What Rod Length Do You Use For Wading

[drew03cmc]

How long a rod do you prefer for wade fishing in your typical Ozark creeks and why?

[Ham]

I never just wade. I use my yak and get out and wade. When I do that, it's almost always a 7 foot spinning rod.

[moguy1973]

I use a 6'6" medium spinning rod when I don't have my kayak with me. When I'm wading with my kayak I'll have that and a 6'10" Med Heavy casting rod with me too.

[grizwilson]

prefer a 6'6" but when someone is in the front of my canoe it pokes them in the back, so in practice use 6 most of the time on river

[Gavin]

6' medium spin. Will toss a 1/2oz or lightweight stuff.

[Al Agnew]

I go against the grain of the others. I'm usually fishing fairly small creeks when wading, and I really like a short rod to handle tight places. I also use more topwater lures than anything else while wading, and I don't like playing topwaters with spinning tackle. I usually use a 5'6" medium power casting rod. I used to use a lighter power rod, but if I DO want to fish something like a tube or small jig, I need enough backbone to set the hook. If I am on a really small creek, however, where I don't expect to catch anything bigger than 14 inches or so, I'll go to a medium light spinning rod. Nearly all the creeks I wade, though, hold fish up to 18 inches or more.

[Mofloatjunkie]

I agree with al. I never fish anything on a creek or river longer than 6 ft.

[rFisherk]

I use light stuff and rarely over 6-pound-test mono, and I think there are many advantages to a longer rod. Favorite rods are Carbon X.

[Terrierman]

6'6" Light Fast or Medium Light Fast. Why? Sensitive, good casting control, good fish control. On the LF rod will be nanofil with 4 lb maxima leader. On the MLF rod will be either the same set up with nano fil or 6 lb diameter Gama mono. The LF rod is a Shimano Clarus. The MLF rod is a Falcon Original. I'm happy with both of them. If I ever want anything heavier (seldom on the creek) there is a St. Croix 6'6" Medium/Fast rod. Trying an Okuma reel on it with 8 lb. diameter Gama. But I really got that one to chase whites and hybrids with, probably won't see much if any creek action.

[Al Agnew]

There are definitely advantages to longer rods, but there are certainly disadvantages, too. I mentioned one reason why I use shorter rods when wading, but another big reason is just getting through the brush if you have to leave the creek.

If you flip and pitch, longer rods are better. They are better for jigs and soft plastics in setting the hook. You might get more casting distance with them, all other things being equal.

But, if you fish the way I do, you don't need them, and I don't want them. Fishing mainly out of the canoe and using mainly fast moving lures, I much prefer a short rod. None of my canoe rods are over 5.5 ft. They fit in the canoe a lot easier, and I can handle them far better in making lots and lots of relatively short to medium range casts, with greater accuracy than a longer rod. And a short rod makes playng walk the dog topwaters much easier from the canoe, because of the angle of the rod with the tip down. My topwater rod is a 5 footer.