Shorty Rod For Pitching?

[XF15-Loader]

I did some pitching from my kayak last summer and had a blast.  However, I think I might benefit from a shorter rod...shorter than the 7'1" Mojo Bass I was using, anyway.

 

Any suggestions for a 6'8" - 6'10" rod for pitching?

 

Thanks!

 

-J

[jbrew73]

Falcon head turner.   

[XF15-Loader]

@jbrew73 I've got a Bucoo and it seems to fish a  little light (ie  MH fishes like a M).  Are the Caras rated heavy as well?

[jbrew73]

Yes but I’m used to it. I think their weight / oz ratings are on the money but  the wording may be 1/2 power or so off.    I typically pitch 3/8 jigs or 1/4 tx-rig with the head turner and  I have other falcons for 1/2 and up.

[kschultz76]

3 hours ago, XF15-Loader said:

I did some pitching from my kayak last summer and had a blast.  However, I think I might benefit from a shorter rod...shorter than the 7'1" Mojo Bass I was using, anyway.

 

Any suggestions for a 6'8" - 6'10" rod for pitching?

 

Thanks!

 

-J

What weights/lures are you pitching and what kind of cover?

 

If you like your Mojo, theres a 6’8” MH/f available in the Mojo, Avid X, and LTB series. I have a 6’6” MH/F LTB that makes a good pitching stick in tight quarters. 

 

Kistler also has a 6’9” MH/XF in the Helium 3. 

 

No experience with them but the new Daiwa Tatula Rods with cork handles have a 6’10” MH as well. 

[rangerjockey]

I like the head turner as well. It's really just a more powerful version of the finesse jig (Eakins) rod.

It also makes a good spinnerbait/buzzbait rod and even bigger walking baits.

 I think they fish pretty close to the power rating but tend to be more parabolic than some.

[XF15-Loader]

@kschultz76 mostly 3/8 to 1/2 jigs and some t-rig plastics in the same weight range.

[kschultz76]

Then I think any of the rods I mentioned from St Croix or the Kistler are definitely going to work for you then. 

[rangerjockey]

3/8 -1/2 The head turner would be perfect.

[fishindad]

1 hour ago, rangerjockey said:

3/8 -1/2 The head turner would be perfect.

This. Love it for pitching 3/8 and 1/2 jigs to docks and in close quarters.

[Brad Reid]

Minnow, 

 

Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.

 

My favorite kayak rod, by far, is a St. Croix PS56MF. It is my "go to" rod. You'll be able to cast much farther under boathouses, piers, etc., your accuracy will improve, and the shorter rod means you'll wield better leverage over the fish once it is on the hook.

 

When I am standing in my canoe or kayak, I am also pleasantly surprised at how very far I can pitch with this short rod. Some of this is likely owing to I can make my pitch from a lower rod angle. It is also a much easier rod to pitch while seated where kayak anglers use that sort of horizontal version.

 

Gosh, I love this rod! A small photo below.  Brad

 

 

[YoTone]

11 hours ago, Brad Reid said:

Minnow, 

 

Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.

 

 

 

 

 

i agree with this statement.

maybe check out a GLoomis CR724 

 

[FishTank]

I have seen guys use a 7' St. Croix Yak rod with great success for this sort of thing but I don't care for the weird grip material.

[XF15-Loader]

@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short.  I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?

 

@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em.  Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?

 

Thank you all for your input!!

 

-J

 

 

 

[kschultz76]

48 minutes ago, XF15-Loader said:

@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short.  I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?

 

@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em.  Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?

 

Thank you all for your input!!

 

-J

 

 

 

The SC Mojo Yak Rods are essentially a Mojo Bass rod with very short handles and Winn grips. To me honestly they seem pretty gimmicky. Maybe it’s bc of the size of my kayak but I don’t a shorter handle helpin me in anyway. 

[zell_pop1]

On 1/23/2019 at 7:49 AM, Brad Reid said:

Minnow, 

 

Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.

 

My favorite kayak rod, by far, is a St. Croix PS56MF. It is my "go to" rod. You'll be able to cast much farther under boathouses, piers, etc., your accuracy will improve, and the shorter rod means you'll wield better leverage over the fish once it is on the hook.

 

When I am standing in my canoe or kayak, I am also pleasantly surprised at how very far I can pitch with this short rod. Some of this is likely owing to I can make my pitch from a lower rod angle. It is also a much easier rod to pitch while seated where kayak anglers use that sort of horizontal version.

 

Gosh, I love this rod! A small photo below.  Brad

 

 

 

I have that rod too for skipping docks, I just wish it had a slightly longer handle. There used to be some 5'9"/5'10" dock skipping rods around wish I could find a used one but until then that rod gets it done.

As for a short pitching rod any 6'6" Mh/f should do. I use an old Team All Star 6'6" rod for the most part.

[Brad Reid]

18 hours ago, XF15-Loader said:

@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short.  I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?

 

@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em.  Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?

 

Thank you all for your input!!

 

-J

 

 

 

Gosh, I use it for any "short" work. I fish almost exclusively from a kayak or my canoe and I just don't make many long casts. Drop shot, tossing my Keitech 4" swimbaits, T-Rigged worms, etc. And, in certain locations like under trees, under bridges, under boathouses. 

 

No doubt, though, that for long casting applications covering a lot of water, power fishing, you want a long rod.

 

One of each?

 

Brad

By the way, there is a new video Hank Parker put out. I think I saw it up at the top here. In it, he and a close friend were tearing it up on a private irrigation lake. I think they caught 400 bass, something like that.

 

Anyway, Hank espoused the virtues of a short rod with a pistol grip one of his sponsors manufactures. Lots of video of him casting with it, great accuracy and I believe he mentions the general benefits.

 

His was a casting rod.

 

Brad

[J Francho]

I pitch with all my rods, from 6'2" on up to 8' in my kayak.  I'm not sure why a shorter rod would be better, or worse, just different.  Now pitching to heavy cover, at short range, like 10' or so - a little longer than a flip cast - I find a shorter rod to be an asset controlling big fish on a short leash.  I favorite G. Loomis 803 JWR I use for this type of fishing.

[XF15-Loader]

2 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I pitch with all my rods, from 6'2" on up to 8' in my kayak.  I'm not sure why a shorter rod would be better, or worse, just different.  Now pitching to heavy cover, at short range, like 10' or so - a little longer than a flip cast - I find a shorter rod to be an asset controlling big fish on a short leash.  I favorite G. Loomis 803 JWR I use for this type of fishing.

I feel like I'd have better control with the shorter rod.

[J Francho]

21 minutes ago, XF15-Loader said:

I feel like I'd have better control with the shorter rod.

Better control of the fish on a short leash?  Yes.

Better control casting?  That's just practice.

[basshtx]

I dont understand how professionals like Mike Iconelli pitch with 7'9" rods when he's only 5'9" tall.

 

I'm about 5'10 and going up from a 7' to a 7'1, I can feel the difference. I feel less in control. 

[J Francho]

What does height have to do with it?  I'm 5'7" and my heavy cover rod is 8'.  I pitch with it all the time.  It's a tip up presentation.  If the bait is smacking the water, you're not using enough tip speed.  When the weather is better, I'm going to have to make another pitching video.

[XF15-Loader]

@basshtx, I understand how he does it from the bow of a bass boat.  What I can't seem to grasp is how you'd do it from a seated position with an 8' pole as @J FranchoFrancho has suggested.  I realize its a tip up presentation but getting tip speed while trying to keep the line up is where I have a problem.  Does that make sense?  

 

All in all, I agree it's probably an issue of practice but, I need a reason to buy a new rod and dammit, this is my reason...lol.  Don't tell my wife!

 

 

-J

[J Francho]

23 minutes ago, XF15-Loader said:

What I can't seem to grasp is how you'd do it from a seated position with an 8' pole as @J FranchoFrancho has suggested.

You do not pitch from a seated position.  You can roll cast, or kind of lob cast, but pitching is out.

 

This was a 7'6" rod:

[MN Fisher]

13 minutes ago, J Francho said:

You do not pitch from a seated position.  You can roll cast, or kind of lob cast, but pitching is out.

 

This was a 7'6" rod:

Another reason I installed outriggers on my canoe. Trying to pitch with a 7' rod from the seated position is near impossible unless you've got arms like an orangutan.