Topwater Rod

[jooleyen]

For those with experience............

What is your favorite length and action for topwater rods?

I'm guessing I'll be fishing in clear lakes most of the time, so should I get a 6'6" for distance, or will I be alright with a 6'0? I want a medium action, but the length is my main concern.

Thanks

[lunker-lander]

Depends...

Will it be for poppers or things like Sammy's and Spook's? If it's for poppers and like, I'd go with about 6', ML. Otherwise, you'd want more of a 'medium' length rod. 6'6'' or around there; M or MH power, depending on what weights you will be throwing.

-Lunk-

[3dkicker]

J - depends on how tall you are. My primary topwater rod is a 5'10" Med/Hvy glass rod. The handle is shorter than my other baitcasting rods also. I'm able to work poppers and spooks better with the shorter rod. Some guys like the pistol grips for their topwater. And depending on the type of cover you are fishing may change the power or action. Mine works well in the dense hydrilla and milfoil I fish and I have no problem in open water. I don't make a lot of long casts so my hook ups don't suffer either.

[Cranebird]

I use a old Berkley Ken Cook signature series lightning rod 6'2" Medium action rod for sammys and spook jrs.

[Rebbasser]

For big baits like a spook I use a 7' M action American Rodsmith Popping Rod. For all others I use a 6-9 ML Falcon Coastal Topwater Special.

A 6-6 or 7' M action will work fine.

[Hef]

I'm only 5'9" and I prefer a 6'6" rod. I wouldn't go w/ anything shorter, because I want to move more line on the hookset, my opinion though.

[3dkicker]

Hef - just the opposite with me and I'm slightly taller than you. I like a shorter rod which allows me to snap down on the rod tip easier when moving the bait. Can't do it as well with the 6'6".

[Bob Smith]

For most of the topwater baits, poppers, rippers and dawgwalkers I wiegh in with the short rod guys. I have a 6' medium action, short handle (I haven't used a pistol grip since 1985! lol). I find it easier to control my cadence for walking the dog, popping and slurping, twitch and rip, etc.
I can stand comfortably on my front deck and work the rod straight down (in front of me) or to either side without bumping into stuff. It just feels more natural to me.

[jooleyen]

Well thanks guys. This will help me when the time to buy a topwater rod comes.

[3dkicker]

Bob - I've purchased a few 5' or shorter pistol grips over the last couple years but I've broken the tips off of them. They're sweet rods to whip little spinnerbaits or other small baits under docks. The longer 6' hvy/mod pistol grips work nicely for poppers, etc.

[JB]

I used to fish a 5-8 med rod for topwater, then went to a 6-6 MH for long distance (spook rod), for rouges and pop r i am using a 6 ft med.
Depends alot if you are on a boat, or fishing from shore, the height of the boat in the water allows you a tad longer rod.

[zooker]

i want one short enough that it don't hit the water. and long enough to pull slack out real fast.. mine is a mid handle broken 6'3'' used to be mh now a very stiff heavy action rod.

zooker

[BigBassin144]

6'-6'3" Mh

bb