Flyrod Length

[mchamp]

When fishing from the surf what length flyrod would you guys suggest? I know that they make long 10.5' rods for the surf. I was just wondering if they were better than a 9 footer or if the extra weight didnt make them worth while. I was thinking about getting one for better line controll and hook sets. I was just going to see if anybody had any suggestions on what brand to go with, and if it was worth getting one in the first place.
Thanks,
Matt

[FishHawk]

I have a 9 6" for 10 wt rod which I like and is good for fishing the surf. However, the latest in flyrods for the surf are the two handed rods. You will see a lot of them at the fishing shows. It is going to be the latest tool for the flyrodder. Test before you buy. I 'm sure people that own them will chime in here.
FishHawk

[bluefishercat]

I have a 10.5 foot St Croix and while I like the rod, after a few hours, I notice the difference between that and a nine footer. The extra foot and a half gives the line more mechanical advantage over your arm. There's a reason rods are nine foot. I think a two handed rod would be different.

[Pauper Piscator]

I dunno, there are a lot of you 10wt guys out there, but I am a 9wt man.

For Surf, the 9'6" is a little nicer for the little extra distance and little extra clearance the extra length provides.

As far as going longer with a one handed rod, I just think that unless you get a super high end, super light weight 10'+ 10wt, throwing haul after haul to crank in 20" schoolies is going to get old pretty fast.

As far as hook sets go...the relatively large hooks, hard mouths and loooong rods make "strip sets" more viable and effective than the hook set "instincts" you have honed spin fishing.

I like 9'6" 9 wts for beach AND boat.

[mchamp]

Thanks for all of your advise. Who makes the two handed rods, and have any of you fished with an Echo rod? I have casted some and they throw nice. I was just wondering how they fish? Is the two handed rods like spey rods or completely different?
Thanks,
Matt

[FishHawk]

Matt, T&T, Sage and Reddington to name a few make two handed rods. They are not really Spey rods. I have tried one and the learning curve takes some time. In the hands of a good caster you can get at least 125'. I have seen it done. I am not expert on the subject. Up here in the East these rods are the talk of everyone. FishHawk

[Sedotti]

I would recommend the length of the rod YOU prefer to cast. Use the rod that you cast best. Length doesn't matter. Almost everybody doesn't get any extra distance because of the length of a one handed rod. Distance comes from your technique and your timing, not extra inches in the blank.
Most fly rods are 9 feet long because of tradition. Nothing more. The lengths come from trout and salmon fishing, where there was more mending and "working" of the fly. Everybody waded too. Short rods (well designed) would actually be more practical from boats. Say 6 footers. This would take awhile to be accepted though.
Perhaps I would even like well designed shorter rods in the surf too. I used a custom 7 foot 10 weight and a 7 and a half ft. 12 weight exclusivly for two years about ten years ago. Fished mostly from a boat though.
People like Ken Abrams like longer fly rods because of their fishing style, which is somewhat like that of the old salmon fishermen. The length aids so much in their presentation. They don't concentrate on casting distance. It's all presentation and control.
Two handed afficionados like the ease which they can cast distance. They swear by these rods in the surf. That extra length (rods 11 to about 15 feet long) really does help them achieve greater distances, as does the ability to support the rods load and unload with two hands.
With one handers though, no extra distance is achieved with increased length, like I said, except for probably only a few casters. Buy the rod you cast best, and feel most comfortable casting, whatever it's length. Try some of those two handers to see if you like them too. You may. You'll probably end up with a 9 footer simply because you have so many that length to choose from, so the odds are that you'll like one.
What's more importent is leaning how to cast well, to get good instruction on technique when you start, and then after that, to practice consistently so that you become a decent caster. Bottom line is that YOU are much more importent than your rod.
All My Best,
Mark Sedotti