A Little Confused About Pitching/flipping/heavy Cover Rods...

[Shockwave]

There are countless posts about rods for pitching and flipping in heavy cover. Most people prefer a 7' to 7'6" HF with 65# braid. With this kind of setup, I could see a lot of hooks being ripped from the fishes mouth especially if you're anything like me and you swing for the fences on the hook set. This setup really offers minimal give since the rod has so much backbone, the line has no stretch, and since most use a 5/0 hook, that ain't gonna give either. I was thinking about going with an 8 ft heavy rod with a parabolic bend so it'll at least over the minimal give on the hook set so that I'm not yanking the lips clean off the fish but you still have the power needed to wrench a fish out of the thick stuff. Am I wrong in thinking this way?

[Shanes7614]

If the majority of people are using a certain rod there must be a reason..... I'm all for being different and using different techniques. To each his own.

[Shockwave]

Don't get me wrong. I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel or anything. Just wanted to have a convo about if my thinking makes sense or if it's flawed and wanted other opinions.

[Shanes7614]

i definitely see your reasoning. I think however the small amount of ripped hook sets you may have will give way to the amount of larger fish you can land due to the ZERO give turning the head of a large bass and heading in the direction of the boat.

[Long Mike]

Shockwave, I can't argue with your logic.  I would think the limiting factor in this situation would be the rod storage capacity of the boat.  Many boats can't handle the storage of an eight-foot rod.

[smalljaw67]

You can almost tell on the pro circuit what line guys are using based on the rod. Heavy power rods with moderate-moderate fat action are what is being used with braid these days but there is also a growing number of guys using fast action rods with a lot of backbone with heavy fluorocarbon line so if you plan to use braid I'd go with something in the mod or mod fast action.  The reason fluorocarbon is becoming popular for heavy grass and cover is the abrasion resistance, a lot of places have wood around the vegetation and braid will fray when it comes into contact with wood and rock. Your thinking is fine and it would be fine, just look as the Scott Martin TCS rods from Okuma, they are designed for fishing grass and almost all have the moderate-mod fast action.

[BassinLou]

There are countless posts about rods for pitching and flipping in heavy cover. Most people prefer a 7' to 7'6" HF with 65# braid. With this kind of setup, I could see a lot of hooks being ripped from the fishes mouth especially if you're anything like me and you swing for the fences on the hook set. This setup really offers minimal give since the rod has so much backbone, the line has no stretch, and since most use a 5/0 hook, that ain't gonna give either. I was thinking about going with an 8 ft heavy rod with a parabolic bend so it'll at least over the minimal give on the hook set so that I'm not yanking the lips clean off the fish but you still have the power needed to wrench a fish out of the thick stuff. Am I wrong in thinking this way?

I  too can understand the reasoning in this situation, and what has not been mentioned is the cover. The reason I use this H rod for this particular situation is because what I am pitching into can be thick hydrilla or hyacinth. I need that back bone to remotely have a chance to land that fish. Lastly, hookset. I agree wholeheartedly that a strong hookset is needed, and I have seen anglers go above and beyond what a strong hookset is. Their hooksets will fall into the exaggerated category in my book. 

[zeth]

I use a Phenix M1 Swimbait rod MH for a good portion of my flippin or pitchin. Works great. Have never ripped a lure out fo the fishes mouth if it was hooked.

[21farms]

Am I wrong in thinking this way?

you're not alone at all. in fact, i believe that's the reasoning behind the medium-fast action of the megabass orochi XX leviathan.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I'd build a punching rod and 7'6"> XX-heavy blank with a moderate/fast action. The little give of an otherwise broomstick gets the fish hooked and coming up with plenty of power to land them.  For everyday pitching/flipping cover, Hvy or XH fast work well.

[JGBassinAL]

I use a heavy/mod-fast for all heavy cover. I hate broomsticks and I have never needed one.

[Shockwave]

Thanks for the replies everyone!  I think I'm going to try out an 8ft Hvy mod/fast action and see how I like it.  I'm actually looking at the megabass orochi XX leviathan as an option.  I've heard nothing but good things about that rod.  Worst case scenario, I end up not liking the extra give and I sell the rod.  I don't think that'll happen though. 

[Choporoz]

 With this kind of setup, I could see a lot of hooks being ripped from the fishes mouth especially if you're anything like me and you swing for the fences on the hook set. ..... the minimal give on the hook set so that I'm not yanking the lips clean off the fish

 

I, too, am confused.  What does this mean?   .....large bass with fast rejection reactions....heavy cover.....heavy gauge wire hooks....are you really more worried about pulling a jig hook all the way through and out the bass' mouth?   I had no idea that was a risk.