Above, I said I used a 5 1/2 foot rod. I prefer a longer rod, but I carry the smaller one because I can lash it against the thwarts when it is not in use. I try to have no items that need to be hand carried on portages. Longer rods, when lashed against the thwarts, do not snuggle to the gunnel as well as the shorter rod.

As for the long handle, the principal advantage, in my opinion, of the long handle is that it permits two-handed casts. Two-handed casts are much more accurate than the single-handed jobs.

Many years ago, ferrules were weak spots in rods. No longer the case. If you can find a two-piece bait caster, go for it. Bass Pro Shops has some two-piece bait casters. I have a two-piece Bass Pro Shops Pete Maina rod (no longer sold under that name) and a two-piece St. Croix. If I were going to go to a two-piece rod, I would make a rod tube of PVC pipe and lash the rod tube to the canoe, backpack, or stuff the tube in a backpack.