i have been thinking about this for a little while now but am yet to test it but here in australia alot of bream fishos have been chasing whitting (a small bone fish look-a-like, max size 45cm) on super shallow flats with small poppers, about 20mm-50mm long. the tackle mostly consists of roughly 7 foot 1-3kg light or ultra light spinning outfits, and 2-6lb braid or flurocarbon. we try to use the lighest stuff possible to get the greatest distance out of the very light lures due to being in knee deep water or less, the fish are really spooky.

so i was thinking wouldnt a longer rod like a 9 footer be better for casting these light lures with light line? would it not load better with the resistance made during casts with a longer rod sorta like a flyrod? or is there such a thing as too long?

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject or even experiences seeing as i have been thinking about building one up to try next summer



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/26/2008 02:37AM by Ben Hurlstone.

I’d suggest you might be limited by the lures air resistance rather than the speed at which you can launch it from the rod tip.
A lot of experimentation last year trying to throw a tassie devil lure maximum distance really didn’t really gain much distance going with a longer rod.

id say if you could sill move the longer rod as fast through the air then yes it would cast further but then it becomes the case of how long is to long

Depending on the weight and air resistance of the lures being tossed, there is a line of diminishing returns when it comes to rod length. Such is true for all rods. Too long and it is hard to accelerate the rod enough to impart enough energy to the lure. Plus it'll be too hard to work a lure that light with such a long rod, as it would have to be fairly whippy to cast, plus it'd be heaps heavier.

I'd say for UL flats fishing, you'd probably be looking at 7'6" to about 8' tops for light popper work. Simply because it's a more active method requiring more rod work, due to whiting liking a popper being moved at a good clip, while being jerked to pop and splash water.

I like to fish bluegills and crappies, which would be close to your bream. I like to use a small jig 1/16 - 1/32 oz, the longer (10 foot) rod gives me a much better cast (plus it's a blast with a 10" gill) than I can with a shorter rod (6' UL). I have not been able to find a blank that I like as well as the production rods from BNM [www.bnmpoles.com] . They load extreamly well and cast like a dream, I have tried making a rod similar to the BNM's with a fly rod blank, but they do not cast as well. Fly rods just don't seem to have enough backbone for the job, and Steelhead blanks seem to have too much. I wish there was an inexpensive blank available in the 8' to 10' range that had the same action as the BNM's. If some one has a 8' to 10' rod blank that's similar for less than $60.00 please let me know. Thanks Mark

I don'lt think length is what makes the rod load. Lee Wulff used to push shorter rods for almost everything and he knew what he was doing. They tire you less and whip the fish faster.

I fish with longer rod ,over 10' build by me on fly fhishing blanks(ALL STAR AUSTIN,G.LOOMIS IMX,,ST.CROIX LEGEND ULTRA ,AVID,LAMIGLAS G1000 etc.) W4-11W . Using FIRELINE 4lb.+4lb. fluorocarbon leader i 've been catching fish over 40lb.with rod build on ALL STAR AUSTIN W5 .For this rods i was using SIC MATCH GUIDES MODEL "M"

If you choose the right blank you have enough backbone to handle the big fish

We all know length works, and that the blanks are fishable and whip fish. They make the fight more fun. Let's get back to the post. Ben is asking about a technique specific flats rod. Throwing 1.5 to 2.5 inch poppers in the 1/8 oz weight range. Top it off that you have to retrieve the popper quite fast, with a lot of rod action. I don't see you doing that with a 10 foot rod for very long. Complicate that with wind, and having to keep the rod tip low so as to keep the line on the water, and you have a situation where 10 feet of rod would be as useful as a bike to a fish.

To quote Ted a few posts up, "I'd say for UL flats fishing, you'd probably be looking at 7'6" to about 8' tops for light popper work. Simply because it's a more active method requiring more rod work, due to whiting liking a popper being moved at a good clip, while being jerked to pop and splash water." I whole heartedly agree, for flats fishing here in Florida my go to rod is a 7'6" popping blank (Lamiglas LP903) throwing 1/8 oz jigs. It can cast a very long distance and is very easy to work quickly.

On the other hand, I built a "noodle" rod on a 9' 8wt fly rod, throwing the same exact lure it was not favorable. It was hard to get a long cast and very difficult to work properly. Try a popping blank the 7'6" range, which you can find for ~$40 to see how you like it. I am sure you will.


-Scott

There is a light line popping rod out there, the Rainshadow IP 840 specifically designed for your line weights. The blank is very light and a joy to fish, but we don't have the flats your talking about where I live so I'm just thinking in the box that you could extend it 6 inches and give it a try. Rainshadows I'm told aren't hard to find down your way, so some local expertise with them would seem to have followed the rod blanks. Rain shadow also make the lightest 7 ft 6 in popping blank I know of in the IP 902, 6 to 12 lb line rated, 1/8 to 1/2 oz lures.

Downside to those blanks is they're all 1 piece (shipping). Would love to see more multi-piece blanks across a wider range of models. Light popping rods, spin jigs, spin bass and you'd have me for life!!!

An extended IP840 or 841 would be just the ticket.

Aye, there is a 3 piece 7'6" popping blank, available from a sponsor on "liquidation" Lamiglas LGC-IMP9033. Same blank as my favorite but a 3 piece. I think it is $90 though...