Flipping switch?

[Cody28]

Hello. I am looking for a new baitcaster for a 7’4 heavy St. Croix Bass X I have laying around. I saw the new Lews Super Duty LFS has a flipping switch but after some research I still don’t understand the function of it fully. Anyone like these things and if so why? I’m also looking at the skipping and pitching reel if anyone has input on that. Usually stick to lew’s but might even try out an SLX strictly because the blue on the rod matches so nice haha. Any thoughts? 

[Phil77]

When the flipping switch is on you can push the thumb bar down to flip/pitch without the spool going into complete freespool then let off when you hit the water to engage the reel. It's kinda cool but honestly I never use it, just easier for me to do it the old fashioned way. That's a great reel, I have that exact one for football jigs and it's done a great job.

[Cody28]

20 minutes ago, Phil77 said:

When the flipping switch is on you can push the thumb bar down to flip/pitch without the spool going into complete freespool then let off when you hit the water to engage the reel. It's kinda cool but honestly I never use it, just easier for me to do it the old fashioned way. That's a great reel, I have that exact one for football jigs and it's done a great job.

I guess what I don't understand is you'd have to keep the thumb bar down manually so you lose the ability to feather the spool to control distance or slow the spool to stop from backlashing when it hits the water. Is this correct? Seems more challenging than helpful. 

[rtwvumtneer6]

33 minutes ago, Phil77 said:

It's kinda cool but honestly I never use it

Also, only comes on the high speed 8.3:1 model.

[Phil77]

1 hour ago, Cody28 said:

I guess what I don't understand is you'd have to keep the thumb bar down manually so you lose the ability to feather the spool to control distance or slow the spool to stop from backlashing when it hits the water. Is this correct? Seems more challenging than helpful. 

If you have the brakes up high it won't backlash. The main function of it is letting off the thumb bar to stop the cast to place your bait more precisely. I think, or that's the best I can come up with. Like I said before it's easier for me to do it without the switch.

1 hour ago, rtwvumtneer6 said:

Also, only comes on the high speed 8.3:1 model.

Yeah that's why I only use it for jigs right now. Don't like to go slow when pulling them out of heavy cover. The 8 gear ratio helps horse them in and haven't had one outrun me yet.

[Hammer 4]

Cody, when your Flipping, are you actually casting ?

The reason I ask is true flipping does not involve any casting. You would strip out the desired length of  line, then do an underhand cast to the area where your targeting bass, but at no time is the spool engaged. If your engaging the spool, then technically your Pitching.

I never got the need for a switch on a reel, but that's just old school me..  

[Captain Phil]

I have been using a Shimano Castaic CA-200 reel for flipping and pitching for a long time.  I recently had to rebuild it because I nearly wore it out.  This reel has a flipping switch.  I am a right handed fisherman.  The flipping switch is handy, but not entirely necessary.  It lets you engage and release the spool with your thumb.  This saves a little time.  Time is money in a tournament.  The switch is used more in pitching than flipping.  In flipping, there is no casting.

 

 

[Boomstick]

I have never had a reel with a flipping switch, but I've talked to people who have and they all said they never even use it anyway. Some people may prefer it, but it seems like reel manufacturers tried to reinvent flipping but it didn't work out quite as well as they hoped.

[J Francho]

I like the type of switch that engages the spool, rather than one that you have to hold the thumb bar down in order to cast.  Even better is the old Daiwa TD flipping reels with just a switch on the top.  They only come on lefty, and they work great.  Mine are at least 20 years old.

 

[Cody28]

14 hours ago, Hammer 4 said:

Cody, when your Flipping, are you actually casting ?

The reason I ask is true flipping does not involve any casting. You would strip out the desired length of  line, then do an underhand cast to the area where your targeting bass, but at no time is the spool engaged. If your engaging the spool, then technically your Pitching.

I never got the need for a switch on a reel, but that's just old school me..  

Im definitely pitching more so than flipping. I just get lazy with the wording between the two. Ironically I think the switch is more for pitching than flipping, but in either case I have a hard time seeing the value in it. 

9 hours ago, J Francho said:

I like the type of switch that engages the spool, rather than one that you have to hold the thumb bar down in order to cast.  Even better is the old Daiwa TD flipping reels with just a switch on the top.  They only come on lefty, and they work great.  Mine are at least 20 years old.

 

This type of switch makes sense to me. I really don't understand the use of the ones that Lew's has. 

[T-Billy]

It's a Flippin switch not a Pitchin switch. Just for letting out a length of line for flippin. I could see it beeing useful in that regard, but it's useless for pitchin or anything else for that matter. 

I highly recommend the Super Duty LFS. I have three of the 8 speeds with the flippin switch, but wish I had bought 7 speeds instead, only because that switch is a royal PITA come annual clean and lube time. 

I have an SP reel as well. I'm a fan. It performs well and it sure is nice not having to put backing under my braid. Backlashes can't get deep and are easily picked out. There are more in my future.

[redmeansdistortion]

I have a couple reels with them and grew so accustomed to doing it the traditional way, that using the switch never crosses my mind.  Now one thing I find them great for, jigging for walleyes.  A charter friend of mine only buys reels with a flippin' switch, easier to get to the desired depth and adjust as necessary.  Put some multicolored braid on there for a visual queue, and off you go.  

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I don’t personally like flipping switches. Imo they just unnecessarily complicate service (some designs more than others).