What's The Best Baitcasting Reel For Pitching And Flipping?

[tcbass]

I was reading about pitching and flipping reels and saw that the Shimano Castaic had a unique instagage bar which is specific to pitching and flipping and makes it easier. However, the reel scored low on castability distance (according to tackletour review), although that is limited when flipping and pitching anyway.

I tried today with my Abu Garcia Revo SX and 3/8oz. jig and the spool tension seemed to be too resistant even though I had it loosened way up.

So, what's the best reel for flipping and pitching?

I was watching a video on it and the guy said he used 1/2oz jigs or heavier to make it easier to pitch. Is there a minimum size you use to pitch and flip?

[iabass8]

You can (and I do) pitch every bait I use. 

 

When flipping, the reel is necessary, but is essentially just something that holds line as you are doing all the work manually

 

When pitching, I'm pretty particular because I do it a lot. I want a spool that starts up with almost no effort. My favorite spool for pitching that I've used is the Daiwa RCS1016. You want something that is very comfortable and balances well on your rod as you will be holding it a lot of the times all day. 

[JGBassinAL]

You can pitch and flip with any reel. A lighter weight lure will pitch and flip easier with a lighter spool. I use a Shimano Scorpion 1500-7 on my flippin rod. You really need a reel with a good drag because you will be moving fish out of cover. I like the Scorpion because I have always been a fan of the Curado E, which to me is a workhorse reel and handles great under pressure. Plus they are not overly expensive, and the maroon color matches my black with red accents flipping stick pretty well.

[ColdSVT]

How deep are your fishing gear pockets?

I flip with a chronarch ci4 and love it...its a tough reel to beat in its price point. I also flip a good bit with my curado e...works great but i prefer the ci4 most of the time

My buddy used an abu MGX and another has a 13 ***. Ive used them as well and they were quite nice! I felt the MGX was smoother but the concept palmed bettet for me and was very very close in the smooth department. I think the concept took less effort as well

[gulfcaptain]

You can (and I do) pitch every bait I use. 

 

When flipping, the reel is necessary, but is essentially just something that holds line as you are doing all the work manually

 

When pitching, I'm pretty particular because I do it a lot. I want a spool that starts up with almost no effort. My favorite spool for pitching that I've used is the Daiwa RCS1016. You want something that is very comfortable and balances well on your rod as you will be holding it a lot of the times all day. 

I agree with every thing above.  Also not a requirement but most prefer a reel with a 7:1 gear ratio or better. Just have to find the reel that you're comfortable with and fits into your budget.

[Raul]

In this particular case about the castability of the Castaic I differ with my pals at TT, the reel casts as well as the Curado and Chronarch SF, the only problem is that you are purchasing bulletproof but "antique" technology. That reel has been around for a long time and I seriously doubt it's been manufactured on a regular basis. There's no reason for Shimano to maintain tooling, machinery and molds to continue manufacturing one reel out of a series that has been discontinued for almost a decade.

[tcbass]

In this particular case about the castability of the Castaic I differ with my pals at TT, the reel casts as well as the Curado and Chronarch SF, the only problem is that you are purchasing bulletproof but "antique" technology. That reel has been around for a long time and I seriously doubt it's been manufactured on a regular basis. There's no reason for Shimano to maintain tooling, machinery and molds to continue manufacturing one reel out of a series that has been discontinued for almost a decade.

So what would you recommend?

[Raul]

So what would you recommend?

Not that I don't recommend the Castaic, it's design is 15+ years old but that doesn't mean is not a fine reel, like I said, it's a bulletproof design, old but still functional, besides, it will still perform for other chores as well as other reels, I have Curados and Chronarchs of the same platform and by no means they are resting peacefully while I use newer stuff, on the contrary, they are still in use and still some of my most trusted reels are those.

[Catch and Grease]

Diawa tatula! Very good reel for pitching, flipping, and frog fishing IMHO

[kikstand454]

?

Your revo sx should be just fine as a flipping reel. What rod is it on?

(It doesn't much matter actually. ..)

First of all. ....I believe you are actually talking about pitching - as spool tension is irrelevent when flipping.

And when pitching- any decent reel will do the job just fine. Its only letting out 15yds of line or (much) less.

I believe this is actually a case of bad technique than any sort of perceived gear issue. The only "problems" and hence only "advantages" you should be experiencing as a novice pitcher are distance and backlashing. Neither of which is specifically the reels fault.

Your revo sx and any 6'6"+ rod should be able to pitch a 3/8oz jig all day just fine.

If you're trying to pitch more than 30-40ft you should be casting. Especially since your new to the technique.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Any thing with a metal frame, decent drag and good free-spool will serve you well. Pretty much any of major brand's offerings starting at around the $100 retail mark. Avoid flipping switches and "insta-gage" setups. With few exceptions they are clumsy to use a weak link mechanically. The SX is a good pitching reel. The mag only brake setup is more conducive to pitching than bombing long casts for most users. 

[Smallmouth Hunter]

Lews reel are the best pitching reels I've used.

[Felix77]

I use an Abu Garcia Pro Max which is a "lesser" model than your Revo.  To me it's all in the thumb.  I run my spool tension pretty light and raise my break as needed to help control the spool.   The key is keeping your thumb at the ready to catch the spool just before the lure hits the water.

[Droppingshot]

Sounds like it's been covered, but I'll rehash it. Your revo sx should be fine. I use a revo sx to pitch and it's been great. As well as a daiwa tatula. Even a lews. Like people are saying , it's not incredibly hard for a reel to do. You don't need to have some kind of "insta engage" if you buy a left hand reel. I'd recommend getting a 7:1 or higher speed reel. It makes it a bit quicker getting fish out of cover or getting your lure back for anther pitch. I've also found that braid tends to pitch a lot easier than fluoro, even though I use both. Hope that helps.

[DTack]

Much of the time when flipping or pitching my number one concern is drag slip.  I get it a lot for some reason.  My favorite reel I have used to this day is probably the Curado E overall.  At some point I did something to all of the ones that I own and the drag slips on all of them.  They work fine for ripbaits, open water jigs and some other lighter techniques where I don't have the drag locked down, but because of that I don't use them for flipping or pitching heavy cover. 
A couple of my favorites that I've used have been a Gen 2 Revo premier, a Daiwa Zillion, a Daiwa Tatula (type r and standard).  I picked all of these because they had a nice free spool and the drag was strong on all of them. 

Your SX should be fine, I believe there is a way to internally adjust brakes on that reel as well.  If this doesn't make sense or you need specifics just ask, I can look it up or one of the current reel owners could probably explain where to open it up. 

Either way, you already have a reel that will work, just adjust it and have fun!

[tcbass]

Much of the time when flipping or pitching my number one concern is drag slip.  I get it a lot for some reason.  My favorite reel I have used to this day is probably the Curado E overall.  At some point I did something to all of the ones that I own and the drag slips on all of them.  They work fine for ripbaits, open water jigs and some other lighter techniques where I don't have the drag locked down, but because of that I don't use them for flipping or pitching heavy cover. 

A couple of my favorites that I've used have been a Gen 2 Revo premier, a Daiwa Zillion, a Daiwa Tatula (type r and standard).  I picked all of these because they had a nice free spool and the drag was strong on all of them. 

Your SX should be fine, I believe there is a way to internally adjust brakes on that reel as well.  If this doesn't make sense or you need specifics just ask, I can look it up or one of the current reel owners could probably explain where to open it up. 

Either way, you already have a reel that will work, just adjust it and have fun!

Really? I didn't know you could open up the SX.

[DTack]

Really? I didn't know you could open up the SX.

 

Is the reel a Gen 2 or Gen 3?

[EmersonFish]

You should be able to pitch a 3/8 oz. jig with your reel. If you have the spool tension down, and still are not getting the distance, there must be another problem, but it would be pure speculation for me to guess without seeing the equipment or you pitching. So let me commence speculating.

Maybe there is something keeping the spool from spinning as freely as it should? Is the reel clean?

Maybe you just need to practice the technique? I've seen guys who just lift the rod tip and expect the pendulum effect of the lure to propel it 30 feet. Maybe you are trying to pitch too far, and need to learn other ways to present your bait. When I am "pitching" I find, as targets are varying distances away, I am actually alternating between true pitches and little "roll casts" that allow me to keep the bait low but cast it further and still land it softly.

I don't know what rod you use, but one problem I've seen with guys who are newer to pitching is that they buy what is billed as a "flippin' stick," which according to SOME rod manufacturers may as well say "broom handle." Flippin' Sticks are fine for flippin', but are not as good for pitching. You need a little more snappy tip action to propel the bait if you want any distance when you pitch, with that short stroke. Guys also tend to use line that is very heavy. This shouldn't matter with a 3/8 oz. bait, but the lighter the bait, the harder it gets to get accuracy and distance when you flip with heavy line.

Lastly, I wouldn't buy a reel based on it having some kind of extra Flippin' feature. Maybe it's just me, but I never bother with those, and it's just more weight and potential mechanical problems on your reel. Buy a solid, higher speed reel that has a good reputation among fishermen. There are a ton of them to choose from.

[tcbass]

Is the reel a Gen 2 or Gen 3?

Not sure. Bought it last year new. Is there anyway to check what Gen it is?

[new2BC4bass]

Really? I didn't know you could open up the SX.

 

Sure you can.  If it is a Gen 1 it should be a magnetic brake only reel. My Gen 1 Premier and STX are.  Opening it isn't needed for adjusting brakes, but you still can take the side cover off.  Gen 2 or newer will have dual brakes....I think.  Never seen an SX much less owned one.  If dual brake, you need to remove the side cover to adjust the centrifugal brakes.

[21farms]

Not sure. Bought it last year new. Is there anyway to check what Gen it is?

gen1s are glossy black with a straight handle and no red accents. gen2s are also glossy black but have a swept handle with a red spool and some other red accents; the handle nut is covered. gen3s have more of matte black finish and a red, exposed handle nut. regardless of generation, you can take the sideplate off but there's nothing to adjust inside. whatever reel you settle on, work at it...good pitching requires a lot of practice.

 

to answer your original question, my best pitching reel is a shimano 13metanium XG with a yumeya BFS shallow spool.

[Raul]

I´ve been flippin´n´pitchin´ baits long time before flippin´n´pitchin´ were named flippin´n´pitchin´, with what ? with ordinary everyday regular common reels.

 

Many moons ago back in the past century the word came out ´bout a mysterious form of casting where you were able to place a bait quietly into very tight quarters without having to swing the rod to cast, then suddenly the mysterious  form of casting got a name and took the bass feeshin´ tournament trail by storm, named as flipping even rod and reel manufacturers just had to cash on it, in less than 2 years there were flipping rods and reels available for the anglers.

 

Most reels of that era had a switch incorporated to allow you to flip comfortably, Shimano took matters into it´s hand and even manufactured a specialized reel just for flipping, it had no other purpose than that, called the Bushmaster. Ardent tried to revive the heat a few years ago ( nothing new ).

 

I have reels from that era ( Abu XLT Plus series ) that have the switch feature, in all these years maybe I used the switch perhaps ... 20 times ?. About the Castaic, again, would I recommend that reel ? sure !  but not because it has Instagage, I recommend it because it´s a very good & proven design but the last thing you will see me doing is using the Instagage, just as I don´t use the flipping switch on my older reels, also, compared moneywise you can get better, more modern reels with that money.

 

You don´t need a specialized reel for flipping and pitching, you flip and pitch with the rod, and for pitching all you need is to reduce the spool tension in case you are trying to pitch light weights.

[Raul]

Shimano Bushmaster:

 

 

[DTack]

I´ve been flippin´n´pitchin´ baits long time before flippin´n´pitchin´ were named flippin´n´pitchin´, with what ? with ordinary everyday regular common reels.

 

Many moons ago back in the past century the word came out ´bout a mysterious form of casting where you were able to place a bait quietly into very tight quarters without having to swing the rod to cast, then suddenly the mysterious  form of casting got a name and took the bass feeshin´ tournament trail by storm, named as flipping even rod and reel manufacturers just had to cash on it, in less than 2 years there were flipping rods and reels available for the anglers.

 

Most reels of that era had a switch incorporated to allow you to flip comfortably, Shimano took matters into it´s hand and even manufactured a specialized reel just for flipping, it had no other purpose than that, called the Bushmaster. Ardent tried to revive the heat a few years ago ( nothing new ).

 

I have reels from that era ( Abu XLT Plus series ) that have the switch feature, in all these years maybe I used the switch perhaps ... 20 times ?. About the Castaic, again, would I recommend that reel ? sure !  but not because it has Instagage, I recommend it because it´s a very good & proven design but the last thing you will see me doing is using the Instagage, just as I don´t use the flipping switch on my older reels, also, compared moneywise you can get better, more modern reels with that money.

 

You don´t need a specialized reel for flipping and pitching, you flip and pitch with the rod, and for pitching all you need is to reduce the spool tension in case you are trying to pitch light weights.

 

So you flipped when everyone else tule dipped?  I bet you SPANKED EM!

[Catt]

So you flipped when everyone else tule dipped? I bet you SPANKED EM!

Tule dipping used no reel!

Down south it was called Jigger Pole Fishing

I cast, flip, & pitch with the same rod, as do most of the Pros I fish with.

Reel: Shimano Calcutta 100A

Solid as an anvil, versatile as a pair of channelLocks, dependable as a 30/30!