Jim,

There are opportunities like false albies and blue fin tuna that present themselves suddenly and just as quickly disappear. Chasing them with a kayak so you can make a "short" cast to them most often ends up being a lot of paddling and little or no fishing. The longer the cast that you can make the more time they are in range. For me that requires a long rod with authority.

When I fish for shad, schoolie stripers, or blues I use a 9ft 6/7wt tip action rod. I like the longer rod because it is easier guide the line around the bow and stern of my 16 foot kayak.

If I could only have one rod for salt water kayak fishing it would a 9ft 9wt tip action. I would have 3 lines spooled for my reel with floating, intermediate and a fast sink lines or sinking head for the intermediate.

Don



[This message has been edited by Ct Don (edited 12 March 2006).]