting a new walleye rod. I will mostly be using it for lindy rigging, so I assumed I would try a 7' since I have never had one. But now I am almost thinking of staying with a 6'6". Is there really that much difference that I would notice using a 7' from a 6'6"? Since this rod will be the best one I own, wouldn't a 6'6" be a better all around rod(something I could use for lindy rigging, jigging, and maybe even casting a crank)? Most people say that 7' for lindy rigging is the way to go, but I still hear some say that 6'6" is just fine. Help me out!

[zepman]

How about one that's 6'8". Check out the Shimano Crucial series Drop-shot rod. Awesome for rigging and a great comprimise on length. Check em out.

[loejay]

i've used a 7 ft Hagen and liked it

my dog stepped on it and broke it

i went to a 8'6" cabelas walleye series

now i have 3 of them, 1 casting 2 spinning

longer is better

[Deitz Dittrich]

The action of the rod will be more important than the length. The extra 6" fro a 6'6" to a 7' will make some difference when gathering line in a hook set. Its nice to have that extra 6".. The suggestion on the Crucial dropshot rod was a very good one.. kind of a best of both worlds. Little extra length and a very good action for rigging. Matter of fact. its the one I use.. i also have the 7'2" as well.

[carlcmc]

If the question is how long the rod should be ...

I'm fairly sure a paraphrase of what Abraham Lincoln said would be appropriate ... "Long enough to reach from you to the water/fish" :-)

In all seriousness, I have all 7 footers. I have 3 Shimano Crucials and 2 Shimanos that are one generation behind.

[youngie22]

I think the over all census is right. THe action of the rod is the bigger factor. Lindy rig or slip bobber I prefer a 7' ML w/ a really fast action tip. jigging I may go shorter (6'6") Lite or ultra lite w/ the same fast and sensitive tip. But again I would prefer to fish w/ my 5'3" ultra light most every where and every time I can. It sure is awesome when your rod is buckled over... Gosh I love that!

[Fish Head]

It's going to depend on what the rod will be used for. You said it is going to be used for rigging, but than you asked if the 6'6" would be a better all around rod. If it is going to be the stick you would use for rigging, I would definitely go with a 7' to 7'6" medium light. If it’s going to be an all around rod, than you might want something in the 6'6" to 6'8" range.

By the way, I would agree the crucial is a great rod. I just purchased one last year and it's become my favorite rod. I might buy another this year

[ellroy2]

Since you all are mentioning Shimano, let me explain my situation a little better. I actually have been trying to decide between the Compre and Crucial, both ML Fast(after feeling them compared to Avids and a few Loomis rods, I couldn't justify the price difference). The problem is that the place where I am looking at them has a 20% off sale. The do have the Compre in a 7'. None of the 7' Crucials that they have though are are ML and I really don't want to go M. They do have a Crucial ML that is 6'6". Now I do like the Crucial model slightly better but am unsure if I should sacrafice 6" in length for it. Yes, I do plan to use it for rigging as it's primary application. But since it will be the the most expensive setup I own, I'd love to be able to use it for different things. And I am not sure that a 7' would be as versatile. But really what it comes down to is if I should get the nice Crucial model at the smaller length or stick to the length I was planning on with the Compre. You all seem to talk about the Crucial. Is it that much better of a rod from the Compre?

As you can tell, I am a very indecisive person.

[carlcmc]

i love my crucials. but really are they they 30 bucks or more better than the compre... that is a hard call.

One thing I have learned more and more as I age and get experience, is that buying a quality piece of equipment usually saves you money in the long run. the pricinciple of the fact that the 'poor man' usually pays many times for something. i.e. you buy a cheap something and then it breaks or doesn't last and then you have to replace it. finally you get what you should have got at the begining and you have wasted all this money in the mean time.

Having said that, a compre is by no means a cheap instrument compared to the crucial. I have 4 crucials (earlier I said 3 but i just realized I was wrong) all 7'. one is a drop shot rod, 1 is a ML and 2 are M.

I love the ML for a lot of fishing and it has tremndous sensitivity. I can tell a difference between it and my compres. I however do love my 7' M crucials for the backbone to fight bass in slop etc. My wife absolutely hates my ML crucial because it doesn't have enough back bone fore her. I would also say that the ML crucial is too light for any trolling applications. Just my humble opinion

[DinkADunk]

I've gone to a bit different rod for lindy rigging, stick sinkers, and bottom bouncers. For lindy rigging I like the ML power and for the others (which are a bit heavier) I like a medium power. For action I've switch over to an x-fast action. Some drop shot and shakey head rods are like this but another source are rods designed for Salmon/Steelhead Hotshot technique. I've built a couple on Rainshadow HS9000/HS9001 blanks (cut down to 7') and they work very well for lindy rigging, bottom bouncers and such; good backbone and a very decent action. As an aside they also work well for shakey head

[opsirc]

Ellroy

go up into the "open water" page and do a search for Graphite rods. I am looking into trading my ugly stick for graphite. Most there recommended a 6 to 6 1/2 for rigging and jigging.

O

[fisherdog19]

If you want it for dual purpose, I would stay at 6'6", 7' is just too long to jig with. If you think you may be able to add a jigging rod in the future in the 6-6'3" range, you should get a 7 or even better 7'6" rod for lindy rigging. A 7'6" rod will also make a GREAT slip/set bobber rod for multiple species, and could also be used for trolling cranks (baitcasters are better, but if budget is limited as spinning set up will do). Like Dietz said, longer is better for gathering line for hooksets, and you'll have more leverage as well. Pitching light wieght <1/8oz will also be much easier with a long rod as well.

[zepman]

Based on the information you have provided I would go with the Compre. You will be more than happy with this rod and it brings the versatility you are looking for.

[Rivernut]

I have several compre's, both old and new style. Very versatile rods and a great rod for the money!