a 6.5 rod is gonna allow you to cast farther and have more leverage i personally liek a 7 foot rod for almost anything spinning rod included i feel like i get more distance and power when fighting fish im also 6 foot 4 so i can handle a longer rod more easily what type of cover do u primarily fish and what type of bass and your lures of choice that should all come into play whne choosing your rod the only thing i could think of having a 6 foot rod for would be casting under docks maybe

A 6' and a 6'6" rod both are good for close in pitching when getting under things and it seems like you have a hair more control with accurracy to me with those length rods at that short of a distance, albeit minute (sometimes it matters though!). Some swear by a shorter rod for close in crankbait sensitivity and the same for extremely deep slowly fished plastics. But you will lose a litle power to fight the fish, but...It has been done plenty times before!

I still prefer  prefer, a 6'6" rod for my Buxxbait fishing when in close.

I have a total of 6 rods and only the spinning rod is 6’. Baitcasting are 6’6” or 7’. I’m tall so the extra length doesn’t bother me. For casting distance a medium heavy with a fast tip is better for me. For plastics and jigs I use either a 6’6” medium heavy or a 7’ heavy depending on cover.

.... look too small!?

I don't think I fish with anything smaller than a 6'9 rod. I like the length for casting and I think I get a better hook set with a longer rod. I've gotten used to fishing with a longer and a 6 or 6 1/2 foot rod just feels short to me now.

i was thinking 6 inches

I use a 6'6'' for my plastics and a 7' for crankin or spinners,  i have a 6' with a ultralight for crappy and perch which i always bring along but i dont use it to often.

I dont own a 6' rod anymore.  I cant throw them or have any use for them.  About the only time I throw a 6'6" is for rogue fishing.  Other then that its 7' or more.

I have 3 bait casting rods all are the same 6'6" ABU Conolon IM7 Med Fast/heavy with ABU Round reels all with 10 lb test line
I use: Some topwaters ( Jitterbugs,spittinImages and larger Jointed Rapalas for ex)
Jig heads with plastics on them
Worms : Mostly Jelly worms and Trick Worms
Cranks : A lot of Bagley and DT stuff
in moderate to very weedy enviorments and these rods do all of that. Most of the bass I catch, are between 1 1/2 to 3 lbs in water 8 to 12 ft deep

I have since taken to buying some Musky Jitterbugs , ms slammers and a few larger baits . I use em for some larger bass i have been targeting and Muskie on the River. I am going to a 7 ft Lamiglass: MH Glass/Graphite hybrid that a friend made for me and i relegated for slat water, out of neccisity other wise it would be 4, of those conolons. I do fine with them for all these uses , my usual casting is with in a 35 yard circle and I do this effortlessly , and with out any peril to my equipment

 My favoirte experience with looking into technigue specific rods was
The Cabelas, All Stars and Srt Croix rods, with one handle the same blank 7 ft MH/Fast is general Purpose and good for lures lets say 1/4 to 3/8 ounces and with another handle they are rated for a slightly bigger lure and specific type, nope I aint buying that >>>Much ado about nothing

what im saying is a 6'6 mh rod isnt the greatest flipping-pitching-frog rod and i havent used any ten pound line in a long time unless its on one of my spinning rods that almost never sees sunlight and just something ive noticed my topwaters seem to do a little better with heavier line

I use 10lb line on most all of my crankbaits unless I'm throwing a square bill in shallow woody cover. I also use a 6'6 rod for most of my topwater fishing. It doesn't wear me out as much when I'm throwing a walking bait or a popper.