My ultralite rod is 6 foot sofar for 3 years straight I have not missed a single fish with it when trout fishing. My wife doesnt like a rod thats longer in length then she is tall so she sticks with 5 foot or shorter rods but she misses fish after fish she rips the hook right out of their mouth. ive tried to explain to her about correct leverage and stiffness of a rod but she wont listen shes quite stubborn. but deffinately finding the right rod is key, fishing rods arent all the same as many seem to think.