Whither the 'runt rod'?

Credit where due. Nash created a whole new market with its pioneering Scope ‘extendable butt’ rods, spawning a gazillion me-too ranges - not least the (considerably cheaper) Wychwood Recoils and JRC Rovas. I have to wonder, though - celeb-angler endorsement aside - what’s the appeal?

I mean, I get the attraction of short rods (or ‘runt rods’, as a pal of mine insists on calling them): they’re light and easy to transport; allow you to access tight, otherwise unfishable, swims; they're great fun to play fish on. And they still allow you to whack a lead 90-100 yards without too much effort.

But … how does a telescopic butt section - effectively creating a three-piece rod (with all its inherent shortcomings) - score over a two-piece 9’ or 10’ alternative? Other than buying you an extra foot or so of packdown length.

Which, unless your fishing wagon of choice is the like of a Fiat 500, is neither here nor there… Is it?

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