What is your favorite length rod for kayak fishing?
Kayak rod length
What is your favorite length rod for kayak fishing?
welcome pikebum!!
There are two considerations that work against each other for a kayak fishing rod. On the one hand, you need a rod long enough to keep the line up off the water. On the otherhand, you need a rod short enough to be able to land a fish next to you in a sitting position, without high sticking the rod. I have found that the best compromise is my 8'8" Scott Heliply. Once you get over 9' it is hard to land fish. Once you get down to 8' it is hard for most people to keep the line off the water during the cast.
I fish in salt water so this is based on two assumptions (1) you want to be able to make long casts and (2) you can't stand up in the kayak (which, being agility impared, I can't).
You don't ever want a crisis to go to waste... - Rahm Emanuel
Who is John Galt?
I built myself a 6'9" 9wt over the winter
I thought it was going to be just the thing for SW kayak fishing
Unfortunately the blank was flawed and broke first time out, so now I have to start over
Still think it's the way to go though
The simpler the outfit, the more skill it takes to manage it, and the more pleasure one gets in his achievements.
--- Horace Kephart
I do 90% of my kayak fishing with an 8wt, 8'6" rod, though I have used a 9' on occasion without too much difficulty. The way I look at it, I'm no lower in the water than I often find myself while wade fishing, and sometimes I'm higher. Also, I fish from a 14'8" kayak, and it's nice to be able to extend the tip past the front end of the boat when a big smallie is on the other end, giving an advantage to the longer rod.
The most valuable thing I've learned about fly fishing is just how little I really know.
"With integrity, nothing else matters. Without integrity, nothing else matters." ~ Winston Churchill
I use an 8'6" fly rod with no problems. I use a 9' with no problems too
Good fishing technique trumps all.....wish I had it.
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