Swim-bait on flipping rod vs. flipping on a swim-bait rod

[Cody28]

If you can only have one, would you rather throw relatively small glides/swimbaits on a flipping stick or flip/punch on a swimbait rod. I currently own a St. Croix Bass X 7'10 HF swimbait rod that I used to use for 6 inch magdraft, A rigs, and S-waver 168s a lot. Although it’s labeled fast it’s pretty moderate. I recently moved and the new lake I am fishing has caused me to rethink a lot of my combos. I would still like to throw these lures when its appropriate, but right now on this lake there are tons of mats to fish. I have been managing with my 7'4" heavy, but that is my frog rod so right now I have to retie if I want to fish over top of the mat. I am considering selling this combo and purchasing a St. Croix Victory 7'11" HMF "knockout" flipping stick. Any advice? 

[El jefe]

Either tie knots or buy more rods.... I could probably flip on a Swimbait rod but not the other way around.... those big baits and trebles need a more moderate tip.

[Tatulatard]

Handle length becomes an issue on a punch/swimbait rod.  The ideal handle length for punching is shorter than what is ideal for swimbaits.  Unless you want to drop $500 for a megabass jdm 4oz rated punching rod with an adjustable length handle then your only option is to make a compromise and find a longer handle punching rod rated up the swimbaits you want to throw or to find a swimbait rod with a shorter handle.  I think 12"-13" would work.  You also also strip the rear portion of a split grip rod and cut it down then mudhole a new rear grip and address any balancing issues.  I've heard of this being done to a veritas winch magnum crankbait rod to make it a punching rod.  The guy really liked the moderate loading it had to keep fish pinned under a mat but the handle was too long.

[T-Billy]

Put some braid on that Bass X and go punching. See what YOU think about it. I like a fairly moderate rod for pitching in the jungle. I find the Ark, Tharp Series "Guntersville Special" to be awesome for both pitching heavy cover and throwing an A-Rig.

 

[Cbump]

My swimbait rod is a Dobyns 795sb. No way I’m pitching/flipping with that big sucker. 

[Hammer 4]

Neither one. Use the right tool, in this case, the right rod for the job. If $$$ is an issue, either save up for a new rig, or bite the bullet and buy what you need asap.

That's just my take on it.

[Cody28]

On 8/21/2022 at 2:33 PM, Tatulatard said:

Handle length becomes an issue on a punch/swimbait rod.  The ideal handle length for punching is shorter than what is ideal for swimbaits.  Unless you want to drop $500 for a megabass jdm 4oz rated punching rod with an adjustable length handle then your only option is to make a compromise and find a longer handle punching rod rated up the swimbaits you want to throw or to find a swimbait rod with a shorter handle.  I think 12"-13" would work.  You also also strip the rear portion of a split grip rod and cut it down then mudhole a new rear grip and address any balancing issues.  I've heard of this being done to a veritas winch magnum crankbait rod to make it a punching rod.  The guy really liked the moderate loading it had to keep fish pinned under a mat but the handle was too long.

I’m looking at the St. Croix 7’11” HMF designed for heavy flipping. What are your thoughts on this rod on paper? Up to 2.5 oz which fits all of my swim baits. (My heaviest is 2 oz.) Mod-fast so should have some give for the trebles I would hope. Handle length is not much less than my current swimbait rod (it is the all cork one in the photo, compared to the one just to it’s right which is swimbait specific.) I’ve searched far and wide for someone with hands on experience with this rod but can’t find anyone. 

[Tatulatard]

15 minutes ago, Cody28 said:

I’m looking at the St. Croix 7’11” HMF designed for heavy flipping. What are your thoughts on this rod on paper? Up to 2.5 oz which fits all of my swim baits. (My heaviest is 2 oz.) Mod-fast so should have some give for the trebles I would hope. Handle length is not much less than my current swimbait rod (it is the all cork one in the photo, compared to the one just to it’s right which is swimbait specific.) I’ve searched far and wide for someone with hands on experience with this rod but can’t find anyone. 

My only concern would be can it actually cast 2 oz well?  If not familiar with that rod but many rods have an optimistic upper lure weight rating.  This is where a tackeltour review would be helpful.  On the bass x line the 710 did pretty good as a swimbait rod.  Does that mean the victory will be as well?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewstcroixbac710hf.html

[Cody28]

3 hours ago, Tatulatard said:

My only concern would be can it actually cast 2 oz well?  If not familiar with that rod but many rods have an optimistic upper lure weight rating.  This is where a tackeltour review would be helpful.  On the bass x line the 710 did pretty good as a swimbait rod.  Does that mean the victory will be as well?  Maybe.  Maybe not.

http://www.tackletour.com/reviewstcroixbac710hf.html

Yeah that is a concern of mine as well. The 710HF does it well, but was designed specifically for A rigs and small swim baits. In fact all of the 710s throughout St. Croixs lines are swimbait specific rods (HF, XHF, and XXHF). They just do a bad job at marketing them clearly. If you take a look at the charts they provide for which lures are meant for which rod it becomes more clear. 

[Cody28]

I got a hold of someone at St. Croix finally. The guy assured me that the 7’11” HMF would be great for what I’m looking to do. He said the rod was originally designed to cast big deep divers up to 2 oz. like the 10xd, but they later rebranded it as a flipping rod due to people liking it more for that technique. He said their pro staff still use it for both flipping and deep divers, so he doesn’t see a problem with me tossing swim baits up to 2 oz. on it. 

[WRB]

Irod Gen 3 IRG754F magic stick, 3/8-2 oz, 7’5” Heavy fast, however the tip isn’t anyway near a flipping rod.

I used this rod as a utility rod for punching jigs, big crank baits, medium size swimbaits to 2 1/2 oz, and it a excellent frog rod. $150

Tom