Chatting with mates The amount of people now ditching there 12ft rods and using 9ft or 10fts retractables are 12fts going to be a thing of the past are people still buying 12fts
The only thing I say there are no top end rod companies making retractables like Harrison and free spirit so do you think they think it's a fad that will come and go opinions please

In reply to Post #1
9 or 10's are no good for longer range fishing usually. OK up to maybe 20 wraps absolute max but why struggle when a 12 does this easily?

I guess someone that only fishes at smaller venues might have this opinion.

In reply to Post #1
Still lots of 12ft/13 ft rods sold. Retractable rods will not have the longevity of 2/3 piece rods due to the very nature of how they work.

In reply to Post #2
That's what I think no effort with 12fts to get out there hard work with 10s I here people say they got 3.5 tc 9 or 10 and use them everywhere as you say why struggle

In reply to Post #1
I've got a set of 9ft 2.75tc 10ft 3lb and 12ft 3.25tc. if I could use one set of rods for every session it would be the 9ft rods, they're a joy to play fish on. none of my rods are retractable after having a set of scopes and not liking them.

I only went with 10' as there's no lakes really fish that need long rods really plus I have my bait boat and waders for the type of lakes I fish and from may to August I'm normally on the canals,I'm on a lake next week that's got 4 swims and is small so my Harrison's 10' will do

Maybe 2 or 3 years ago, but I don't see silly little rods on the bank as much as I used to. Many people, myself included have gone back to adult sized rods.

Like back in the early 90's buying 12' 6 3.5lb rods, I replaced them a few years ago with 13'....always ahead of the trend

In reply to Post #1
I started carping with 10ft fibreglass rods back in the mid seventies, carbon csme in and the extra strength made lighter hence longer rods more usable. I would only use 10ft rods if i was forced to fish regularly under a low canopy of trees. I have been known to cast 13fters on my knees. Longer rods just make life easier casting, and playing fish.

I tried a triplicate of 10ft rods ...

I happily gave them back ,awful to play fish on ,no good if you have deep margins with pads or lily's,or you want to fish to the left or right of reeds etc down the edge,...not to mention carefully placing a rig in a margin ...all these reasons why 12ft and longer are far superior fishing tools than 9 and 10 ft rods ..

Even under trees ,you can use longer rods underarm casting , side casting ,kneeling to play fish, all handy skills to have ..

Remember,there was a reason why 12ft rods became popular and the above is part of that..

The finger should be pointed firmly at Mr Blair and his urban banx, therefore it could be considered a fad..

( All the above firmly tongue in cheek)...but true...!

Now,my neighbour is 6ft 10 inch tall,uses 9ft rods on big ressis and clay pits ,just put that pic in your mind ,as it does indeed,if looks mattered ,not balance up..

I will only use 12ft rods. Never bought into the 10ft craze, cant see what they offer over 12 footers. 1ft shorter when broke up dosent offer any benefit. 12 ft much nicer to play fish on will cast further, extra length great for reaching out over marginal reeds and dropping rig right against margin.

In reply to Post #10
Similar to me, I tried two HiS 10 foot rods, went back to 12s. Fishing small ponds regular I suppose small rods are good, for an all round rod give me a 12 foot one anyday, I like the 6 foot tip section too, no risk of winding my leader though the rings either,

I bought some 10ft rods recently, very nice they are to look at too and incredibly thin/light, but for me they don't feel balanced when a reel is at the other end in a fishing situation.

In a similar way, 13ft rods feel odd to me (unbalanced) too - so I now know that 12-12.6 rods are goldilocks for me, just cost me a few quid recently to realise!

And telescopic rods is one fad I'll happily keep away from because I grew up seeing these as very cheap setups that would easily snap.

So I say viva la twelve footers 👍

I think10ft rods are great on small venues it seems made famous by the two YouTube lads they clearly have many followers 😀

However if you're only going to buy one set of rods to cover all venues it's got to be 12ft at least, else you would only end up with many sets.

I remember telescopic rods in the 80s what a disaster they were, it seems folk never learn.

In reply to Post #8
The shorter rods. As I've seen being used are a nightmare playing a decent fish in deep margins🤣
Always had 12.6 Harrison's ..... am now on their 13 ft aviators 👌👌

I'm the opposite, I choose my retractable 9ft's over my 12ft rods whenever I can get away with it. There is just something appealing about been under gunned rather than over gunned. Although I agree if there is snags/reeds ect down the margins then I will take the 12s.

The other thing is my 3 retractables and spod rod cost the same as 1 12ft rod so I have no worries about them getting damaged/broken/stolen.

Nowadays mostly use my 11 ft Harrison Ballistas as I enjoy their action. But if a long chuck is needed I use my 13ft Trebuchet Lights.
So although I don't use 12ft rods for carp anymore I am lucky to have two different set ups to choose from.

Over the last ten years I've used rods of 9ft (Dymag), 11ft (Baby Ballistas) and 12fters (currently X-lite's). On a variety of waters there were definitely numerous times that the 9ft rods caused me problems with hooked fish that have gone down the margins. Last night I caught an extremely hard fighting 24lb+ carp that I'm not sure I'd have landed even on my Baby Ballistas, not due to power, simply down to being able to reach out and keep the fish out of near margins snags.

The thing I found with small rods, and I assume it's completely psychological, is it seems far quicker to get them out the bag and get fishing. There's no reason it's actually quicker. Maybe it's just me but it just feels like way less effort.

I prefer the weight and comfort of a 10ft rod but it must be a decent softish rod. These 9ft broom handles just don't do it for me.

But all lake and surrounding dependent. Tight swims or overhangs on a smaller lake ( under 8 acres ) I always use my 10s

The only reason I can see to use 9ft or shorter rods is if you need to use public transport or a bike to go fishing.

Love how small my 9 foot scopes pack down too. However after using 12's again for the first time in a while i realised how much more i can do with them. Only use my 9 foot's for day sessions now as i don't use a barrow and can carry my set up.

In reply to Post #1
I'm a recent(ish) advocate for 10's but would never buy / don't have the need for retractables which are a bit of a gimmick unless you use a push bike / are travelling on planes etc.

Still have several sets of 12's / a set of 13's but do find for the waters I'm currently on (10-15 acres / boats allowed) my 10's are perfect - lightweight / nice to play fish on / have enough backbone for 40's / more accurate to cast over short to mid range . . . .all down to personal taste and not a lot else IMO

In reply to Post #1
have never seen the appeal for 9 or 10 foot rods at all.

"my lake doesn't need 12 footers" - what about playing the fish, people seem to focus on the casting side of things

I started off fishing years ago with 11ft Shimano twin power 2lb test and still use them. No good for bags just about handle small stringers. Couldn't wait to get heavier 12ft rods now fishing in the bushes and small unused swims I'm going for 10ft probably 3lb test. See how I get on with them.

In reply to Post #24
Curious how if you never used a 10 footer why you would question its capabilities of playing a fish?

My Harrison Aviator 10 footers play fish as well as my 13 footers of the same rod and my 12ft Daiwa Basia rods before them. By far my most used rods love everything about them

In reply to Post #1
I remember a few years ago when I spoke to Kevin Nash about buying a set of his 10ft Scope Black Ops, he said you won't bother with your 12 footers again. He wasn't wrong. My 12-6 TE's are now, all but redundant unless I need a really big chuck. Given my time again, I wouldn't bother a set of 12 foot rods.

In reply to Post #26
My Aviator 10's also cast better (although not further) and play fish as well as if not better than my Aviator 12's . . .

In reply to Post #28
Thanks to everyone it's been interesting hearing people's comments so I put it to the test fished last week with 10fts and today with 12fts and I've got to say I think I prefer the 10fts tbh
And I don't think by what's been said that 12fts will disappear

In reply to Post #29
8ft for me, but lake size and rivers dictate for me