When fishing out of a Yak, do you use a different rod length from one that you would use in a real bass boat? or did you stick to one size length rod for everything?

I typically feel more comfortable with a 7 foot rod. However when I started Yakking a few years ago, I pulled out my old short rods. (6 and half feet- 6.6ft) Just felt like a shorter rod worked better in this situation for me.

About to get the Yak out soon and wanted to see what our prefer or suggest?

I fish with 7 ft rods and they seem to work well. Some with a kayak like even longer rods for when the
fish circle the kayak .

By the way, made my kayak watertight (it was the scupper holes so thanks for that advice).

Trying to found a use for some old shorter rods. Didn't know exactly what Rod length was suggested when sitting lower. maybe longer for leverage?

Have the same question myself. Will be following this thread.

Just one guys opinion here and I am a part time yakker part time boater, mostly boater. For me it is harder to set the hook while fishing baits like buzz baits and frogs from a yak so more leverage (longer rod with a faster action) is better.

I pretty much use the same ones that I use on a boat. It’s a lot more difficult for me to work walking baits, but I still try. Flipping isn’t as easy either. I even use my 7’10” A-Rig rods with no problems.

I think this is going to be one of those perpetual arguments where no side is right

from my perspective - I use the same rods in my kayak as in the boat BUT there are some big differences in how you use a rod in a kayak and in a boat. Those differences can cause issues on certain baits (as someone mentioned above), styles of fishing, and with certain fish - that would lead to some rods being better in a kayak than what you would use in a boat. In a boat you can easily stand up - most kayaks (even the standing ones) you are sitting much more of the time and the sitting position is a lot lower both ergonomically and practically(closer to the water). Also some people are going to have a harder time balancing a hard hook set in a kayak - which changes what pole would work best for them.

I think the only fixed requirement I have is that i have to be able to get the tip of the rod while hooked on my targeted fish - around the front of my kayak while sitting in the seat. That said - even in my 12' yak i can get a 5'6" ultralight rod around the front (long arms help) - unless I'm fighting a large catfish/gar on what was supposed to be a crappie

I bought a few shorter rods for kayak fishing. I still use them occasionally but mostly went back to my 7' +- rods.

i like short rods
under 6 foot
easier to cast
easier to handle in the ride
i think the hook set is better on a short rod
not as much give
you can go under things easier

With my internal rod tubes I can go up to 9ish feet but it gets quite uncomfortable trying to put them in and take them out. Same with very short rods. When resting the rod butt in the molded resting place the tip won't extend into the rod tube. So really anything 6 feet to 7 feet is perfect for my setup.

It took me two years fishing from a yak to buy new rods. I went longer because I lost fish because I could not take up enough slack to set the hook like I’m used to.

Depends. I'm crappie only, but for me 6.5' is my go-to. Long enough to play a fish around the bow easily. Otherwise shorter is easier to handle or shoot under stuff.

I use normal length and power rods, meaning, the same rods I’d use if I primarily fished out of a bass boat.

By way of context, I always tended toward shorter rods (7-0 to 7-6) even when I was fishing out of a boat.

When I went to a Kayak, I moved down to 6'-6" bass rods, mostly medium heavy with fast action. I feel that the shorter rods are easier to cast from a sitting position and I can more easily flip and pitch while standing inside the kayak.

I realize that I am giving up some casting distance and some leverage on the hookset. However, I think that I make up for this with more accurate casts.

When crappy fishing I use a 5'-6" ultralight. As El_Torguta highlighted, I cannot play the crappy around the front of the boat nor can I reach deep inside of a brushy timber, but I like the ultralight action for the smaller fish.

I haven't fished out of a boat since I sold mine in 2010. Fishing out of my kayak except for my ultralight panfish rods my rods are all between 6-0 and 6-6. I lose a little something casting distance and leverage, but I find it easier to change baits, unhook fish, and move rods around the kayak with the shorter rods. I don't take a ton of rods out with me either. Usually 3. An ultra light spinning combo, a light spinning combo and a M-H baitcaster.