Story by Todd Goade | Photos by Tanner & Travis Lyons
Fishing rods come in all lengths and actions, but rod length isn’t just about the technique, but the environment you’re fishing in. Here are some of the scenarios and rods I like to use when I’m fishing in different fishing conditions.
Think of it this way: Shorter rod for accuracy, longer rod for distance. I’ll ask myself these questions: Do I need distance or accuracy? Am I fishing open water or tight cover? What rod gives me the best control for this environment?
I like to use a shorter rod when I’m wanting precision to be able to hit a target. For instance if I’m under a bridge throwing a spinnerbait around pilings, I’m going to throw a Pulse Fish 6-foot-10 Ole’ One Caster rod for those hard to reach areas. I’m also going to use a shorter rod when I’m skipping a bait under docks and overhanging trees. For that I’m going to use a 7-foot-3 heavy action which will allow me to make those precision flips and pitches a lot easier. A shorter rod matters in these tight quarter situations because the shorter rod loads faster, is easier to control, and more accurate. You want to be as efficient as possible, so you don’t waste casts and you have a better chance of landing the fish once you get bit.
For the longer rod, as I said before, I’m thinking distance. A longer rod allows me to cast the bait farther, thus covering more water. So, if I’m throwing that same spinnerbait down an open bank, riprap, etc. I can make longer casts at the appropriate angle to catch those fish. I like a 7-foot-3 or 7-foot-4 rod in this scenario and the Pulse Fish Matt Arey Check Casher is my rod of choice for that.
I can think of two perfect examples where this came into play during the 2025 NPFL season. At Logan Martin, I was throwing a 1/4-ounce buzzbait around docks, short patches of riprap, boat ramps and tight cover on the bank running shade lines. The 6-foot-10 rod was perfect for this because I was able to make those short, accurate, underhanded casts and land my bait quietly on the targets, which allowed me to catch more fish.
The long rod example came a couple of days before official practice started at the St. Lawrence River when I stopped at Lake Oneida for a few hours to fish. I had a blast catching at least 25 smallmouth in about four hours, and the key was I had to throw the Pulse Fish Side Piece as far as I could throw it and reel the bait back as fast as I could with a 7.1:1 gear ratio reel. The Check Casher rod was ideal for making long casts in that extremely clear water.
Remember: short rods for accuracy, long rods for distance. Try this and I believe you’ll catch and land more fish.
Tight Lines!
Todd Goade – Angler Profile
