Ok, so I've got a new toy with the Garmin Livescope and like all new toys, it makes me think I need something else new. It's like the law of toys for fishing, right? I had been using Pro Angler 8 ft rods, but with LS it looks like I need to go longer, for stumps, subsurface brush, etc. I had us on a good spot, my boy and I, and where we needed to be always seemed to be a foot or two farther away.

So the question is how long? What is the sweet spot length for you and why?

I fish a 10' and 10.5' rod prob 70% of the time. I use a 13' the rest.

So I'm sure its been answered, but why should or would you need to go from 8' to 10' or 13'?

With Livescope you can see how far the fish are in front of the transducer. So if you pull up to your spot and hit spot lock, especially when fishing the timber, you pull up and stay 3' off of the timber so not to mark up your boat against the timber, the boat may drift 4 or 5 foot back and forth. A longer rod will allow you to drop the bait without having to re adjust your boat position.

Thanks, that makes sense

I recently purchased an 11' ACC crappie stick. ACC makes the best long rods out there, they are not flimsy, and are not heavy, and have great sensitivity.

Also the closer you get to being "over" the fish the more spooky they will become.

^^

David, I was looking at that ACC for my go to pole. I see it a lot on video's and happy users. BTW, Are you really driving from Weatherford to fish RR a lot?

I am going to have to put some longer rods in the boat and force myself to get use to them

I like the 8 ft, 10 ft feels awkward, I can't image using a 12.

good luck

Mo

Some people using LS have gone to 12' rods. The closer you get to the fish, the spookier they get. Bigger fish are more likely to swim away the closer you get. And the fish that stay may not bite as easily. Folks say, "I always caught plenty of fish." True. But once you see LS, you determine there were plenty you didn't catch.

While all of the above is probably true, Watch the Videos that Gary Paris does. He catches lots of nice crappie and is using what appears to be a fairly short spinning rod.

I am using 10' Pro Angler rods. 10' rods are cumbersome enough on a boat. I expect 12+ is even worse.

Wayne

I use 10 & 12 ft ACC rods, and have a 13 ft rod I made when the fish are spooky. I carry a couple of 7.5ft light action spinning rods, but I'm finding I'm using them less and less.

The good news -- Livescope will show you a lot of fish. The bad news -- you will see a lot fish that you can't catch. You'll see fish swim away from a brush pile or timber as you get closer. LS will open your eyes as to how many fish are really around and how they act when the you approach.

I use both. I think a longer rod is more useful in timber and shallow situations, but fishing over deeper brush piles I prefer the shorter rod. I find those long rods to be a PITA. If you're fishing 15' to 20' down, the difference between a 6' and 11' rod is going to amount to about a foot difference or less in distance between the fish and your trolling motor prop. Use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate it for yourself.

I fish it at least 40 to 50 times a year and have been since 1989 - it's my all time favorite.
Fish PK prolly 10 times a year
Fish Fork about 3 times a year
and Athens at least 5 times a year so driving is not an issue for me, I'm going where the fish are.

I have started fishing Weatherford this year, but only when it's cold.