Short casting rods becoming difficult to find.

[top_dollar]

                I have noticed that casting rods shorter than 6 feet long are getting very difficult to find.  It seems like, these days, a "short" fishing rod is 6ft 6inches.  St Croix makes one in their premier series, but that is the only one I can find.  Denny Dennis sporting goods in Fenton actually had 1 left on the shelf, but I should probably buy as many as I can find because it is only a matter of time before they nix that one.  It is almost embarrassing to ask for them, as "good" anglers probably roll their eyes at such a silly looking little rod, but I really like it for several applications.  The last few years I have used a  Lews TP-1 med heavy casting rod that was a 5'9" "target casting" rod.  I loved it, but I broke the tip off and, of course, they discontinued it.  I do have a very old 5ft 6 inch BPS tourney special and I just love, but I don't like to use it anymore because its irreplaceable.  

                I do the majority of my fishing from the bank, or while wading/in a kayak.  When I fish a jerkbait, or topwater lure, the tip of my rod is always smacking the rocks below me....hence breaking the tip off that TP1.  Because of this, I prefer to use a shorter rod.  5'6" is about perfect for me.  Another reason, is that when fishing out of my kayak, the shorter rods do not stick out past the bow of the boat.  I learned with longer rods, they get tangled in branches and such as I am navigating tight turns.  Plus its pretty rare for me to have to make long casts in a river so I don't need the extra casting distance.  The final reason I like short rods, is that when I am at table rock and stockton I jig spoons quite a bit.  I like the short rod because, even with my crappy electronics, I can drop the spoon directly under the transducer.  I do fish jigging spoons horizontally quite a bit by casting them out, and "yo-yoing" them off the bottom, and in those situations opt for a 7ft 6 inch heavy power mod fast crankbait rod. 

                    So....does anyone reading this use sub 6ft rods?  If so, do you know of a manufacturer that makes one still?  I have never had a custom rod built, but the "kistler" website allows me to build the exact rod I want.  Has anyone had experience using that service, or Kistler rods in general?  I have mulled over learning how to build rods myself, but I really don't know if I want to invest the time required in learning how just yet.   

 

              

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I'm in a similar position.  Crappie Max are the only ones I seem to find.  I'm not a high dollar rod guy, so no info in that arena. 

[JestersHK]

I run the short St. Croixs for jigging while wading and for creek rods.  They are perfect in those roles.  Have an old 5.5 berkly cherrywood that works pretty good too, but can't go wrong with the premiers.

[Gavin]

My short 5'6" bass rods are wrapped on Northfork Composites blanks...It's about $65 for a bare blank plus shipping. You'll have a hundo in one by the time your done. 

[top_dollar]

5 minutes ago, Gavin said:

My short 5'6" bass rods are wrapped on Northfork Composites blanks...It's about $65 for a bare blank plus shipping. You'll have a hundo in one by the time your done. 

Do you make them yourself? Or have someone build them?

[Gavin]

I wrap them myself but if you want one done up nice, Tom Hargrove is the guy you want. 

[kjackson]

I found the same thing when looking for a 5'6" spinning rod. They simply aren't there-- I did find some in the light/mod-light actions in the walleye ranges. I ended by taking a casting rod I liked for topwater and turned it into a spinning rod.  I'm not sure this applies to casting rods, but a some of the split-grip spinning rods could be shortened by modifying the rear grips. 

[top_dollar]

Just now, Gavin said:

I wrap them myself but if you want one done up nice, Tom Hargrove is the guy you want. 

Thanks.  Do you buy them as 5' 6" inch blanks, or do you buy them longer and cut them down?  I looked at the mud hole website, and all of their blanks that were 5ft 6 (that I could find) were ocean rods, or ultralights.  

[Gavin]

Buy whatever length you want.. https://northforkcomposites.com/bass2/

 

[top_dollar]

50 minutes ago, Gavin said:

Buy whatever length you want.. https://northforkcomposites.com/bass2/

 

That is exactly what I was looking for.  Thank you.