Hi all,

I am thinking of changing rods but wanted your thoughts, I fish with 12ft at the moment but might change to 10ft. What is the difference/feel in playing a fish using a 10ft against a 12ft rod? I fish up to 120 yards max and they need to handle French 50'S...I prefer medium action rods...any advice on rod makes etc.

Thanks

In reply to Post #1
I got some 12ft freespirit s lites 3.5tc for some bag work or distance work I liked them so much I got some 10ft versions for my syndicate because it's a small intimate water so glad I did I really enjoy using them and playing fish on them. The 10fts are brilliant rods and definitely would recommend getting some 10fts bud if your fishing some smaller waters bud

In reply to Post #1
Same blank and tc a 12ft rods will always give better fish playing than the 10ft.(2ft less length for bending)
I'm not saying fish playing is bad on a 10ft, I really liked the fish palying on my 10Ft Dwarfs 3.25 Cork

last week i sold my 10ft and i go back to 12ft, outside transport length there is zero reason to go for a 10ft for me, i can do everything with a 12ft what i can with a 10ft + a 12ft has better control when playing fish. (not that it's that bad on a 10ft)

Main reason to get off 10ft for me: seeing them lying on the rodpod felt a bit childish to me
But I can understand why many go for 10ft but not my thing because I can do everything I want with a 12ft

In reply to Post #3
I agree. Nothing wrong with my 10ft rods and I continue to use them on small waters, especially where I am either walking to the lake or going to be mobile. For everything else use 12 ft. Reasons same as you, I just feel more in control with the 12ft and other than transport ease the 12 footers are superior. Just my opinion

Shorter rods are better for applying power to a fish.
They don't have the reach of longer rods over and around bank side vegetation and don't pick up line as well at range. Otherwise they are superior for playing fish

In reply to Post #1
Hi buddy. 120yards is a great cast with 12 foot rods.

I'm generalising here a little , but 10 footers will restrict the distance you can cast.

I use 10 footers a lot on big waters, but only for boat work, when they are a big advantage being shorter.

If you are casting over 80 yards, imo the extra length would be better.

In reply to Post #1
My only observation would be that the extra length seems to be useful when fishing over bars / weed beds to keep the rod tip higher and the fish high in the water, however this may be more a confidence thing than reality, but 10 footers are better in a boat .

In reply to Post #5
within reason Noj
in the summer I had some mid doubles on a 2.75tc 9 foot Dwarf. That's a rush lol

In reply to Post #5
I find it easier to stop big fish on shorter rods tbh, though will only use them on tiny waters or canals.

In reply to Post #1
I only use 10 footers, have been for a couple of years. Earlier this year I bought the Avid Traction pro's in 3lb,
before them Scope's in 2.75, I fish lakes between about 3 to 7 acres and had fish to high 30s no problem at all, great to cast and play on.

Thanks to all for your help!...not sure what to do ...thinking about Free Spirit S-lite and E-class.. Thanks again

In reply to Post #11
S lites are brilliant rods mate that's the ones I have got, I've got them in 12fts and 10fts

In reply to Post #12
I loved playing fish on my 12ft Avid Curvex, and regret getting rid of them..but I have 9ft Powermesh (2.75tc) and 10ft scopes (3.5tc) love playing on the smaller rods, just feel less cumbersome to me. Powermesh are hands down the best.

I don't fish massive waters, so don't see the need for larger rods, just very weedy waters with bags, hence the high tc on the scopes.

Tbh, never had an issue with any size, I think the whole debate is probably made out to be a larger issue than it is.

In reply to Post #1
The only reason I bought some shorter rods (9ft extricators) was for stalking in tight overgrown swims, they really come into there own when used like that, if your going to fish normal open swims with plenty of overhead clearance I don't see an advantage in anything less than 12ft.

In reply to Post #8
Take away the name and that's probably a 20 quid rod, so not a fair comparison against most people's main rods.
Plus how something feels to you doesn't translate to what's going on at the hook