I don't have that problem, I'm a short-arse!!
The pool I go to is the size you would use in competitions (I think). it's deep enough. I just make sure Im near something (or someone) to grab.
Yeah I (try to)do the brest stroke, maybe my kicks arent timed well, but its true, every stroke I hardly move at all - my mate can swim up and down the length without any effort into it in the time it takes me to get 2/3rd of the way up. Then I just get think Im unnecessarily wasting my energy. . .