The Long & Short of It
Short Rods
I remember a cover photo on Fly Fisherman magazine from a billion years ago. Lefty Kreh was shown breaking a bundle of short rods over his knee. His opinion was longer rods are more versatile than shorter rods. Further, he believed fly fishermen were handicapping themselves with shorter rods. Having more than 45 years of fly fishing experience and many years as a guide, I have to agree. Even Archimedes agrees – to a point. I say this up front so you can turn the page if you adamantly disagree. If you’re on the fence, read on. We can argue the fine points later.
For most fishing conditions, longer rods give more line control and this translates into greater accuracy in all situations. This means more hook-ups by the end of the day. I’m not even convinced a short rod, 6-feet and under, is ever an advantage.
Longer rods are more forgiving of timing mistakes. I think this is obvious because longer rods use a slower pace to deliver the same distance as a cast with a shorter rod. If you’re casting at a faster pace, there’s less time for corrections. Here are some examples:
Loop control. Sometimes a slower cast is necessary so you can make final adjustments before the fly lands and get the fly exactly where it needs to be. Having the extra reach gives more time for adjustments. This can be the difference between catching, or not catching, educated fish.
Mending. Longer reach means more line off the water and greater possible reach. This means more effective mending because a larger mend can be delivered rather than several shorter ones.
Other line manipulations. You can throw a hook-cast in either direction simply by twisting your wrist on the forward cast. The longer rod throws a larger hook because the rod tip travels a longer distance.
Dapping. This is an ancient technique from the “olden” days. Back then there was no forward cast. Instead, the fly was simply allowed to hang straight down from the rod tip. The longer the rod, the greater the reach. Same hold true these days.
Distance. Longer casts are easier because the tip is traveling a longer distance with a long rod over the same time than with a short rod. Both rods may be loading properly but the longer rod can achieve greater velocity because the distance the tip travels is greater. Remember Archimedes from ancient Greek History? The longer rod is a longer lever.
It sounds counter intuitive but I think a longer rod will keep your back cast out of the trees more readily than a short rod. Why? – You have more control over both the forward and back cast with a longer rod. Trying to snake a back cast into a hole in the foliage is easier to accomplish due to the increased control you have with a longer rod.
How about the old claim that it’s easier to make your way through dense streamside cover with a shorter rod? I’ve been tangled up in the bushes with 9-footers as well as 6-footers. Again, I don’t see a distinct advantage with a short rod because I’m in the habit of taking the rod apart when I have to crawl around in the pucker brush. The few seconds this takes is well worth avoiding the frustration that comes with getting tangled in the brush, regardless of the rod’s length.
There was a time you had to go with a short rod to get something especially light and capable for handling a light line. Not so anymore. These days, even 9-footers are light in the hand and capable of delivering light lines.
Sometimes the traditional ways are best. It’s like the old bumper sticker says – “Fly fishermen have longer rods.” Live up to those expectations.
Tony Lolli is a broken down fly fishing guide, freelance writer, sheriff’s deputy and ne’er-do-well from northeastern Vermont. His book, Go-To Flies: 101 Patterns the Pros Use When All Else Fails, is available through bookstores and Amazon.com.
