Short rods are designed for a specific purpose. The exact one you mention - confined area limited to short casts.
Excellent for small mountain streams - lousy for bonita fishing in the ocean.
Using the appropriate tool usually works best - you should have a blast with it. I have a rod I built from the tip of a 9’ 3wt (The butt section was lost). It doesn’t cast far, but it is fun for the small Bluegills at the local park.
Let No One Walk Alone
><))))‘>------<’((((><
Bill
I have a 6’ rod and a 5’ rod, both glass.
I love fishing the 6 footer, it great for bushwacking for brookies.
For whatever reason the 5 footer doesn’t get the same use.
It’s just a toy to cast in the back yard.
Just like the game of golf… You can’t play with just one club!! The pro’s are you want one!!! the con’s is you aint got it yet!!!
Rich
Have a 5’6" 4#, and a 6’6" 2#, and love them for the wonderful little trout streams of South Dakota (even if there aren’t any fish there!!). 
D.Micus … could have saved you about $400 if you’d had me build you the 6’6" 2#!!! That’s one of the most fun rods I’ve ever used!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
Hey Folks,
If you think the 5 and 6 foot rods are
miniscule, check out these little jewels.G [url=http://www.jaustinforbes.com/micro.html:1f658]http://www.jaustinforbes.com/micro.html[/url:1f658]
Temple Forks Outfitters, a FAOL sponsor has
a 6’ 2wt that is a decent small stream rod
for under $90 with a lifetime warrantee. [url=http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/series1.html:1f658]http://www.templeforkflyrods.com/rods/series1.html[/url:1f658]
Another FAOL sponsor is Global Dorber. In
addition to finished quality rods down to
4 1/2 foot in length, they have the small
blanks for those that prefer to make their
own. I’ve been happy with several of thier
small blanks I’ve built. [url=http://www.dorber.com/rods.html:1f658]http://www.dorber.com/rods.html[/url:1f658]
Warm regards, Jim
[This message has been edited by Jim Hatch (edited 16 December 2005).]
How about a Popiel Pocket Fisherman?
bwagner,
Depends on your casting skill. My early days 30+ years ago I started with a fiberglass FF70 Fenwick which was a great medium length rod for a long time. Then in 91’ I built a Lamiglass 6’ 5/6 weight with all cork grip and seat and to this day is my favorite all around tool for the release and my Fisher 5’ one piece is so much fun on Bluegills and smallmouth that unless you’ve mastered the cast its a challenge. But overall, you’ll get used to your 5’6" after you get used to its versitility and how the sensitivity will make your angling adventure a great day on the water even if the release is of short lengths. I love short rods, just make sure you duck if the wind is to your back and or hold your arm above your head whilst makin’ a presentation. Let us know how you do. Note; side arm presentations are easier, but roll casts are a real challenge. May all your casts produce a fruitful release Phil
Folks, I can’t say enough about Global DorbeR here. I’m not affiliated in any way, but they make some of the most fun-to-fish rods I’ve ever seen. I live about 25 miles or so from their facility, and regularly buy from them, they sell flies, reels, lines, etc. And their service is second to none. Both Jeff and Tiny are in the business to provide a service, and they treat everyone like kings. No affiliation, just very happy to do business with them. I own 3 of their rods, and don’t plan to stop there. And yes, I pay what you pay.
It seems the biggest drawback of fishing a 5’2&1/2" or 5’ 6" flyrod is that the leader was usually inside the tip top when casting unless you tied your own leaders specifically to match the rod so a bit more flyline could be cast. It was great if standing with a foot on each bank of a creek one was straddling just to drop a bead head prince nymph into a little ripple or undercut bank, or for actually casting on a 20 feet wide stream or even a big river for panfish or bass. Anything caught on the little fiberglass rods seemed to be so much larger than it really was, but so much fun & relaxing. Any casts over 40’ took a few extra false casts & double hauls, but it’s all worth it !
Thanks for getting me thinking of Global Dober again…lol…Yes I’m going to use the FAOL board as my excuse for the ordering of a new shorty…for the first time in quite a while I am going to buy a “NEW” prebuilt rod!!..
Not that I can at all really afford it right now or justify a real need for yet another rod 
I really like my old 5’3" Fenwick so mutch that I am converting the mid and tip sections of an old cane Granger to be a 6’rod. It handles fine with a 4 wgt. Yes, I totally destroyed the butt section 40 years ago.
Hey Folks,
I’m plumb tickled to see all of the
interest in the small rods. I first tried
them probably about seven years ago when
Slic told me about a couple he had built
from 4’ rod tips. I get a lot of pleasure
from them as well as mixed comments from
other fishermen. But when they see how well
they appear to work and the fun I’m having
with them, the interest intensifies. The
little rods really are a hoot and if you
havn’t tried one, you should.G A small
flyrod and a shirt pocket box of flies
adds a new meaning to minamalist fishing.
Warm regards, Jim
For specific situations, they are the cat’s meow. In my case it was to be able to cast between trees and under overhead branches while bank fishing warm water ponds.
My first experience was with a little 50 inch ultralite spinning rod with all cork grip. I simply attached a fly reel and line. It was GREAT, except the guide configuration left a lot to be desired.
I then stripped sections of two other ultralites I bought at closeout (like $18 total investment) and cobbled together a sweet 6 foot 4wt. I used that rod a lot, until I got an even sweeter little 2wt from Cabelas.
Like someone said before, fit the tool to the situation and you won’t be disappointed.
Jim
I also like them on larger lakes while Tooning…really no need for long casts if you can move to the fish…I seldom find a great need for a rod longer than 7’6" or over 4wt these days…although the one I just ordered is a 5’6" 5wt. a good deal heavier than I usually fish…main reason is so I can keep useing the 5wt line I was tossing on my 4wt., need to rerig that one with it’s new 4wt headstart…and GD has some rods with what I feel are quite low prices for finnished rods!
A lot of good opinions and advice here already. I would like to add one piece of insight.
I have a 6’6" 3wt that I use on relatively small streams. In general, I have learned to use the butts of my rods to fight the fish if extra leverage is needed. However, the butt of a short rod is much thinner than the butt of a longer rod. My rod is not a Sage, but since they have the numbers in their catalogue, I just checked that the butt diameter of a 3wt 6’3" SLT is considerably thinner than that of a 00wt 7’10" TXL.
I am sure that the butt diameter is not the whole story - wall thickness, material and other factors probably come into play - but I I think that in some cases I have actually felt the lack of power in the butt of this small rod. This has been with small fish, but in a heavier current. Might be just psychological, but I still wanted to share this. (At least someone can tell me if my idea is completely wrong.)
[This message has been edited by Jarmo (edited 22 December 2005).]
Jim,
Are there any particular reels you could recommend putting on these shorter, lighter rods?
Thanks!
Joe
“Better small than not at all.”
I use this one. Because of its line capacity I think it would be good for up to a three weight. [url=http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=33162:42087]http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?page=proframe&prod_id=33162[/url:42087]
Thanks, Gardenfish
Nice-looking reel. I’m a bit wary of buying anything by mail order when the advertisement doesn’t specify the reel’s size. If I end up with one that’s too big and heavy for the rod, the rig becomes unbalanced.
Maybe this is a one-size only type of reel, though. The one pictured in that ad, is it the exact reel you’ve got?
Pretty reasonable price, so long as it’s quiet. Man, I don’t like loud clicking reels at all.
Joe - take a look at the Pflueger Supreme #1834. Hook & Hackle carries it and with their internet discount [20%] the price comes in at forty something dollars. It’s 3.2 oz and handles a 2 wt line very well. Only down side is its colour - gold. However, I’ve gotten used to that. The click is reasonable, noise wise [I REALLY dislike harsh clicks from drags!!].
Donald
Hey Joe,
My choice for a small reel is the Crystal River Cahill model 0001 made by South Bend. It’s a graphite
reel that is only 2.7 ounces and 2 1/2" in
diameter. Even has a smooth drag. At under
$20 it’s a steal! I have three of them with
high mileage and they keep on keeping on.
Drop me a note if you need a source. Warm
regards, Jim