Long rods, short rods, crisp rods, slow rods etc and your style of fishing.

[Korrie]

Long rods vs Shorter and short rods
I am starting this thread as I had very long discussions with a number of fly fishers and new fly fishers about the length of rods, their actions, the task for each and your style of fishing.
Please add your opinion, experiences and preferences in this thread.
Hopefully after a couple of pages, we will have a very informative thread with lots of useful info.
My love for the long rods are well documented on Flytalk.
It suits my style of fishing or the way that I like to fish most of the time.
But if you look at the shorter rods and the Italian casting style, there is a huge place for shorter rods, as the Italian casting style is not possible with long rods https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Wgs6KftR0
If you are fishing in bushy streams or lots of overhang trees most of the time, shorter rods are definitely advantages, as it is more "cumbersome" with a long rod, but not impossible.

A couple of points that are normally raised or mentioned
Action of long rod vs short rod
Soft long rod or fast long rod
Reach of long rod vs short rod
Feel of the rod i.e. "heavy, cumbersome" swing weights etc.
The "crispness" of the rods
Protection of tippets
Loading of the rod
Applications Dry fly vs nymphing, which one to go for?
Can a long rod used for dry fly or can a short rod be used for nymphing?
What about in between lenghts?
......
.......

These are a couple of the points that comes up in discussions.
Add some more if you want and lets get a healthy discussion going.

[Korrie]

Lets start by saying, there is no right or wrong length rod.
You fish with what ever length that gives you joy and pleasure to fish.
I have seen guys on the Cape Streams fish a 6" rod and enjoy his way of fishing probably more than I did my way with a 10" rod.
(or it looks that way, when you see him on the river. )

[Korrie]

you can fish nymphs Jiri Klima Cz nymph style with a 8" rod and 1,7m leader
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dP25WBCwl70
or Pascal Cognard with a 10" rod and dry fly
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53zu5kO01_s

[smallstreams.co.za]

I have no specific favourite rod in general, but prefer certain rods for certain applications. Glass for dry flies cannot be beat, unless you throw some grass in the equation.

[Andre]

I like "crisp" rods... the sound the rod makes when you stand on it , or close it in the car door... like a packet of simba skyfies when you jump on it....

[Korrie]

I have no specific favourite rod in general, but prefer certain rods for certain applications. Glass for dry flies cannot be beat, unless you throw some grass in the equation.

Mario
How does glass perform with fast flowing pocket waters, fishing dries?
I have to admit, the last time I cast a glass rod, was years ago, and my skills levels, experience and knowledge where far from where it is now.
The same applies to bamboo, I cast bamboo a couple of times on grass and do not know how it will feature in fast flowing pocket water.
I find the very slow nature of bamboo not very conducive to my style of fishing.

[smallstreams.co.za]

Mario
How does glass perform with fast flowing pocket waters, fishing dries?
I have to admit, the last time I cast a glass rod, was years ago, and my skills levels, experience and knowledge where far from where it is now.
The same applies to bamboo, I cast bamboo a couple of times on grass and do not know how it will feature in fast flowing pocket water.
I find the very slow nature of bamboo not very conducive to my style of fishing.

Good point you make there Korrie. I don't think glass (or bamboo for that matter) would be the best tool for fast flowing pocket water, but they can still do the job well enough not to have to NOT fish them in those types of water. For pocket water a longer rod is generally better, and given that most glass and bamboo rods stop at around 8' (most being shorter) they are a bit limited. They'll do the job Korrie, but there are better tools for very fast pocket water which requires a change in technique and tackle to fish them better yes.

You mention "very slow". You really need to try out modern glass and bamboo rods. Some of the rods that are produced today cannot be compared to rods a couple of years back. Improvements in materials, glues, resins and tapers make a huge difference in performance and feel.

[Gerrit Viljoen]

Fir LM I like a dik, stywe stok something that can cast in wind, heavy flies and finally when you hook into something big you know it can handle it! Simple really...Stealth Bomber,etc

[Korrie]

Fir LM I like a dik, stywe stok something that can cast in wind, heavy flies and finally when you hook into something big you know it can handle it! Simple really...Stealth Bomber,etc

Gerrit
have a look at the outfits of the first tarpon caught on fly.
Some available on youtube.
Old fibreglass rods and no drag.
The rods where so soft

[Korrie]

Fir LM I like a dik, stywe stok something that can cast in wind, heavy flies and finally when you hook into something big you know it can handle it! Simple really...Stealth Bomber,etc

Gerrit
To cast a dik stywe stok with big heavy flies in strong wind, you also need to know how to cast properly.
Not to many people have such skills