I am pretty sure I know the answer but I wanted to double check on here to make sure. I have a friend who wants a 5'6'' inch rod but most of the blanks that are heavy enough to do the job are mostly 6 ft. Cutting 6 inches off the butt of a 6 ft rod to make it work wont affect the action of most rods unless it is a slow action rod that flexes all the way to the reel seat, right?

Nope. Anything removed from a blank will slow the action ... doesn't matter which end.

Cutting a blank, on either end will always make it slower. Cutting at the butt will make it not quite as strong. Cutting at tip might allow a little more casting weight.

I'd say the real answer to your question is heavily dependent on blank and intended usage. There are a great many salt water blanks where it would make little difference to trim 6 inches off the butt.

Russ in Hollywood, FL.

It is a saltwater blank, gonna be used for fishing off a pier with 50lb+ braid. Sorry, i should have mentioned that.

Sure,
Go ahead and cut 6 inches off the butt and your client will be very happy with the result.

I do the exact same thing up in the north country as well. Will the action change? Sure. Will it affect your fishing off the pier? Nope.

Be safe

Would a vertical jigging blank work? Some of them are 5'6" or around there. Bushido has a 5'8" model that may be what you're looking for. There are also some that size in the american tackle atx lineup.

Jeremy Reed
Reed Rods

First question I would ask is why it has to be 5'6"? Is 6"s longer going to make a big difference to him?

I made a list of several blanks that will work and some are 6 ft which is why I was wondering about trimming the butt. If it was me I would be wanting a longer one but she has her eye on another custom rod and it is 5'6'' and she wants one similar to it. I would suggest 6 foot or more but ultimately it is her decision.

That's for sure, customer always right! :>)