Jim Tutt still relies on 6-foot and 6-6 rods when accuracy is a must .
“ Andy is a tall guy with really long arms , so he ’ s naturally higher above the water than me – I ’ m 5-11 – when he ’ s fishing ,” Bolton says . “ He can throw a 7 1 / 2-footer like I throw a 6 1 / 2- footer . The height factor is really important , in my opinion .”
Roll-Cast Accuracy
The Kentucky pro adds that he finds a shorter rod to be particularly advantageous when performing low-trajectory roll-casts with everything from spinnerbaits to Texas rigs .
“ I like a shorter rod , like a 6-6 , around boat docks where you are having to cast under cables , support arms or the dock itself , or when making tight casts around bushes , stumps , low-hanging limbs and other bank cover ,” he says . “ I think it gives you a little better angle to keep the bait at a low trajectory . It helps you lay the bait into tight spots much softer and more accurately .”
Bolton believes making subtle , precise presentations can be especially beneficial when bass are relating to isolated pockets of shade or holding tight to cover during the spawn .
“ There are times when the difference between a good cast and bad cast is about an inch ,” he explains . “ An inch too far and you ’ re hung up or the fish doesn ’ t bite it . It ’ s a big deal during the spawn , when the fish are holding tight to cover . The key is to get the bait in there soft to get the drop on the fish and then hope its protective instincts kick in .”
Tutt says a 6-6 , medium-heavy rod played a big role in his fourth-place finish in the 2016 Costa FLW Series event on Fort Gibson Lake . He was fishing shallow laydowns up the Grand River , and making accurate , subtle entry presentations with a ChatterBait was an important key to getting bit .
Less Fatigue , Easier Manipulation
Two more reasons Tutt prefers short rods over long ones are related to physics . For starters , he thinks a shorter rod is more sensitive for feeling subtle bites . The Ranger pro also says it isn ’ t necessary to move a 6-foot rod as far to impart action to a Zara Spook or a Senko , and it ’ s lightweight , which results in less fatigue at the end of the day .
Similarly , walking-style topwaters , poppers and jerkbaits are typically brought to life by the angler using staggered twitches of the rod tip , and Bolton believes it is much easier to accomplish and maintain the proper cadence using a short rod with a softer action .
“ I ’ ll even use a shorter rod like a 6-10 when I ’ m lifting and dropping spinnerbaits on ledges in open water ,” he says . “ I think it makes me a little faster on the hookset if a fish bites the bait on the fall , too .”
Other design elements of the rod factor in , too . For instance , Tutt prefers a rod with a short 8- to 10-inch handle for baits that require a lot of rod tip manipulation .
Naturally , there are anglers who will always prefer longer rods because they match up better with their physical build . There are also techniques and presentations – long-distance casting , pitching , lobbing big swimbaits , flipping , extra-deep cranking , etc . – where a longer rod constitutes a definite advantage . Still , short rods have their place as well . They can deliver impressive casting accuracy in close quarters and render easy bait manipulation with low user fatigue . That alone makes them valuable tools for tournament anglers .
SHORT-ROD CHOICES
Terry Bolton :
Jerkbaits / Small crankbaits / Small topwaters – 6-8 , medium-light , fast-action Lew ’ s custom speed stick series
Spinnerbaits / ChatterBaits – 6-10 , medium-heavy , fast-action Lew ’ s custom Lite speed stick series
Poppers / Walking topwaters – 6-8 , medium-light , fast-action Team Lew ’ s custom Lite speed stick
Small spinnerbaits / Bladed jigs / Topwaters – 6- 10 , medium-heavy , fast-action Team Lew ’ s custom Pro speed stick series
Jim Tutt :
Topwaters / Senkos / Jerkbaits – 6-foot , mediumaction rod with a medium-fast tip and a short 8- to 10-inch handle
Spinnerbaits / ChatterBaits / Texas rigs / Squarebills – 6-6 , medium-heavy rod with a fairly stiff tip ■
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FLWFISHING . COM I FEBRUARY-MARCH 2018