up here we use shorter rods with center pins while fishing the smaller creeks. Lots of guys use 9' 8wt and 10' 9wt fly rod blanks to make these rods. Custom done handles and guides that are not chrome plated snakes are used. If your fly rods are factory built with an extension butt, you should change the guides has the chrome snakes get line grooves very quickly when used a few days.