7' vs 7'6" Rods

[James]

All,

Looking for opinions here and i know all fishermen and ladies have them. This past season i converted all of my rods to 7' different types, M, MH, etc. I am getting ready to get 3 new rods and am considering going to a 7'6" rod. I do alot of topwater, pitching/Flipping, and crankbaits. Thats is 90% of the times the baits that will be on the end of my line. So would i see the big difference on the 7'6" as compared to the 7' as I did when i went up from the 6'6"?

Thanks for all opinions!

Skeeter James

[hairball]

For me, a 7 footer gives me better accuracy than a 7-6, especially for pitching. I really like a 7-6 for deep cranking because of the extra distance. If I'm casting a crank to cover, I get much better control out of a 6-6. For topwaters, I think a 7-6 would be tiresome over the long haul, especially with something like a spook where you're constantly twitching the bait. I like a 6-6 here too. Being 6' 4", I thought a longer rod would work better for me. I guess it's something you just have to experiment with to find what feels right for you.

[MEANMOUTH]

I THINK 76 RODS ARE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN ALOT OF WAY. I FEEL I GET BETTER HOOK SETS WITH A 76 ROD. I LIKE TO FISH A 76 HEAVY ROD WHILE USING SPINNERBAITS, JIGS, AND ALSO THE C-RIG. I WAS TOLD A LOT OF TIMES IT DEPENDS ON HOW TALL THE PERSON IS USING THEM, ACCORDING TO FLIP'N AND PITCH'N. GET THE TELESCOPIC VERSIONS OF THE 76 HELPS OUT IN STORAGE. HOPE THIS HELPS, GOOD LUCK!!! TCOBB

[jeremys]

It would proably depend on your prefence, I love my 7' foot rods, 6'6 doesn't feel right and I have a couple of 7,6's and they feel kinda alkward too. But I fish mostly spinnerbaits and throw a crank every now and again, with top water and pitchin' I would guess that it'd give you a better advantage. They'd be hell tring to store in a boat.

[buzzking]

I have bought a couple 76 rods and i find myself leaving them on the deck and using my 7s, thats my personal preference, you should try one out to see if you like it, its a big difference between 76 and 7 foot for some reason.

[flippindrew]

You are right buzzking for some reason there is a huge dif. between 7'6 and 7 but not as much between 6'6 and 7. For smaller baits and for my finesse fishing, (mini jigs,t-rigs, small cranks) i use 6'6 rods because they are a tad more sensitive than the 7 footers. About 70 percent of the time I throw a loomis imx 7' H it gives me accuracy, distance and sensitivity. It has a little of both rods. Im pretty short so when I use a 7'6 rod I just end up smacking the fire out of the water when I flip so I stick with the 6'6 and 7.

[BankBeater]

I just bought my first 7 Footer, And it feels odd even in the backyard...I hope whoever is in the back of the boat can duck and cover with regularity. I actually bought a Medium/Light so I can just feel my little crank bait stop and wiggle. Can't wait to try my first 7 foot hook set.

[redneckshadrap]

Just how hard do you need to set a hook? I fish with some good fisher and don't think I've seen anything over 7ft in there hand. Thier hookset my be a little better. 6 inches off the butt or 6 inches off the tip either way will move the backbone up or down the rod.



Redneckshadrap
www.thecreekbank.com
[email protected]

[smljaw]

Hairball's commentary was perfectly stated! The only difference in opinion is that I prefer a 6' rod when throwing cranks at cover. It's really all about what feels good and what catches fish!

[James]

Guys,

Thanks for all the input. I too am a very tall guy and im really partial to those 7 footers. I had thought about the 7'6" and the rod storage, and that was one of the big cons. I think im gonna stay with the 7's. My accuracy has improved since going from the 6'6" and it seems like i get better hook sets in the deeper water.

Thanks again for all your input!

Skeeter James