first bait caster combo

[ntgrk]

Looking for my first baitcaster any thoughts on the shimano citica with the bass pro xps extreme combo for 139.00 (front page of flyer) the rod is 6 foot is this rod too short I am six foot two I have been told to go for something bigger any Thoughts?

[urbanangler1990]

well with a longer rod u will cast further, also the added length will help haul fish out of cover better

 

i have a 6 foot heavy, had done well for me

[bigbuck]

Go 7 feet. If they don't have one put together, ask them to do it for you. Med/hvy would be a great general purpose rod for you.

[HTHM]

Go 7 feet. If they don't have one put together, ask them to do it for you. Med/hvy would be a great general purpose rod for you.

What he said!

[steverowbotham]

Good combo. I work at BPS so look for me if you come in to purchase it. I work til 2pm on weekdays.

[Garry2Rs]

That's sounds like a decent starting outfit. If you can get a 6'6" rod great if not don't worry about it.

Only a few years ago a six foot bait-caster was the standard length and 5'6" was common...

My 25 year old Skeeter's rod locker wouldn't hold a rod over 6 feet long!

This fetish with rod length is just a fashion thing, as boats have become bigger, rods have become longer.

 

 

What's the real difference?

The rule of thumb is that shorter rods are more accurate, longer rods will cast a little farther...

But remember that is not just farther from you, but also a little farther away from the target too!

 

Before we assume that bigger is better, let's be clear on want we're talking about here.

A 6'6" or 7' rod may throw a bait an extra 4 to 6 feet...that's only the difference of a couple of steps and we're talking about this 6 feet on the end of a cast of 60 or 70 feet.

 

If you are just learning, any difference in the length of your casts is a moot point. You'll just be pleased if there's no backlash...HAHAHA.

 

On the water, you will probably be casting to a target like that open spot in the lily-pads, the edge of the weed line or the trunk of a fallen tree most of the time. I suspect that most of my casts are to a target that's in the forty foot range. If that's true, I would think that accuracy is far more important that an extra few feet of potential maximum distance...

 

I suspect that most people would like accuracy on every cast, but only need extra distance on a few...

Therefore, it could be argued that the inherent loss of accuracy built into the longer rod is a bigger penalty, than the few feet in maximum distance the shorter rod gives up.

Garry2R's