Ed - it is like a real class
On a side note - if your family is asking you to bring some more fish home do what you think is right. My recommendation is that you bring one home on occasion but as a group, we need to be releasing more fish properly. As for length, get a tape - easy and quick. Or run a piece of Electrical tape 29" up from the butt end of the rod. Give yourself a little wiggle room as a rod isn't a measuring device.