jgib01 Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 Anyone have experience or thoughts on the use of 10' rods in heavier weights, say 8wt and up? I'm looking for a pike rod, and noticed a 10' 8wt for sale here. That got me thinking about the actual benefits or challenges of a longer rod in this category. I've certainly read that there is some added benefit of longer rods for mending/line control, but that is probably moot for my purposes. Any other thoughts generally on the +/- of a ten footer? Quote
Jayhad Posted June 11, 2015 Posted June 11, 2015 I have several 10' sticks, I'm a real fan of them my only concern is throwing a heavy rod all day... if the stick is in the class of a Sage One or other high end stick there may not be an issue of weight. I find I have way more control with a 10' other than shorter sticks Quote
pokerfish Posted June 12, 2015 Posted June 12, 2015 Love my 10ft #5 wt. Single hand spey works well when confronted with the hihg banks/canyons / brush on the rivers south of here Great mends for the dry and nymphing Quote
Vagabond Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 I'm a fan of longer sticks,esp for swinging wets and streamers for steel,Atlantics etc.Not much of a pike guy,but I can't think of any disadvantage,only positives inherent to a 10'er vs. a shorter rod? 10' rods generally cast farther with less effort and,as already mentioned,offer a slight mending advantage.They also pick up more line better/easier when reloading for your next cast,and if you find yourself wading belly deep,the extra length helps in aerializing more line for false casting......or from a pike fishn perspective....perhaps from a belly boat,'toon,canoe,small boat? 8100 Zenith is my goto SH salmon/steel rod for swinging wets,bombers,skaters etc.There's not many waters where I feel under gunned with that stick,and usually only break out the Spey if I feel like hucking half chicken dumbells half ways across the river or getting down'n dirty with tips. 2 Quote
EveretteD Posted June 17, 2015 Posted June 17, 2015 I have a 10ft BVK. Use is for lakes mostly. Casts awesome in the wind and distance is effortless. I could only assume that ones in higher wts would be comparable to my 5wt. I would even feel comfortable casting for hammer handles with my 5wt if I was presented the opportunity. Quote
jgib01 Posted June 18, 2015 Author Posted June 18, 2015 Thanks for the words of wisdom folks. Tried to toss one of these the other night with my 6wt, and for some strange reason it just wasn't cutting it 😀 Quote
Tungsten Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 The problem I find is there just too dam heavy compared to the same weight rod in 9 foot.A nice fast action 8-9 wt in 9 foot is much easier on the arm for casting heavy rigs. 1 Quote
Vagabond Posted June 18, 2015 Posted June 18, 2015 The problem I find is there just too dam heavy compared to the same weight rod in 9 foot.A nice fast action 8-9 wt in 9 foot is much easier on the arm for casting heavy rigs.I guess I don't really cast heavy rigs with my Zenith anyhow,again,swinging wets and skaters mostly.......but that said,based on your comment and outta curiosity,I looked up the specs for 10' vs. 9' 8wt Zenith. 8100......3.5 oz/102g 890........3.42oz/97g I'll take the extra foot thanks, .08oz/5g is hardly a deal breaker. 2 Quote
jgib01 Posted June 19, 2015 Author Posted June 19, 2015 I guess I don't really cast heavy rigs with my Zenith anyhow,again,swinging wets and skaters mostly. ......but that said,based on your comment and outta curiosity,I looked up the specs for 10' vs. 9' 8wt Zenith. 8100......3.5 oz/102g 890........3.42oz/97g I'll take the extra foot thanks, .08oz/5g is hardly a deal breaker. I think that example is maybe an exception to the weight difference. The ones I have been looking at in 9' versus 10' have tended to weigh in at about 1/2 an ounce difference. Maybe some other factors might come into play too, like balance point, and maybe a slightly larger size of a reel as a result (I'm really reaching here I think). But even accounting for all that, I'm not sure an amateur like me would notice even a half ounce difference over the course of an outing, would I? Quote
Tungsten Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 It does depend on the rod,i had an eastfork 10' 6wt with an 8 wt reel to balance.I even had to add 2 colors of lead core line before the backing to get it to not be so tip heavy.I also had a 4wt 10' sage one it also needed a big heavy reel to feel right. Its all what your use too I guess,and if tip heavy bothers you. Quote
bowbonehead Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 I have been using a 7100 and 8100 RPL for years and love them for slinging streamers from a boat or wading and actually find them to be a lot less work as the need to false cast is minimal particularly from the boat when pounding banks at this time of year.... mind you the RPL's are very fast action compared to some rods.....perhaps you could test drive first? Quote
Jayhad Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 I have been using a 7100 and 8100 RPL for years and love them for slinging streamers from a boat or wading and actually find them to be a lot less work as the need to false cast is minimal particularly from the boat when pounding banks at this time of year.... mind you the RPL's are very fast action compared to some rods.....perhaps you could test drive first? If you ever choose to unload those rods drop me a line I'll take them, I don't have any 10' RPLs Quote
bowbonehead Posted June 19, 2015 Posted June 19, 2015 If you ever choose to unload those rods drop me a line I'll take them, I don't have any 10' RPLs I will keep you in mind, I know a number of "old farts" that have them Quote
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