Starting to get my new 5 wt setup in place but am unsure as to what length I should go with. I can pick up a St Croix 8ft 5 wt in their SC IV which is used on their older Legend Elite for a good deal but I feel as tho it may be too short. I plan on fishing ponds/lakes/large rivers in FL so I was thinking more towards 9 ft. What do you guys think?

for what you tell us I would vote for longer it makes me feel better , if you get into a lot of wind you could use a shorter rod
but for every day use go for the 9 FT .

William Sidney
AK

Ditto

I just ordered a 7ft to get under the flooded trees i am fishing around.
Even then its mainly going to be roll casts.
My 9 and 8.5 ones just do not do it there.
You have to go with what works where you fish and i always try to go with as long a rod as i can

I would guess 9' fly rods outsell all other lengths of fly rods combined, and for good reason. 9' seems the best compromise. Learning how to throw a tight loop and a horizontal loop enables casting under mangroves and bushes with rods of all lengths.