Flippin, Swimbaits, & A-Rigs

[Jeremy Mann]

I'm looking to add a new casting rod to my collection. Will be used for swimbaits, umbrella rigs, frogs, and Flippin. So my question is, would it be better to get a Flippin stick and use it for all this? Or a swimbait/Umbrella rig rod and use it? Wondering if the swimbait would be sensitive enough for Flippin? But most Flippin rods only have about 1 1/2 - 2 oz lure rating. And swimbait Rods are 3 oz and up.. The two I've narrowed it down to are the Powell inferno 765 Swimbait rod. Or the iRod genesis II 7'5" Fred's magic stick or the 7'7" Flippin stick. Will be pairing it with a quantum energy 100 7.0:1 reel. Thanks any imput would be appreciated.

[Fish Murderer 71]

Thats three different rods for three different baits/lures.  Flipping rods are generally heavy to extra heavy(7'6"-8'), umbrella rig (A-Rig) can usually be thrown deep with this set up also.  I use a 7' 6" Medium Fast S-curve rod for my swim baits, and for the frogs I like 7'3" med/heavy - fast  rod- I'll also throw my small A-rigs with this in shallow waters.  Of the three you mentioned, I would have to go with the Magic stick as the best of the three for the purposes you have in mind. 

[Jeremy Mann]

I realize this isn't an ideal, but most of my fishing comes from the bank, small boat, or going in someone else's boat. So its not realistic to bring 10-15 different rods. I try to take about 6 rods to do everything I need to. I have a spinnerbait, crankin', MHF, and medium power Fast action casting rods, along with one spinning rod. Thats why I wanted to get someones input thats used flippin sticks and A-rig rods. Wondering which would be best for both... Thanks for the advice, it seems to me also, that the Magic stick may be the most versatile choice.

[Rusty Shackleford]

I've heard the NRX 916c can handle these duties, but I've never thrown one... FWIW

[Jeremy Mann]

Yeah 650 bucks is a little out of my price range. LOL Looking to keep it around 100-150. But thanks anyways.. And I want a rod that is light and not extremely thick. Also want the semi-micro guides, not micro, b/c I'll be using braid, and tying fluro leaders for the swimbaits, wont pass though the guides very well.. So any other recommendations are appreciated.. Thanks..

[Jrob78]

Just curious, what exactly is a semi micro guide?

[Jeremy Mann]

Just curious, what exactly is a semi micro guide?

Check out a Duckett Ghost rods. It's smaller than traditional guides. But bigger than some of the extremely small guides. And big enough for a uni to uni knot to pass through without resistance.

[Jrob78]

Check out a Duckett Ghost rods. It's smaller than traditional guides. But bigger than some of the extremely small guides. And big enough for a uni to uni knot to pass through without resistance.

Anything below a size 6 is technically considered a micro guide.  Micro guides range in size from 2-5mm.  Some guides, like the ones on the Ghost, are insertless, this makes the actually opening a bit larger.   The actually openings in the guides will change based on the brand and the insert used.  I don't personally use leaders but i've heard on good authority that an Alberto knot, cinched tightly, will fit through most micro guides used on production rods.

[Jeremy Mann]

Well some rod manufactures call them semi-micro guides. Sorry not sure what size guides this classifies. And even the small ones like on bps CarbonLite, the uni to uni will pass through, but they hit. And I feel like over time this may knock the inserts out. You're right about the ghost being insertless, but was just meaning, that's the size I'd like to find. But will give the Alberto knot a try.

[Jrob78]

Well some rod manufactures call them semi-micro guides. Sorry not sure what size guides this classifies. And even the small ones like on bps CarbonLite, the uni to uni will pass through, but they hit. And I feel like over time this may knock the inserts out. You're right about the ghost being insertless, but was just meaning, that's the size I'd like to find. But will give the Alberto knot a try.

No worries, I just wasn't familiar with the term semi-micro guides.  A size 5 is probably about what you're looking for.  Unfortunately, rod companies don't list the sizes of the guides they use.

[JTP]

St. Croix Mojo Bass 7'9 

[Jeremy Mann]

No worries, I just wasn't familiar with the term semi-micro guides.  A size 5 is probably about what you're looking for.  Unfortunately, rod companies don't list the sizes of the guides they use.

Yeah that would be helpful. But I tried the Alberto Knot. Will be the one I use from now on. Thanks.

[Bluebasser86]

What are you going to use it for the most? I'd pick a rod that was suited for that technique then make it work for the others.

[timsford]

Have you looked at the okuma guide series rods? I know they have a 7'6" lineup and i may be wrong but i believe there is a medium heavy that is rated for 1/2 or 3/4 ounce up to like 3 ounces or so. They get great reviews and are swimbait sticks so the mh is a swimbait rating id say judging by the lure weights its rated for it would be at least a heavy.or xh

[Jeremy Mann]

Have you looked at the okuma guide series rods? I know they have a 7'6" lineup and i may be wrong but i believe there is a medium heavy that is rated for 1/2 or 3/4 ounce up to like 3 ounces or so. They get great reviews and are swimbait sticks so the mh is a swimbait rating id say judging by the lure weights its rated for it would be at least a heavy.or xh

Yeah this confuses me. The Powell swimbait rod I ended up going with, is a MH with a moderate fast tip. But the lure rating is 3 oz. and I did check out the Okuma Helios mini guide rod. 7'6" xtra heavy. Lure rating is 2oz. But it's back ordered on tackle warehouse. And don't wanna get into that again. Because I've had a rod back ordered on there since April!

[Jrob78]

Yeah this confuses me. The Powell swimbait rod I ended up going with, is a MH with a moderate fast tip. But the lure rating is 3 oz. and I did check out the Okuma Helios mini guide rod. 7'6" xtra heavy. Lure rating is 2oz. But it's back ordered on tackle warehouse. And don't wanna get into that again. Because I've had a rod back ordered on there since April!

Rod powers are meaningless when comparing brand to brand, there is no standard.  The only thing you can know for sure is the MH Powell is lighter than the H Powell and the XH Okuma is heavier than the H Okuma.  The Powell is also a swimbait rod so it's rated as such.   In other words, the MH swimbait rod isn't going to be the same as the MH flipping rod or cranking rod, etc.

[Jeremy Mann]

Rod powers are meaningless when comparing brand to brand, there is no standard.  The only thing you can know for sure is the MH Powell is lighter than the H Powell and the XH Okuma is heavier than the H Okuma.  The Powell is also a swimbait rod so it's rated as such.   In other words, the MH swimbait rod isn't going to be the same as the MH flipping rod or cranking rod, etc.

Yeah I wish I could have compared them in person. But no where around here has a good selection of these rods. The 7'3" H fast Powell is only rated at 1oz. And the MH swimbait is at 3 oz. That's what confuses me and guess it will until I've held one. But thanks to everyone for the response.