Maximum rod length?

[Keith Benning]

I'm getting ready to pick up a couple of new rods. What I am wondering is if I could use shorter surf rods as yak trolling rods? I am looking at getting the rods for ocean fishing and it would be nice if I could kill two birds with one stone. What is the maximum rod length any of you would use in a yak? At what length does the rod become too much of a pain in the a$$?

 

Thanks

[Okie]

The butt length is the issue more than the overall rod length. For myself

[mako20ft]

7' is my maximum comfortably. Consider the butt length as you can't turn to clear it as you cast. Another small thing is the butt cap. Not like you can't replace that part but keep it in mind.

 

If you want something that performs waaayyy better than the price tag would have you believe. Check out the Ugly Stik Tiger Lite series. Not the regular Tiger series but just the Lite. The 6'6" conventional or the 6'9" spinning versions are top rate with all Fuji components. They're also a blend of graphite and fiberglass; slightly parabolic but nice backbone. I've handled bass up 40" and never felt undergunned.

 

Dutch

[Just4fun]

You want to make sure that you have enough rod length so you can get the tip around the front of your yak for when a big fish goes from one side of the yak to the other,....aside from that, use whatever you're comfortable with! Most of the rods I use are 8ft,..which i do not find cumbersome at all!

[Keith Benning]

I was actually playing around with the idea of using ugly sticks for yak rods. I figure being a rookie at it, and being prone to Clark Griswold type calamities, ugly sticks might not be a bad idea to use for dedicated kayak rods. I will have to check out the tiger ones, have not seen them before.

[Stargoat]

As my wife says "A fish does not know what kind of rod you have." but for my input I love Ugly Sticks. The price will not break the bank and if you loose one it will not hurt to bad, unless a 40" striper is on the other end. I use them for surf (8' and 9'), deep sea (6'), and 7' for kayaking Hobie Pro Angler). I will be buying a couple of Tigers in a few weeks to use at Jbay this year. Good luck with whatever you choose. Tight lines!

[crabbyt]

i have 2 tiger lites on my yak a spinner and a conv. they r both 6'6" and work great they can handle anything from small fluke 2 large stripers can't go wrong with them

[l.i.fish.in.vt]

Keith,for fishing plugs off the kayak i use either a8ft. tsunami or an 8.5 foot lami triflex.i also have an ugly stix tigerlite,6'9''that i use for all other type fishing from the yak.,other than tube and worm which i use a 7ft conventional with lead core.

[barrell]

I'm getting ready to pick up a couple of new rods. What I am wondering is if I could use shorter surf rods as yak trolling rods? I am looking at getting the rods for ocean fishing and it would be nice if I could kill two birds with one stone. What is the maximum rod length any of you would use in a yak? At what length does the rod become too much of a pain in the a$$?

 

Thanks

 

You can use anything you want but when it comes time to land a large fish you need to pull it toward your hand using the opposite hand. Any rod over 6-6 puts the fish further out of reach. A 6-6 mh with the right tip action and 20 to 30 pound braid can cast very far and land pretty much any fish youl ever see on the east coast.

You dont need to go around the bow. Getting a fish stuck on the wrong side of the yak is a begginer move that should never happen. If you hold the rod low to the water and perpendicular to the yak the kayak will spin like a compass and the fish will never end up on the wrong side. Of course Hobie guys can just spin the kayakl at will.

[scootermsp]

7' is my maximum comfortably. Consider the butt length as you can't turn to clear it as you cast. Another small thing is the butt cap. Not like you can't replace that part but keep it in mind.

 

 

If you want something that performs waaayyy better than the price tag would have you believe. Check out the Ugly Stik Tiger Lite series. Not the regular Tiger series but just the Lite. The 6'6" conventional or the 6'9" spinning versions are top rate with all Fuji components. They're also a blend of graphite and fiberglass; slightly parabolic but nice backbone. I've handled bass up 40" and never felt undergunned.

 

 

Dutch

 

I SECOND the Ugly Stik Tiger Lite rods. I also have a G Loomis Pro-Blue and for the $59 price tag, the Tiger Lite cannot be beat. I find the Tiger Lite pairs well with a Shimano Cardiff 400. I use 50# P-Pro braid on same. Rod, Reel, and line can be had for about $180 total, not too bad. I also agree that a 6'6" rod is optimal for a Yak. I have both 6'6" and 7' rods for the yak and would not go longer than that.

[bentstick]

Biggest rod I've used out of the yak was an 8 foot lami, it was great for making a long cast but I did have a problem or two trying to unwrap a line around the top guide.

P.S. I also broke that rod on a crash landing.

Basically sticking with 7 foot rods now.

2 piece rods are plus.

[Shipwreck]

Tiger Lites are beasts. Great rod for the money. We sell a ton for boat jigging guys.

[Terasec]

As others have said, short butt, and rod long enough to reach around the yak,

 

Problem with going to big is if/when you need to change lures and/or when line breaks,

 

Eventually you will need to feed the line through the guides which will be a pain with a long rod on a yak.

[Keith Benning]

I have two Abu Garcia 7000 C's that I am going to send to a guy to get worked on so I can use them for casting. I plan on using them on a trip out to the east coast and florida. The plan is to troll live bait and pitch plugs. The ones I was thinking of were the Tiger Lite 6'9" 1 pc M rod rated for 10 to 25lb line and 1/2 to 3 oz lure weight. They have the shorter handle, so it sounds like that should work better out of the yak. Thanks for all the advice guys!

[Shipwreck]

You dont need to go around the bow. Getting a fish stuck on the wrong side of the yak is a begginer move that should never happen. If you hold the rod low to the water and perpendicular to the yak the kayak will spin like a compass and the fish will never end up on the wrong side.

 

True.

 

Do not get hung up on going around the boat. Just get the rod low even if 3/4 is in the water and even a small blue will spin you right around. I think I have gone around my bow 2 or 3 times over the years and thats just cause I felt like it. Another nice thing about an Ugly Stick is you can just hack off a few inches off the butt if you decide....wish you could do that to yer wife huh?