"Jarmo Hurri" schrieb im Newsbeitrag
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The discussion about small-stream rods in a thread above brought to my
mind a closely related question I've been thinking about recently.

Generally speaking, I prefer the longest rod I can comfortably use. This is
also because I like to use longish leaders. However, on small overgrown
streams, especially if wading is either difficult or restricted, or one
simply does not want to wade, I prefer to use a very short rod. I have a six
foot #3 wt for this. Much longer, and the rod is a liability.

For slightly larger streams, I have a 7´6" #4 wt.

These two are basically my small stream rods. There are occasions, when a
small stream is "open", and with very little undergrowth on the banks etc,
and then I go back to my nine foot #4 wt.

If you dont have a short rod, and find yourself in such a situation, then
just use the top section ( or sections), of a longer rod. For a while I
carried a special butt around with me for the top two sections of my nine
footer. This worked very well, but it was a nuisance carrying the bottom
section around when I was using it.

Some techniques are very difficult with a short rod and short leaders.
Upstream nymphing, and also upstream wet fly fishing generally, are hard to
do with a short rod, as one simply has much less reach and control. Also,
when using short leaders, some things become almost impossible.

TL
MC