I started with a 5' rod (couple of decades ago) and it did fine, just took a lot of arm/shoulder motion to insure a good hookset at any appreciable distance. Got a 5'6" ESP UL as a fieldtester and used it for many years, especially for shooting docks. Got a 6'6" ESP PowerLite as a fieldtester and started using it as my primary jig "casting" rod ... and left the 5'6" ESP to shooting docks and casting Road Runners in shallow water @ close range. Broke the 5'6" ESP (my fault) and replaced it with a 6' Ardent combo.
Any quality made 6' -7' rod of med to med lite power and a fast to very fast tip action will make a fine jig casting rod. IMHO
If I were going to "buy" another 6'6" ESP PowerLite ... I'd buy it from Grizzly Jigs. They're about $10 cheaper than from Norsemen Outdoors (parent company), plus there's not any local stores that carry the ESP line of rods.

