Just my .02 have had some friends start flyfishing this year they had
gone out and bought 8' rods brand doesn't matter they were flailing
the line all over the place not getting anywhere..........I lent them
an old cortland 9' cl 5wt and there casting changed dramaticaly I
noticed the same thing when I started a very good friend (long tall
fellow)gave me a cortland 7 or 8 foot 4 weight I couldn't get the damn
thing to go 40 feet i bought thecl 9' and I can cast better
now.........I gues what I am saying is get youself a 9' rod to start I
think the learning curve is shorter once you get used to it then try a
shorter rod