Why The Heavy Flippin Stick Craze. I'm Staying Mh

[Brent Bartman]

The majority of my fishing is flipping/pitching. whether its large T-rigged creature baits, tubes, large jigs or even finesse jigs.

 

I usually have 2-3 rods ready to flip a variety of different ways depending on the conditions. the setup is always an ABU GARCIA reel. normally my MGX or my 2 STX all spun with 30 lb power pro. For a while i was hooked on 7'6" MH pitching rod and a 7'11'' H ST CROIX MOJO BASS on all three reels

 

Before the spawn I bought an ABU GARCIA Veritas 7' MH for better skipping control under docks and laydowns. after my first day with that rod i put down the MOJO bass and went to all three on the 7 MH veritas micro guide. the control and accuracy i got out of that rod were amazing. not to mention how light that rod was compared to the others 

 

Now i know the theory and reason for the 8ft heavy rods but I have yet to have the rods under perform. i have no trouble getting the fish out of their holes. Plus DICKS sporting goods has a very loose return policy if i break one. and i seem to always get a good hook set.

 

Does anyone else solely flip/pitch the lighter rods. in my group of guys Im the only one that has no variety. but in every situation I have encountered the lighter microguide has surpassed its competition which were designed for the task. whats yalls take

 

                                 Brent

[Brian Needham]

In matted heavy grass the broomsticks for flipping is required....... that said my stoutest rod is a dobyns dx745

[Brent Bartman]

Even so, I can only think of once where i had to go get the fish i couldnt drag him to me 

[martintheduck]

I'm only using a MH when flipping your average situation - docks, stumps, laydowns, edges of pads. It work perfect for me.

 

NOW - a Heavy rod is only getting used if I'm pitching into some heavy mat, heavy pads, or just thick brush/cover altogether. What I understand is this: It's not simply about having a stiff rod to pull the fish out of the hole. The stiffness is needed to set the hook while SIMULTANEOUSLY pulling that fish through the stuff. With a MH rod, I can rip a hook, but theres so much play in the rod that the fish doesn't exactly move once the hook hits - the hook sets but the fish isn't pulled but a few inches in the pocket.

 

With the heavy rod, the hook sets AND the fish gets pulled up and through the muck.

 

I don't really know how to explain is better than that, but it's the only reason I'll think "I should use a heavy rod to flip this stuff....." It's so I can get a hookset while simultaneously pulling that fish through the stuff. MH that doesn't always happen - sometimes the hook will set and the fish is still in the same spot chillin'.

[Grizzn N Bassin]

I only use a heavy rod in very thick - think cover.. pads,mats etc... mh for other stuff like scum or just fishing around brush piles

[Drewski73]

Medium heavy extra fast for me.

[Bluebasser86]

I use a heavy action rod for my swimbait rod and that's it. MH will do the job for a lot of pitching/flipping applications but for big fish around heavy cover a heavy action is a must. I'd guess a lot of your accuracy you're getting from the new rod is the shorter length of the rod. Shorter rods are easier to control and therefore tend to be more accurate. Mojo rods tend to be on the heavy side anyways, in action and in actual weight. I had a 7' H Mojo Slop and Frog and that thing was a pool cue! I couldn't imagine what the 7' 11" H is like. 

[Sam]

Brent, I use a medium heavy all the time to flip and pitch.

 

Even on the Potomac River in the heavy grass.

 

If you are on Toledo Bend, Falcon or Amistad you may need a heavy rod but for me I will stick with a medium heavy.

 

I would think a medium heavy would be acceptable in the Tidewater area. If you fish the Chick River or Chick Lake you can still use a medium heavy unless you are fishing the pads or throwing a Carolina rig and then you may want a heavy rod.

[Catt]

I fish Toledo Bend which has Hydrilla that is 15' tall but has standing timber, lay downs, & brush under it.

I've had bass break 50# braid & have talk with Pro's who had bass in Falcon's mesquite fields break 85# braid.

Ya wanna use a MH rod & 30# braid...good luck with that!

[Brent Bartman]

That MOJO flipping stick doubles as a push pole when I Need it lol.

I guess I know what your saying Martin I have realized I have had less flying dinks and less turn arounds on big fish

[Brent Bartman]

I mean by no means am I a pro. But I've never seen a reason to go bigger than 50lb braid. I have a crankbait rod with 50lb braid for never ever losing crankbaits to stumps and brush and I straitened treble hooks before that line snaps. I usually with break my 40lb florou leader at my uni to uni before I break off on the braid

[buzzfrog]

I usally use the MH, if ya got an  abu or Croix H, its like throwing a boat oar. though I have a 8' daiwa stick, very nice and limber, good rod.

[Bass_Fanatic]

I have 6 Heavy actions rods.  I use them for flipping, pitching, spinnerbaits,chatterbaits, jigs, ect.  I love the Powell Endurance 714C.  Best all around rod IMO.

[Catt]

I mean by no means am I a pro. But I've never seen a reason to go bigger than 50lb braid. I have a crankbait rod with 50lb braid for never ever losing crankbaits to stumps and brush and I straitened treble hooks before that line snaps. I usually with break my 40lb florou leader at my uni to uni before I break off on the braid

Come on down to Texas

[lmbfisherman]

I'm starting to use my MH rods in all but matted vegetation or very scary looking cover.  I use my H/F rods more for Carolina Rigs, but I am finding that I'm not doing that too much either. 

[A-Jay]

Flipping is one technique where the angler has a decent shot at a big bass, even a PB. 

 

Once you lose "The One", you might change your tune.

 

Making an attempt to eliminate that possibility works for me.

 

You may never get another shot at her.

 

btw - what does Big-O prefer to use - he seems to hook, fight, land, photo and than release his fair share of TOADS ~

 

A-Jay

[J Francho]

Come on down to Texas

 

Come to western NY, for that matter.  EU milfoil, coontail, water chestnut... A 5 lber can own you in that stuff.

[Catt]

Don't know what happened J Francho, I qouted Brain & it ended up with 2 post.

[J Francho]

IDK, I fixed it.

[Catt]

Probably operator error

[ChiCityBasser]

I use a 7'3" MH/F Custom rod with a Quantum Accurist Burner 7.0:1 with 30/50# Cajun braid for almost all my flipping. I do have a 7'11" H Quantum Superlite rod but have not used it or run into a situation to use it at this time.

[Brent Bartman]

Come on down to Texas

Why would I want to do that. Lol

[Brent Bartman]

I guess I see the point to have on in the boat but not to have it as my primary.

[J Francho]

None of my rods I would consider my "primary." There's a reason the "craze" of heavy cover tackle has been around since the 70's - it works. You might not come across the heavy cover that dictates this tackle in the lakes you fish, but if it is there, there are fish in it. Rods and reels are just tools - match your tools to the job, not some craze.

[Grantman83]

I have several heavy rods. However, where the backbone comes in is just as important as the power. A broomstick with no tip is going to fish very differently compared a rod where there is a good bend INTO a heavy backbone.

If there is enough tip, the heavy backbone is very beneficial for turning and pulling fish.