All around rod - what length?

[walleyepro]

I was at the expo and picked up a Revo 60 and a Compre rod. Haven't yet decided what length rod I should get. and whether or not to go heavy or extra heavy.

I have a extra heavy 8' compre with a saltist 30 for running big blades fast

I'm looking for a good all around rod for throwing different types of baits. I really like the 8' but feel that a 7'2" or a 7'6" might be better. I was thinking extra heavy.

What are your thoughts?

I have two other 7' fig rig rods that I don't really care for, they are medium heavy, each with a cheaper abu.

[Esox_Magnum]

IMO I prefer a 8'6-9' XH for all around use. I run 2 9's 1 H Predator for blades and an XH 9' Tackle Industries for anything else. I keep my 8' Lommis H for backup and loaner rod. Will be adding a 9' XXH TI rod later this year just for big bait duty and using the XH for general use on jerk's, glides, and weagles.

[Scoot]

7'6" to 8' for my all purpose work. I have a couple longer that I like, but not for all purpose duty.

[goldie11]

What power are your all purpose rods?

[urban cowboy]

At least 8 foot.

[walleyepro]

Why do you suggest at least 8 foot rods? Two years ago an 8 foot rod as "long" and now its on the short side??? Some lures are getting bigger and heavier, but I still fish "small" 8 and 9 inch baits with a lot of success.

I think I'm going to go with the 7'6" XH Compre.

[ole matty]

Get 8' compre xh. They can throw almost everything.

[Quackaddict9]

Why do you suggest at least 8 foot rods? Two years ago an 8 foot rod as "long" and now its on the short side??? Some lures are getting bigger and heavier, but I still fish "small" 8 and 9 inch baits with a lot of success.

I think I'm going to go with the 7'6" XH Compre.

One good reason is because you can go further out on the 8 and deeper, more comfort to casting, better backbone for fish on and other reasons. Many guys are going 8'6"-9' today. Yes you can still have the same success using shorter rods but there are advantages to using longer rods. Like Matty said the 8' XH will be a good rod to go with, I still fish with my St.Croix 7'6"s but also have a 8 footer that I like to use for my big blades and rubber.

Good luck with what you choose and catch some fish!

[urban cowboy]

I have 3 rods, 6ft 8in XH fast compre for jerk baits, If I could go back I would have got the 7ft 6in XH fast.

8ft Heavy fast compre for CG's, and a 8ft XH compre for plastics.

I suppose if you want to meet in the middle you could go with the 7ft 6in XH fast. Should be able to handle CG's, jerk-baits, top waters, but probaly not the best choice for heavy plastics.

[walleyepro]

I have a 8' XH Compre with a Saltist 30 that i use for big blades and plastics. I currently don't throw any pounders or bigger plastics, catch plenty of fish on the normal size bulldawg, and the smaller bulldawg sees a lot of fish too.

I appreciate your help. When i pick it up at TB i'll ask the guys there too what they recommend.

maybe i just need to change by retrieve with jerk baits, suicks, etc to bring the rod in more to the side vs. down towards the water. That's why i was going to go with the 7'6" over the 8'.

I'll be fishing out of a lower profile yar-craft (1785 mille lacs) so i should be ok with a 7'6" on eights. I just bought it this winter and had it in the water over the weekend, i was surprised at how low it say in the water.

Thanks

[urban cowboy]

Yes, that is the one reason I preffer my 6ft 8in compre for jerkbaits, down toward the water without a problem. This reason totally makes sense.

If that is the case, and you already have a 8 XH for plastic then 7ft 6in XH should fill in the blanks nicely.

CG's, Crankbaits, top waters... should be good to go.

[Esox_Magnum]

I use my 9' for wades wobblers out of a 617 Ranger without issues. Advantage of long rods is your body wont hurt as bad after 16 hours or the 15th day straight.

[justinT]

I've used a Compre 8' XH the past two years for just about everything and its been great. I wouldn't go shorter though. I've used it in everything from a 7' inflatable raft to a 12' jon boat to my 17ft crestliner. Great price too.

[mainbutter]

For an all around rod, I've gone with a 7'6'' heavy with a fast action, feels more like an XH though. Sometimes I wish it was an 8'6'' or 9', other times I wish it was short. However the fish don't seem to mind either way. It doesn't cast as far as a 9' and takes a bit more whole-body work on the figure 8. I would need a shorter rod to walk the dog well from a canoe, but in the boat it does just fine.

Again, despite what some people with bigger wallets than myself might claim, the fish don't seem to mind, and you can work topwater baits, gliders, throw big heavy plastics, pull big double blades, and do figure 8s all on a stiff ~XH power 7'6'' rod.

[walleyepro]

butter -

you muskie fish from a canoe? standing up? You must have really good balance. I think if I tried that i'd end up in the drink on my first cast!

[WallyGator12000]

I two am very impressed that you musky fish from a canoe, my balance is terrible! As far as long rods go, it's not so much that the fish mind, it's how much easier it is to do all the required things to catch fish. Casting is easier, working the bait is easier, the figure 8 is much easier and more effective, your rod does more work and your body has more of a break (letting you fish longer)...I could go on. It's not that you can't musky fish without a 9'+ rod, it's just that much of it is so easier...

[Rebel9921]

Started off Muskie fishing with three rods (7'6MH, 7'3H, and 7'3XH)... those three rods has been sitting on the rack collecting dust for the past three years as I've upgraded to two 8'6 EDGE which I use for everything from DCGs to Rubbers to Gliders/jerk-baits... as for topwaters or small bucktails I like to use 9'0 MH Reaction Strike rod...

I will not ever go shorter than 8'6 ever again... ease of figure-8, ease of casting (I notice I cast whole lot better and farther with Dawgs with 8'6 rather than 7'3) Matty can testify to this!!! LOL

Esox is right... longer rods typically makes it easier to muskie-fish on your body...

[Yough_Guide]

8' heavy from Tackle Industries! You can't go wrong!

Brian

[guidemane]

There are a lot of good opinions here however when it comes right down to it

the best rod to buy is the one that fits you the best. I also like the longer rods but I fished with 7ft rods for years and until the longer ones came out they worked fine for me throwing all kinds of baits. I get clients all the time that just can't handle the big rods and they don't have any problems using the shorter rods for everytrhing they throw. Just like everything else, if you aren't comfortable with it, is it really any better than what you're used to?

Get the rod that fits you best, regardless of what everybody tells you, it's you that has to use the rod, not them. JMHO

"Ace"

[Quackaddict9]

Quote:

Get the rod that fits you best, regardless of what everybody tells you, it's you that has to use the rod, not them. JMHO

solid answer. Very true as I look at it. I use 7'6" to 8's, I would go longer but I do not need it just yet probably in the near future.

[Irish]

I actually started out with a 6'6 musky rod. I was only 10 at the time so I couldn't handle the extra length. I landed a 46" musky with it. I am not trying to brag I am just saying that a shorter rod will work fine too. You may not get the casting distance you do with a longer rod but working jerkbaits is actually easier.

[Esox_Magnum]

Irish I personaly work glides and jerkbaits better with the long rods. Of all the rods I own from 7'6" to 9', my 1 9' is the nuts for walk the dog baits, and anything else I own.

[wahoo]

I really enjoy all the info on this topic. I'd throw out another option.

I fish saltwater in San Diego when not in MN. (Not much fishin in Vegas.)

My "light" saltwater rods have worked very well for Muskie on Vermillion, Mississippi, etc. I am sure most have not heard of these manufacturers, but the rods are terrific. Calstar or Seeker are 2 terrific brands. (No, I don't work for either.)

I use a Calstar 270 (e-glass), or Seeker 870 (Black Steel) both are 7'. Team them up with Calcutta 400s and Proline. They can certainly cast and have plenty of backbone. If you want longer, try the seeker in G270--8'.

With the Calstar 270 I was throwing a "surface iron"/skipjig (West coast lure--3 ounces) on Cormorant Lake in Manitoba and tore up the Northerns who had never seen anything like this.

Just another option.

Lake of the Woods next week. Can't wait to get back to real country.

tight lines,

Wahoo

[mainbutter]

I love throwing gliders and hate using long rods for 'em, I'd compromise an easier figure 8 and have a slightly shorter rod than some are suggesting.

[Esox_Magnum]

I stand by my long rods, I find everythings easier to work on the loner sticks when the actions matched to the rod. I can make a 10" Weagle dance out of a 690 Ranger with a 9' and can rock a hellhound, wades, dawg ect with perfectioon on a 9 footer....IMO better hooksets, easier and better 8's, better fish control make it a simple choice for me. I run 2 9's and 1 8' the 8 I keep for a loaner and the wife/daughter to use.