i've been trying to master this one but am having difficulty, does it not help that the rod i use is 10ft???? should i opt for a smaller maybe 8ft rod??

10ft rod will work, but it's better with a stiffer rod. (no pun intended.. hahaha ) But what I do is have the butt of the rod in between my legs and "jig" with one hand while reeling in with the other

I actually perfer a lighter action rod than a stiffer one. it has more side to side action. I normally use my 7ft light, but if I know that I'm going to be throwing a top water, I'll use the medium.

Mouldy- It just takes practice. I practiced for a long time in my neighbor's pool...