I sometimes think that these things are what you make them.
I once had one of those pen rods that were all the rage at the time, bought for me as a Christmas present and it was (iirc) the 6' Grandeslam version and around 6 - 8" retracted.
I was quite baffled by it at first but took it out and used it and had some of the most fun fishing I've ever had, even netting a pike around 5lbs.
There's an article somewhere here in the archives by Jeff Woodhouse (second time today Jeff's name has cropped up) which sang their praises.
For a bit of float fishing and a tenner (equivalent brands) I reckon you'd be hard pushed to beat one and you get the reel thrown in too, I think there used to be a record weight of fish caught using the Grandeslam version and it used to be an upper double carp.
All subject to the water being fished and a bit of common sense if there are snags around, of course.
Edited to add: Yep I've found Jeff's review it's here, never mind a bag you can keep this in the glove compartment...
http://www.fishingmagic.com/fm-features/reviews/15003-des_taylor_pocket_rocket_rod.html
Further edit: At the risk of previous ridicule and comments about **** Barton and his dog Snowy (!
) here's the said rod and reel in action with a pike...
It's made me think really, I love this kind of thing and have a 6' Greys G-Lite spinning rod which rarely sees the light of day and which I've always thought would make a great two piece equivalent if I could find a way of grafting a longer handle on to it...
I feel a project coming on