Pitching Rod

[Zeeter]

I'm going to try my hand at pitching this year and maybe a bit of flipping when the vegetation starts to come in. 

 

What is the best rod for this type of fishing? I prefer G. Loomis rods at the IMX price-point but not sure the model. Not against a St. Croix, either.

 

I would also be looking at a Shimano Curado 7:2:1 reel and probably around 40 lb test power-pro line.

 

For the rod, my understanding is that I want a soft tip and heavy action.

[J Francho]

You can pitch with just about any rod.  What kind of baits and weights are you looking to pitch?  That will determine what rod you want.

[Zeeter]

Well, when my son and I went out in August last year to the local reservoir it was very heavy with vegetation. We couldn't get our soft baits under the vegetation at all and topwaters just snagged. Not a fun day. I started using some heavy jigs but by that time they weren't biting anymore. 

 

I know I can pitch with any rod and in fact I do a lot of pitching to get under trees and docks. Howeer I want to tie on a heavy weight and creature bait and really get down to the bottom. The weight will depend on the vegetation and how best to get the bait down there. I saw one guy using an ounce and a half tungsten weight. Not sure I need all that. My rods are generally around 7' and are not rated for the weight I want to put on to really get down there. Also I'm reading and seeing videos where the longer the rod the better for control. 

[kadas]

you say you do not need the 1.5 oz weight but that just might be what you have to go to so you can get thru the vegetation. You need to go  as heavy as needed to get through the heavy stuff. You want to use just enough to get you through it and that might even call for heavier than 1.5 oz  As far as the rod you will need something rated for the weight you are pitching.  You can use any length of rod that feels good to you as long as it can handle the weight you are pitching. I prefer a 7' 3'' rod myself but that is just personal preference.  what ever length you are comfortable using will pretty much work

[J Francho]

I use an Okuma TCS Mat Daddy for pitching punch rigs and other 1-2 oz. baits.

I reviewed it here.  I really like the rod for this, and it wasn't super expensive.

 

http://www.bassresource.com/fishing_lures/mat-daddy-helios-review.html

[Zeeter]

It appears I'm looking at the 900 series. Specifically the IMX 956C FPR rated at up to 1.5 oz. That's a pretty long rod - 7'11" and might be too big for the rod locker on my boat. The rods in every other section only rate as high as 1 oz. 

Speaking of this, I've been watching videos of guys flipping using braided line. Not one of them is using a leader. Now, when I go out I usually tie on a fluorocarbon leader, but it tends to wear off and eventually as I tie on different lures and I'm just down to tying on directly to the braid. In doing so, I never noticed any drop-off in catching fish. In fact maybe I've seen an uptick as I don't have to worry so much about the leader anymore.

 

Do you guys tie on a leader when using braid?

[J Francho]

47 minutes ago, Zeeter said:

Do you guys tie on a leader when using braid?

 

Not in heavy weed cover.  I tie direct.  If I'm pitching into submerged wood, then yes.  It helps to feel the knot rub a branch, knowing your bait is a 18" or so behind, and you can gently hop it over that branch.  Also, if you do get hung up, you can break off without completely disturbing the location.

[WIGuide]

One thing to remember when you're looking at rods, the recommended lure weight on the blank is the recommended lure weight for casting. In other words, the amount of weight it will take to load the blank on the cast. Since pitching doesn't load the blank, you don't have to adhere to what's on the blank anymore. As far as length goes, stick to what you're comfortable with. I like shorter rods, so my to heavy power rods that I use for the same techniques are 7'1" and 7'6". I don't see myself going any longer than that, but then again I prefer shorter rods anyway. I don't use a leader with my braid as they're generally pretty fast moving and most of the times even if not in heavy grass, there's grass present which I feel camouflages the green braid. 

[Zeeter]

I didn't realize that. I broke the tip off of an IMX last year casting a 1/2 oz spinner. Yet there I guess I was loading up the rod. 

 

BTW, great deal with g. loomis is that for a 12 year old rod they replaced it with an equivalent model for $100. I know other companies have similar or better policies. Just that I was so frustrated after breaking it and then to find that it's "only" $100 compared to $300. After 12 years I don't think I could have convinced them it was a manufacturer's defect

[J Francho]

I do load the rod when I pitch.  Maybe swing the bait a little harder than most?  It's a flip where I don't really load the rod.  At any rate, I'm just as likely to sidearm, roll, pitch, or flip when I have a bait tied on.  In that respect, I try to stay within the ratings.

[Zeeter]

I just found my locker is 8' long so I should be good with the 900 series. I'm a novice at pitching so better safe than sorry.

[J Francho]

This crude video shows me pitching, flipping, and something I call a flip-punch, where I smack the bait through heavy mats.  No cats were harmed.

 

 

[Zeeter]

I really like the motion of pitching. I've tried flipping a few times but never quite got the hang of it.

 

How do you have the brakes set up on your reel? I saw one guy who had them all off for pitching.

[J Francho]

I use lots of braking, and very little spool tension.  The rest is just my thumb.  A flip is a really close range technique.  You can zip the bait in and out of a precise spot repeatedly.  Sometimes it takes many flips to irritate a fish into biting.  I usually pitch, but if I see a target that is close, I'll flip to it, rather than back off, and pitch at it.  It's easier to flip to a target that's 6' away than to pitch at it. I can generally pitch a bait more than 20 yards.  Flips are generally just a bit more than the rod length.

[Zeeter]

Wow - lots of brakes, huh? I'll have to get outside and see what works best for me. After all this time I still get the occasional birds nest; I think a lot of it has to do with the way I spool sometimes. Need to work on that.

[fishnkamp]

Hello Zeeter good to see you around.   How is the boat doing?  There is a new tackle shop on Old Padonia Road in Hunt Valley.  Take 83N to the Padonia Rd exit and turn left at the light where the Irish Pub is. Then make a left at Old Padonia, they are located in one of the next little strip of stores on the left.  It is called Anglers Express. They carry Dobyns, Duckett, Powell, Irod,and a bunch more. Dobyns makes a  some really nice flipping sticks that range from $110 all the way up to $360 depending on the series.  You would be choosing between the Champion lines.  I own a Champion XP for frogging, if you wanted to get a feel for them we can meet and let you play with it.   I liked it better than the G Loomis rods IMX rods that I own.

 

Eric stocks a ton of gear and if he does not have that particular rod on hand he will get it fast.  So far, since we met on here, I have picked up 3 new rods from him.  He also carries the brands you will not find in BPS like Reaction Innovation, Picasso, and tons of others.   If you go in make sure to ask to meet him.  He fishes a tournament series that fishes the Loch Raven, Prettyboy and Liberty reservoirs. He catches HUGE bass in them, so ask him lots of questions. He is the man for those waters.

If I was looking to fill your needs I would look at a Dobyns XP model DC 765Flip,  or a DC 766Flip and also the Dobyns Champion Extreme HP series model DX 795 Flip.

[scaleface]

 For years I got away with a 6.5" med/hvy rod for pitching . I use a 7 footer most of the time now  .