Shorter cane rods are something that have been around for a long time so i would not say this is something for those used to graphite rods, it is just a matter of personal taste, not all of us like 9´ rods, even on bigger rivers and it seems like it was the same decades ago as well. You even had special "shools" of flyfishing like the one in German or Austria i forgot, who used strong, short, multiple piece cane rods.

But yes, people nowdays are used to graphite rods and i think it is much better to start with a rod that shall feel natural to them than with something that shall seem like being punished. But there is nothing "new" in using short cane rods, those have been around long before first graphite rod. And if those feel more "natural" to people used to graphite rods, even better.

I had a 9´ cane and fished it as well, so i understand what you are saying. Yes there is a certain charm of using cane rod of this lenght as well. But honestly, cane of this lenght is considerably heavier than comparable modern rod and i do not think that many begginers would stick with it for long enought, to start liking it.

BlueOne

That is why I was strongly suggesting that they do indeed stick with it for a longer time. Nothing worth having is gotten easily. The love and natural affinity with a more useful sized cane rod is not easily won. It needs a little working at. Failure to do so means that decades of pleasure could be lost to them. Ignorance may be bliss but it is not always best.

My suggestion to anyone considering cane is to imagine that only cane rods exist so choose a cane rod to do your kind of fishing with and stick with it. The weight becomes unimportant, in fact it becomes unnoticed.

richard

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Who resides on the right bank of the Derbyshire Wye and is lulled to sleep each night by the mutterings of a weir, dreaming that "When the rivers and their inhabitants come first, we ALL win..."

short boo rods are for the weak the shortest I have is a 8'6 for small streams, 9' boo is fine to me, capable to do variety of things as Richard said.
Even Halford the dry fly purist recommends 9'6 to a 11' as a best boo length for drys obviously he was fit enough

its fun to fish bamboo rods, they feel alive, the plastic rod feels dead and is uglier in comparison.

Just like to say Richard
That’s very good advice and I totally agree you need to stick with it. If you pick up a bamboo rod and only use it for a couple of times you will never adjust to the feel and casting rhythm of a good bamboo rod.
Like Richard states when you get yourself a bamboo put your carbons away for a few months .

Gary

Just my take on Cane ,I dont intend fishing my 10foot Ivens ever again too much for me .I might take the Pezon Michel 9 footer out from time to time ,my 7 foot end of Hardys 1980s range is another kettle of fish all together ,that needs a new tip section and will be repaired at some time a superb little rod .My 6'6 agutters job will visit the Hondu next monnow social ,not a rod I cherish but it is ok for that job .
I feel that all the materials including glass have threir place ,on the subject of glass ,I have often thought that the glass rods that were being made as carbon came in were getting very good and sadly their development went away .
For example the Harvester range from Geoff Bucknall were remarkably light and threw an amazing long line ,sadly a little thin walled in the butt section ( managed to blow a couple up mid cast) but with fine tuning they could have equalled many of the first few generations of carbon nrods for resivour work .

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Andy Wren
Winter grayling taking a year off !
Claret not just a great dubbing colour!

I have a 5 foot #3 cane built by our own bbamboo on here

Its sooo light and beautiful to cast in the small streams i fish!

In this short length i prefer one piece rods,more action without the dead spot