I generally prefer longer rods for their line control and distance-casting ability, but for casting spinners and spoons all day long, I've found that a shorter rod is much more comfortable and even more accurate. During the past Coho season, I used a one-piece 6'6" casting rod and it was a blast.

I also feel that color/finish matters little in most situations, so instead of buying the gold or other pricey finishes, I use fluorescent tapes on the spinners and spoons. My favorite color is green and blue, perhaps because those colors are more visible in deeper depths than red and orange.