well I had a lot of rods over the years I saved as the kids etc had a go at them....last year I sat back and looked at the pile of odds and ends so pieced together 3 home made ones from the pile....keeping them 36'ish or less....from a pro's perspective they are not laker rods, big pike rods but they got good reels on them and run 20lbs braid and they catch from perch to lakers
If I was to purchase dedicated rods again it would be 36"ish or less medium/hard. large eye lets and a good reel too.
I also use my small rods for yak fishing for lakers and eyes as I find them very easy to move around in tight spaces