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10 Foot Rods - Bassmaster Rule Change and Will You Change Your Gear?

As I'm sure many of you have seen, BASS changed their current gear rules from 8 foot maximum length rods to 10 foot. Despite there not being a rule in most circuits against longer rods, including Northwest Bass (at least to my knowledge), this new ruling by BASS will probably open some eyes for anglers and rod manufacturers alike to what can be done with a longer rod. In Skeet Reese's article on bassmaster here: http://www.bassmaster.com/skeet-reese/birth-10-foot-bass he discusses how a long rod will allow anglers to use lighter line and increase casting distance. He also mentions the benefits of a long rod for casting distance, specifically with lures such as crankbaits/swimbaits. Here's my thoughts and how I think it could benefit the angler:

#1 - The biggest advantage I see over all else is the ability to throw a moving bait much further with a long rod. This would allow you to get a crankbait down deeper, keep your crank/swimbait/spinnerbait in the strike zone longer, get your lure further away from the boat - specifically important for very clear lakes or pressured fish, and cover alot more water effectively. I see the increased casting distance as the absolute #1 benefit of a longer rod in bass fishing for everything from the baits outlined above, to throwing a buzzbait all the way across crab creek. The downside, you will not have the accuracy or control when you get into closer quarters, or or need to place your bait in a specific area or around a piece of cover ( at least for traditional casting - see below for my thoughts on flipping). 

#2 - I think in terms of bed fishing, a 10' rod could be a game changer. Not necessarily by just using it as a cane pole and doodling it above a fish (although this could certainly work in some scenarios), but where you can get a bait and how you can pull a fish out of a spot with a longer rod. For example, how many times have you had to try to skip your lure under a dock, boat lift, overhanging tree, or other to get to the bed, making repeated casts, spooking the fish in the process multiple times and having to wait for it to come back and often times putting you in a bad position to land the fish once you have made the right cast? I can't even count the numbers of times this happens to me. If I had the right action rod that was 10 foot with gear to handle the scenario, I could see a situation where the extra length, would allow me to "drop" the bait right where it needs to be, albeit spooking the fish in the process likely, but getting my bait in the sweet spot without repeated casts and once hooked potentially using the extra leverage of the long rod to get the fish up and over, around, under, or whatever it may be from the structure. 

#3 - Finally, the real reason the rule was in place as Skeet outlined in his article - "dipping" for bass with the long rod. I can see where this would be huge benefit to the angler, not just from the ability to raise and lower your bait into specific spots with pinpoint accuracy and the most subtle of presentations, but also from the extra leverage you get from raising up on a fish with a longer rod and getting them out of the junk. Pair this with the braided line that they didn't have back in the day and it could be pretty freaking deadly. Now - this will take a unique rod and you'll probably have to lift weights and eat your wheaties to be able to handle a 10 foot rod that would have enough power to do the job (Boomer - I expect you on this j/k). That's probably why I'll stick with my 8 footer, but it certainly has my gears turning.

In general, I think there will always be a need for the traditional 6'6-8' rods we as bass anglers use on a regular basis. You won't see me carrying around a full arsenal of 10 footers hanging off the side of my boat deck, but don't be surprised if you see one or two! 

Looking forward to hearing everyone else's thoughts. 

 

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Replies to This Discussion

I think we should be allowed to "Dynamite" them off the beds. Seems pretty sporting to me. Kinda like the Tribes and their nets-------------I vote NO. The woman of the house votes yes. She believes 10" is better than 8", not sure what she meant?

I agree with DS.

what a waste of time. I wonder which rod companies will over extend themselves trying to create the next beta-max.

The fish gets more leverage with a longer rod, the angler is on the wrong side of the lever.

All this talk about 10 ft. rods has Jake spinning...

Not just the rod companies. We are talking 24' bass boats that have rod lockers big enough to holster 10' rods. Now to get them to run mid to upper 70's, we will allow twin 250 hp motors and pay $90K to own one. Have we lost our vision of a great sport?

Jake Anderson said:

I agree with DS.

what a waste of time. I wonder which rod companies will over extend themselves trying to create the next beta-max.

As I read further into the bassmaster article by Skeet Reese, I can't find anything compelling in his argument.

I don't need to throw a dropshot or tube farther than I already can.   It would be nice to cast a crankbait farther, but I'm not completely convinced that a foot or two extra will accomplish that.  If you got all nerded out about it, I bet you'd find a diminishing rate of return on a crankbait once you get to a certain distance.   A crankbait isn't a bullet.  It is a sail.   At some point wind resistance makes rod selection a non factor.

You'll see some epic backlashes, some fish that get messed up, so bad break-offs, bent hooks, and some poor marshall with a 10xd in his face. 

What is sad is that this comes across like Skeet trying to piss all over things in order to put a spotlight on wright and mcgill.

FLW doesn't have a rod limit.  You don't see 10 footers being used.

Great points Jake - interesting about FLW. 

Jake Anderson said:

As I read further into the bassmaster article by Skeet Reese, I can't find anything compelling in his argument.

I don't need to throw a dropshot or tube farther than I already can.   It would be nice to cast a crankbait farther, but I'm not completely convinced that a foot or two extra will accomplish that.  If you got all nerded out about it, I bet you'd find a diminishing rate of return on a crankbait once you get to a certain distance.   A crankbait isn't a bullet.  It is a sail.   At some point wind resistance makes rod selection a non factor.

You'll see some epic backlashes, some fish that get messed up, so bad break-offs, bent hooks, and some poor marshall with a 10xd in his face. 

What is sad is that this comes across like Skeet trying to piss all over things in order to put a spotlight on wright and mcgill.

FLW doesn't have a rod limit.  You don't see 10 footers being used.

The only time I can see a rod over 8'6" having advantages is when throwing BIG swimbaits. I'm talking baits such as the mother, mother triple, hinkle trout, etc. That's simply because shorter rods aren't able to load up like the Dobyns 908 that is 8'10" for example and you can't keep fish pinned well with a shorter rod when fishing these giant treble hook baits. It's a lot tougher to control a fish with a longer rod, IMO. I can see bumping the limit up to 9'0 for those tour pros that like to throw big baits, but 10' is over board. a 10' rod is not practical in bass fishing like it is for steelhead or salmon fishing.

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