Fly Rods: "Walking Sticks"

Read most opinions on extra-long rods and you will find a common thread: they really aren’t necessary. But in saltwater fly fishing especially, strategies are changing, adapting to fish that are more wary than they were 30 years ago.
What do longer, lighter rods do for flats anglers that standard rods can’t? Chico Fernandez takes a close look at the advantages and disadvantages of the latest 9′ 6″ rods being offered by manufacturers in “Walking Sticks.”