Short Guy

[lockhart52]

I am looking for new rod for pitching. I am thinking i should get a smaller rod for more conrtol (6'6" or 6'9"). will a shorter rod hinder me in any way. when i read about pitching/flipping gear it always calls for longer rods.

and if i do use a shorter rod for pitching what kindoff action should i use.

 

thankz

 

[papajoe222]

The shorter rod will hinder you when flipping and by that I mean it will cut down the distance of your flip, so you'll need to get a little closer.  As far as pitching goes, if you're proficient at the manuver, you'd likely see little, if any change in distance. 

That being said, the long rods most of us use serve another purpose and that's in their ability to get the fish's head up and get them out of the cover before they can turn back and bury themselves in the cover.  If you're targeting docks or downed timber, you could get away with a sub seven foot rod, but for heavy brush and weeds, you won't hear me recommend it. In fact, the only one I'd recommen anything shorter than seven feet to would be someone that cannot stand and in that case flipping or pitching would likely be avoided anyway.

[Teal]

I feel like length does improve leverage but iif you are of small stature then a shorter rod would obviously be more comfortable. Remember length is a preference not a requirement. Alot of guys pitch and flip with 7' rods. I cant suggest a length for you that is personal decison.

Power and action depend on what you are using as a lure, weight of lure, and how thick the water iis that u plan on flipping and pitching to. MH, or H is a place to start. Fast action is a good action for pitching jigs and soft soft plastics.

See if any of your friends have a 7' rod that u take for a test drive.

[lockhart52]

i have 7ft and 7'3" rods and have learned to use them; however, i have been worndering if a smaller rod would fit me more.

 

and thank you for the info

[J Francho]

I'm a little guy, and have no issue with rods up to 8'.  That said, I have a 6' 8" G. Loomis 803 jig and worm rod that is phenomonal in tight quarters with fish on a "short leash."  You gain leverage with a shorter rod, and it's especially useful when you are making short pitches, tight to cover.  It's a rod I've really grown to like this past season.

[WRB]

My guess is few anglers today actually flip , most use a modified pitch presentation. The flip presentation doesn't use the reel at all, only the rod and this is why the longer rod is an advantage. The original flipping rods were 12' to 14' long.

If you are fishing heavy shoreline cover like weed mats, bullrush, tullies etc., and the target spot that is about the size of a dinner dish, flipping is the best presentation. However if you are targeting targets 20' to 30' away from your boat bow, then pitching to the spot works far better. In fact a soft and accurate loop cast works great in lieu of pitching if you are moving slowly and targeting specific spots with 1 cast instead of saturating the target with several pitches.

The bottom line is; use whatever rod you cast that presents the lure effectively to the small target area. You don't need to rip the bass out of the water to catch it.

Tom

[LgMouthGambler]

Im 5'7, and my rods are 6'8. My pitching rod is 7'6, and for me it gives me more control to complete the process of the style of casting. The longer rods helps with the straight forward style of slinging the bait.

[mnbassman23]

I'm a shorter guy and I really like a 7-7'3" rod for pitching. (I'll go up to 8' comfortably). Whatever length you practice with will be the one your most accurate with. I use to use shorter rods, but now they feel awkward to me and I like the added distance I get with a 7'+ rod. I usually use a MH action rod unless the cover is really thick, than I'll go with a H.

[Toeshots]

Make sure you factor in the handle length when looking at rods. Longer rods tend to have longer handles, so that 7-footer may not be drastically longer from reel to tip.

I am 5'7" and was convincing myself to stick with 6'6" rods and under. After doing the research and posting here, I decided to go with a 7' MH for pitching. I finally got a chance to use it this last weekend and it felt very comfortable. I found it was easier to pitch with than the 6'6" rod I also had with me.

I would say that 7' should be the shortest you should go with for a pitching just to have a little extra distance and leverage. The longer rods will also pick up more line on a hookset which can sometimes help correct mistakes.

[tbone1993]

i have 7ft and 7'3" rods and have learned to use them; however, i have been worndering if a smaller rod would fit me more.

 

and thank you for the info

 I would stick with the 7ft 3 in length much better distance and power IMO. I recommend the dobyns 735c it is a great rod.  If you havent fished with a shorter rod test it out, for me i dont really like short rods . I feel that they are missing that extra length for many presentations. Then again I am about 6ft 2 so that plays a role.

[0119]

Im not short but prefer shorter rods for all techniques.  Its more about the conditions you fish in.  If you fish from a bass boat a long rod may be fine, but in a yak, canoe, little jon boat, its a pain.  I pitch with a 5'6" pistol grip rod if thats whats in my hands when the target appears.  I think pitching has more to do with the free spool ability or your reel than it does the rod anyway. 

[J Francho]

I think pitching has more to do with the free spool ability or your reel than it does the rod anyway. 

 

Totally agree!  I use a pitch cast with any of my rods, including spinning. In fact, I bet I pitch my drop shot more than any other set up in the boat.  Faster, and more efficient.

[TheKingFisher]

Reading through this thread confirms that I have no idea what pitching and flipping is.  But it's no big deal, I already knew that.  

 

As a bank fisher not real sure I can employ these methods anyway...

[J Francho]

As a bank fisher not real sure I can employ these methods anyway...

 

You might want to learn how to pitch. Youtube will be your friend.

[0119]

I pitch alot from the bank with both casting and spinning gear.  Often its the only way I can cast due to brush along the bank or behind me.  Its worth learning.

[TheKingFisher]

You might want to learn how to pitch. Youtube will be your friend.

 

 

I pitch alot from the bank with both casting and spinning gear.  Often its the only way I can cast due to brush along the bank or behind me.  Its worth learning.

 

 

Just watched a few videos on youtube and have discovered that I've done a little pitching without knowing that's what it was!  Going to definitely use it more, especially when I start using my new baitcaster.

 

Thanks guys.

 

[flippin and pitchin]

I learned to pitch over 32 years ago because I had to. I was a back seater and my buddy was a bank hugger and his delivery was overhand casts while seated, the Bill Dance style and left little opportunity for me. I started with short side arms casts and developed that into a pitching pretty quick. I used 6 foot rods in the beginning and built my first 7 foot rod in 1979. I graduated to a Fenwick Flippin Stick ( Thanks Dee Thomas )in 1980. I still have it. You can pitch with any rod. Longer rods just make it easier because they generate more lure speed with less effort. I like what JFranco says about pitchin with a drop shot. It works really well.

[J Francho]

I forgot about this video.  It's pretty lo-fi, but it shows a flip, a pitch, and a "flip punch" cast:

 

[jhoffman]

All of my rods are 6'6, at 5'10" I just feel awkward with anything more. Ive never had a distance issue.

[je1946]

I feel your pain at 5'4',  fished with a guide once who was 6'7' he was trying to teach me how to flip and pitch, I commented to him "ya it's easy for you look how tall you are" he said it has nothing to do with height, and proved it by pitching and flipping from his knees, and was very proficiant at it,he could put it in a cup everytime, and promised me that if I learned to do it I would be twice the fisherman.  So I've been practicing with a 7"2" M/H cumara and am getting pretty gd at it.  I think it's just a case of practice as much as possible.

[.RM.]

I am looking for new rod for pitching. I am thinking i should get a smaller rod for more conrtol (6'6" or 6'9"). will a shorter rod hinder me in any way. when i read about pitching/flipping gear it always calls for longer rods.

and if i do use a shorter rod for pitching what kindoff action should i use.

 

thankz

IMPO as a custom builder, I think the 6'9" - 6'11" would work for you depending on your actual heigth.

For pitching depending on the target cover light/open cover I would consider no lighter than a med hvy power (back bone) with fast tip actions.

For heavier (thick stumps etc) type cover I would consider no less than hvy power (back bone) with mod fast tip actions. Especially if using braided line (no stretch).....

 

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!  

[Darren.]

Well, from a guy right around 5'7", I opt for shorter rods. But that's primarily because I'm comfortable with them flipping and pitching. And I use both baitcasters and spinning gear for these techniques.

 

I think it's also partly because I fish in some very tight and heavy covered areas with my kayak. Longer rods sometimes just serve to catch branches, etc.

 

Don't tell my wife, but I'm eying a 6'6" rod to pair with my Lexa 100, but that's about as long a rod (I think) as I'd be comfortable with. If I had a 7 footer to try in my yak, I may like it, tho....

[islandbass]

Your height is never an excuse to use shorter rods or to refrain from using longer rods solely based on your height.

 

I know I am shorter than most here (I'm as tall as wolverine, lol) and can pitch from the bank from the ground with an 8'6" rod.

 

Other things like close quarters and the amount of room with which you might have to work with should be the factors that might influence the decision of the length of rod you use than your height.

[new2BC4bass]

All of my rods are 6'6, at 5'10" I just feel awkward with anything more. Ive never had a distance issue.

 

I'm a half inch taller.  As a youth all my rods ran 5' to 6' with the exception of a 9' Fenwick for tossing live nightwalkers.  Since getting back into fishing a few years ago, 6'6" often feels too short.  I prefer 7' or longer most of the time.  Right or wrong, unless I am trying for a specific target, I am looking for long casts.  Generally I try to stay back from the area I am trying to fish, so even specific targets can be out there a ways.  I personally feel a longer rod helps get me that distance.  My longest cast to date was with a 7'6" Zillion Flip and Pitch rod.  A bit of irony is that rod hasn't been used for either of its designated techniques.  I've never pitched while fishing.  I did practice it a bit when I wanted to try out the rod/reel I got for my grandson.  It is 6' MH rod....not exactly a first choice for anyone performing that technique.   :)

 

I was able to get 30' with what little time I spent practicing with that rod.  My understanding is a decent distance for those who are proficient with the cast is at least twice as far.