Rod sizes for fishing from a kayak

So I have a bunch of fishing poles but they are typically for fishing from shore ( longer, lighter action, not a bunch of backbone to them) i am assuming that everything from a kayak would be shorter and be a bit more stout. is that ssumption correct? or also i just have to put this out there... i hve never used a baitcaster reel before. I have been able to get away with using a spinning reel for every application that i have needed... even sturgeon fishing (you should see how big this reel is but as far as a decent all encompassing set up what should i look for? Im sure there is going to be different rods and reels for different applications so i will narrow it down to 2 different fishing styles... one for jigging(rock fish, halibut and the sort) and one for tossing swimbaits, spinners and other lures actively over n over again.

once again i go to your seasoned knowledge for help. thanks in advance...

You could use a spinning for jigs & casting.  A descent trolling reel would be a good addition.  The rod will depend on your target species.  Salmon/Halibut an 8' rod is still "in the game".  I started with the shorter rod's thinking "shorter is better" on a kayak and now I'm migrating towards longer for certain species.  I still like a short rod for rockfish though.

~Bill

I use one rod for all species. One casting rod. I can jig, cast, troll, whatever I want with it. 7' med light Tiger. I carry one backup rod/reel in case of failure of first. This year I will be using a "Trevala" type rod with a Revo 50 for jigging.

You could use a spinning for jigs & casting.  A descent trolling reel would be a good addition.  The rod will depend on your target species.  Salmon/Halibut an 8' rod is still "in the game".  I started with the shorter rod's thinking "shorter is better" on a kayak and now I'm migrating towards longer for certain species.  I still like a short rod for rockfish though.

~Bill

+1  I use a 4ft rod for RF's and 7.5ft - 8ft  rod for most of other species so I can clear the bow of the kayak.

Whatever you do don't  get a 9.5" rod...it's too long.  I like to learn the hard way...

with the exception of Salmon. Use a rod that is long enough for you get the tip around the bow. For me that is 7ish feet. I pretty much use one rod for RF, butts, WSB (Trevala ML) 7 ft.

Most of my rods are 7'-7'6".  I mostly fish for black bass and stripers, but have an 8'6" rod for river salmon.  A longer rod can make it challenging to land fish, but is totally doable, especially when using grips to lip the fish.

Its not the length of the rod that has caused me issues in the kayak, but rather the length of the handle that I've had to make some changes in my setup to accommodate.  I prefer split grip handles on my rods, and most are 12"-14" long.  The long handle constantly rubs on my rib cage when seated in the yak, so I have transitioned custom rods with 6"-8" split grip handles.  I recently bought a few Clarus and Crucial worm and jig rods that are 7'2" with 6" split grips, and love them.

yeah i think i have a 6' or a 7' ugly stick tiger rod, good beat em up type of rod for the money with my heavy duty spinning reel. I am just afraid that when the day comes and i take it to saltwater the salt is going to damage it. that reel is my baby. lol. i just want to prevent the salt corrosion on it. i have had one die because of that from fishing at bolinas. i was stupid and was swimming out pst the breaking waves with it and my surf rod out to where the sandy could water turns "clearer" then waiting for a swell to lift me up then casting out as far as i can then swimming back with the bail open... then reeling up the slack when i get back to shore to put it in the holder. I had a good day catching leopard and rays but i hooked into something huge that burned that whole reel up... i swear it was a russian submarine. after that it was never the same. I want to go back there and redeem myself soo bad.  I have had fish out there that have bent my rod holders 45degrees to the sand and this was a really heavy guage aluminum holder too.

All my rods are around 7' long and all one piece and I used to be a spinning reel guy also but I found that with practice baitcasters are we're the way to go a abu 6500 on a ugly stick tiger light medium light action is a good all around set up for me, but of course once you get into it you will want a set up or two for each species you go after. Just ask me how I know that lol. 

a good ol'fashioned "SameDayRinse" will cure your worries about salt corrosion. You cant keep it out, but you can keep it at bay for a while. This is why I DO NOT buy expensive ocean gear.
Trevala rod with a TR100 Shimano reel and an Okuma Badarka(sp?) rod w/a Diawa Sealine reel is my go to setup for all things ocean.
7-7.5 ft. rod is about as long as you want it.

yeah i think i have a 6' or a 7' ugly stick tiger rod, good beat em up type of rod for the money with my heavy duty spinning reel. I am just afraid that when the day comes and i take it to saltwater the salt is going to damage it. that reel is my baby. lol. i just want to prevent the salt corrosion on it. i have had one die because of that from fishing at bolinas. i was stupid and was swimming out pst the breaking waves with it and my surf rod out to where the sandy could water turns "clearer" then waiting for a swell to lift me up then casting out as far as i can then swimming back with the bail open... then reeling up the slack when i get back to shore to put it in the holder. I had a good day catching leopard and rays but i hooked into something huge that burned that whole reel up... i swear it was a russian submarine. after that it was never the same. I want to go back there and redeem myself soo bad.  I have had fish out there that have bent my rod holders 45degrees to the sand and this was a really heavy guage aluminum holder too.

So it was YOU who hooked my submarine.

7' is the max for me here in norcal

whatever it was snapped 50# Power Pro braid like it was thread. i wanted to see what could strip line off my reel that fast... i mean you should have seen it. it was like something off of the show Wicked Tuna but if they were using a pole and reel meant for Shad on the American River

Some toothy critter

or a hungry seal?