BB,
Questioning is good. It is how we all learn. Lord knows I have asked a lot of casting question over the past 20 years....
There is only one way to find the rod length that works best for you. You have to experiment. Spend time in the field or on the beach casting and trying different configurations. This is best done on a rod with coasters on the butt so you can adjust the reel position. It works for both high and low reel position. If you start with a longer rod and just can't get it around for a proper finish, then moving the reel up (maintaining the same grip width) the butt effectively reduces the casting length of the rod. Anything below your bottom hand is now out of the equation (except for the extra butt being "in the way"). Once you find your best effective length with
that rod, then you have the option to trim the butt if you so desire. This length may change from rod to rod, based on power, stiffness and action. It can take quite a bit of time to get dialed in for max distance on the field, especially if you are working with different rods AND different sinker weights (another thread...).
I personally cast best with a longer rod. For field work I use a full length TTR or M427SU with the reel mounted on the reducer. It is what has proven to work best for me. It is also a fact the every caster has a point that longer = a decrease in performance as they just cannot get the rod around for a powerful finish. Jeremy is a great example of a powerful, top tier caster that has better results with a shorter rod. Distance is about accelerating the sinker through the largest possible arc that you can manage and finishing with a burst of speed/power at the end. A rod that is too long or stiff or heavy can restrict that final acceleration and cost you distance.
IMHO (at the top level) speed is very important. The man that can hit the long rod with technique, power AND speed will usually come out on top.
Long rods/drops are great, but there is no one size fits all answer. Drop length is another thing that requires time in the field to perfect. I've observed guys on the casting court using a drop that is entirely too long and robs them of a powerful finish. Also watched casters that have (IMHO) way too short of a drop and costing distance as well.
When on game, I can make a small change in drop length to correct direction issues.
Paul Kerry is a casting legend. His battles with Blackbeard and Roger Mortimer are the stuff of casting lore. Paul was blessed with speed that few can match. I can assure you though, that Paul did indeed accelerate the sinker through and arc and that his finish was faster than his start. It was just all on a different level that most mortals can manage.
Finally, for those of you wanting to gain yards fishing. Find a rod that is comfortable to you, tweak the drop for best performance and go fishing!!!
Tommy
Tommy
Not to question your pedigree and knowledge, but surely just raising the reel isnt gonna be the same as using a shorter rod.
The drop would be the same unless of course it was raised also.
This then would leave x amount of inches of rod butt swinging about below the reel to get in the way and the "shorter" drop would just make everything happen much faster.
Faster everything just increases the chance of something going wrong.
I can't see a shorter rod and the resulting increase in speed being any advantage.
The longer the rod = a longer drop which = a slower cast with more leverage and more controllability .
I DO however agree with you that rod length and reel position is a personal thing and leads to a happier more comfortable caster.
There are some exceptions to the reel down ,long rod,long drop and the slow in fast out "rule"
A friend of mine back in the uk, you may know him and im sure you have heard of him, Paul Kerry, is a total opposite to the rule.
Having fished with Paul on many occasions and watched him cast, i can honestly say that even at his age (sorry Paul lol) he is just phenominal.
No slow in fast out....he is FAST in and ridiculesly FAST out with the reel mounted HIGH up the butt.
I dont know and have never seen anybody else do it like he does.
Just my opinion, nothing else.
