Rod Size

i have ton of freshwater steelhead rods in the 9-10.6 range, some of which can be re-purposed for yak fishing

however, i'm thinking that landing a haflway good size fish, with a 10ft rod, while sitting in kayak could be a challenge and high-sticking would be a regular thing?

so, i'm thinking smaller rods are better in the yak, right? - i picked up a couple of lamiglass 7ft bass rods with the purchase of the boat, these seem like the perfect size and i'm using them happily in the lakes

and know i'm looking at a few inexpensive but very sweet 6.6 rods from OKUMA -Okuma Reflexions Spinning 1pc Rods, they are one pass bass rods with a lifetime warranty that i think would be perfect for small to medium size fish - perfect humpy/coho rod for sure

as for kings and bottom fish and all around big fish targeting/catching unit - i'm thinking of the 6.6 shimano trival casting

would love some feedback on the size thing and my approach above - i just read a post where someone suggested rods need to be over 8ft so that if a fish changes direction you can get around the boat...that doesnt really make sense to me with a 12 ft boat - heck even a 14ft boat...am i missing something?

thanks so much for your assistance!

anthony

Rod sizes are still relative to the fish you're going after but 7' and up is nice. Getting around the bow is a nice feature to have and always remember if you have a fish on, your rod length is going to be shorter because of the bend. That said I still use a 6'6" rod for bassing and a 9' rod for salmon. BTW the Trevala is awesome for rockfish/halibut. Gonna have to get another one of those someday.

Z

I've been using rods in the 8'6" range for Salmon, Bass and trout.  As Zee said, it's important to be able to lead a bigger fish around the front or back of your yak.  "High sticking" becomes a very usefull technique for landing fish when your leader is 6 feet long and you're trying to land a fish from the sitting position.
For groundfish and sturgeon, I've been using rods in the 6  to 7 foot range.  As they don't usually take off on the surface like bats out of hell,  the rotation of the kayak takes care of keeping your line from rubbing on the hull.
 

I can't remember the last time I led a rod around the bow with a fish on.     If the fish goes under the yak, the yak just follows.

-Allen

I can't remember the last time I led a rod around the bow with a fish on.     If the fish goes under the yak, the yak just follows.

-Allen

Haven't caught a Coho or Chinook in a while Allen?   

I can't remember the last time I led a rod around the bow with a fish on.     If the fish goes under the yak, the yak just follows.

-Allen

Haven't caught a Coho or Chinook in a while Allen?   

Hah!  Put the rod tip in the water pointed towards the bow (or stern) when the fish goes that way ... your kayak will follow.  I like to land all fish on the right side of my kayak.  It just feels better to me.  So more often than not I'm fishing on that side and the fight stays on that side.

-Allen

I can't remember the last time I led a rod around the bow with a fish on.     If the fish goes under the yak, the yak just follows.

-Allen

Haven't caught a Coho or Chinook in a while Allen?   

You can tell Pole ain't no light line fisherman either.

Z

I can't remember the last time I led a rod around the bow with a fish on.    If the fish goes under the yak, the yak just follows.

-Allen

Haven't caught a Coho or Chinook in a while Allen?  

You can tell Pole ain't no light line fisherman either.

Z

Hah!  My last 2 CA butts came on the 10# spinning rod.  I'm learning to go lighter.  But you know me too well Zee, I like to put it to 'em.

When a fish runs away from you, do you paddle towards it?  I don't think so.  So why pass the rod to the other side of the yak?  It's part of the game.  I'm just playing devil's advocate here.    Don't take me too seriously.

-Allen

so 6'6 is too short for small to medium fish  (cutts/pinks/coho)?

seems like most of my steelhead rods may not be fast action enough out of the yak and the shortest is 9.6 -

i think i will try them all and see...i dunno why, but i like the idea of using a funky bass rod for salmon all of a sudden...i'll have to at least buy 1 or 3

is high sticking just a way of life in the yak?

so 6'6 is too short for small to medium fish  (cutts/pinks/coho)?

seems like most of my steelhead rods may not be fast action enough out of the yak and the shortest is 9.6 -

i think i will try them all and see...i dunno why, but i like the idea of using a funky bass rod for salmon all of a sudden...i'll have to at least buy 1 or 3

is high sticking just a way of life in the yak?

Match the rod to how you are fishing first and foremost.  I used a 9'6" float rod (8-17# rating) up at Moutcha for salmon.  I also used a slow action 10'6" mooching rod (10-20# rating).  It also worked good.  If you high stick either of these rods they just bend over like a horseshoe.  In the sound I like to use a GLoomis HSR1021C for salmon.  8'6" and supposedly fast action, but limber enough to take high sticking.  I selected these rods not based on the fact that I was fishing out of a kayak, rather they were selected to how I was fishing and what I hoped to accomplish with the rods.

-Allen

I selected these rods not based on the fact that I was fishing out of a kayak, rather they were selected to how I was fishing and what I hoped to accomplish with the rods.

-Allen

Word!

excellent info  - thanks guys!!!

BTW, I do have all sorts of "kayak fishing" rods, including some from Lamiglas, Okuma, and Tsunami.  I don't consider any of these really to be salmon rods.  Some are good for rockfishing.  Most are built with sturdy butts and fast tips suitable for SoCal style fishing.  I do like the shorter rear butts common in these rods, but that's about the only kayak fishing thing specific about them (Okuma has the leash attach point, but I don't really like that setup).  They are all either 7' or 7'6" long.  There are some claims about special blanks that are more tolerant of high sticking, but really, how many of you have broken a rod high sticking on a kayak.  I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but my gut tells me the rate is about the same for any other style of fishing.

-Allen

I've broken more rods casting than I have high-sticking.  I have 3 rods that I'll likely have in my boat most times. 7'8", 7'10", and 9'6". One of the 7+ rods is a single piece, but shouldn't be a problem with the T15. 
Might turn my 10' surf rod into a flag mast...

Rod size?  Dudes, I've written the end-all thesis on demonstrative actions associated with rod size conveyance.  If you're trying to inform the chicks at Hagg that you have huge rod size, make sure you have at least 4 subwoofers on your checkerboard-painted wake tower.

Seriously, though, with regard to this issue, has anyone tried the Emmrods (http://www.emmrod.com/index.cfm?page=products.cfm) yet?  My buddy's son just bought one, and is infatuated with it.  Seems like it'd make a bit of sense for us SINK guys.  Since I don't fish much, I thought about stowing one for occasional use......

Thoughts/reviews?