Part of the reason was that spinning reels didn’t always have adequate spool capacity for heavier lines, and on baitcasters light line could get behind the spool and cause horrific tangles.

For these reasons, a 5 ½- to 6 ½-foot light to ultra-light rod is ideal for spin fishing for trout. Shorter rods will not only let you work in tighter quarters, but they’ll also do a better ...