One of the funniest days I had up north was a day of fly fishing pike on a knee deep flat just immediately after ice out on that flat. When the wind picked up later on we fished bass jigs with big twister tails, watching the swell and boil of the water just before the take in that shallow water was such fun.

Taylor, don't believe everything you see on this forum. It's all opinions. While they are valuable, there are so many variables involved that what works for one may not work for another. And there is the credibility issue.

I know a few manufacturers make short heavy weight rods for accurately tossing large flies into the mangroves for baby tarpon and snook, etc. could check T&T’s catalog as they still sell blanks. I’d be surprised it someone doesn’t have those type blanks available.

I think St Croix still makes the mojo bass at 7-11, no blanks at geeks

Why not try a switch rod., while it is longer (11 ft) you use two hands to cast it and it is easier on the shoulder . Bill

Taylor,
It's difficult for us on this site to actually know what your issue(s) is.

IMO - most fly rods are 9'0" for a reason.
SUBSTANTIALLY shorter and you get less distance and must increase your stroke speed = fatigue. SUBSTANTIALLY longer and you are increasing the fulcrum length = more stress on wrist, arm and shoulder.

Perhaps your 9'0" fly rod is a "price-point" rod = stiff. Or, as others have intimated - your skill level is not what it should be.

A well designed medium-fast blank coupled with the correct line should be able to get you where you want to be.
A poorly designed blank with the wrong line will not.

Perhaps you should email me with what you're using as your current outfit - rod details and line details - size flies used Or, tell us here.
Regards,
Herb
CTS Rep

PS
Taylor,
If you are stressing your arm and shoulder - try using the following casting style. Start at the 2:00 minute mark.
[www.youtube.com]



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 09/26/2022 11:55AM by Herb Ladenheim.

I’m the odd man and like shorter rods. The 8-4” meridian is very nice.

I fish inshore marshes and don’t wade. So boat or kayak, redfish or bass. The shorter rods are quite handy and much easier on the shoulder. 90% of my shots are undef 40. In the scheme of Don’t Do It ;) I had an extra Iconoglass 8wt blank (nephew who fishes a Method didn’t like mine) so for grins, I cut a foot off the butt and made a Banty grip. At 7-6” it casts very much likes it’s 8-6” father. I have a bass bug line on it and it just loads itself for short quick shots. It is quickly becoming a kayak favorite.

Out on the flat where I need a longer cast, yep, a 9’

To the Op, the 8 weight Ross flystick was a nice rod.