Morning Raincatcher,
my salmon rod is a sage flyrod blank built into a spin rod, its finished length is 9'4 and rocks, EXCEPT it is difficult to land fish bymyself in a boat, and it totaly sucks in the wind ( tip is too sensetive and is vibrated and blown back and forth) on the good side it takes sensitive feel to a whole new level, and makes up for any overzelous hook setting I might find myself doing. I have recently found out it is also a friggin amazing bobber set-up rod. I myself would worry more about the rods pedigree, what it is made of and by who, than how long it is. There seems to be a couple rod builders on here, and I think you would be surprised how inexpensive a custom rod can be. Better reel seat, more guides than standard and a qaulity blank and its the last rod you will ever purchase. unless you thrash your gear a lot, Joes has celios for $45 right now, you can buy a couple and throw em away.