What's your Heavy Pitching/Flipping/Punching rod setup??

[Darth-Baiter]

I have a hair trigger.  I feel a tick and I am setting the hook hard.  flip/punch really accentuates my hair trigger.  it is NOT a good thing.

 

my first punch rod is an inexpensive Six Gills Heavy Fast.  it is rigid.  like a stick.  I really couldn't get punch and flip fish in heavy cover at all.  I think it was my hook set.  I didnt wait even a millisecond..and I cranked hard hoping to pick up all the slack in the weeds and drive that heavy hook home.  I bet I was yanking the heavy weight past the bass lips.  

 

I got a softer rod and I things got way better.  last year, I put several punch and flip bass into my lap on my kayak.  jubilation barely describes it.  I really think my Perfect Pitch will be a fine rod for the task.  maybe a tad on the light side.  but I dont think I will break it.  it is kinda moderate on the tip.  really bends deep into the rod.  

[The Maestro]

7'7" Heavy Cumara

Bantam

80lb Power Pro

[casts_by_fly]

14 hours ago, Masaccio said:

What's your reel choice for this rod?  Thanks!  I don' have any XGs at this point, so will be shopping.  

 

last season it was a revo SX with a couple trips using an STX. When I bought the rod I didn’t expect it to become a mainstay almost every trip. I thought it would be more situational.  This year I’ll probably swap it and put the STX on it for good. 

[Masaccio]

7 hours ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

last season it was a revo SX with a couple trips using an STX. When I bought the rod I didn’t expect it to become a mainstay almost every trip. I thought it would be more situational.  This year I’ll probably swap it and put the STX on it for good. 

Interesting.  Thanks.  What is you preference for gear ratio?  There are interesting discussions about this for flipping/pitching vs. punching in in heavy vegetation.   

[Captain Phil]

I am definitely "old school" when it comes to flipping and pitching.  When flipping first started, I wanted the longest heaviest rod I could find.  I used an 8' 6" Dee Thomas flipping stick because I could cover more territory.  Eventually, pitching became the thing and long rods were not needed.  Rod weight and sensitivity is the most significant factor in these rods. You will be holding the rod for long periods of time and you don't want to strain your arms or back. Get something comfortable.  Today's rods can be sensitive without being heavy.  One of the best I have seen lately is the Shimano Zodias 7' 2" ZDC72MH. It's a real workhorse. Reels don't matter that much as long as they aren't too heavy.  I used a Shimano Chronarch Bantam 100 for years when flipping.  If you like flipping thumb bar reels, the old Shimano Castaic CA-200s are hard to beat.  Don't overthink the reel. It's doesn't do much in this type of fishing.  As far as line goes,  I'm using 30 pound braid now and no leader when flipping and pitching.  I snell all my hooks.

[Darth-Baiter]

23 hours ago, Masaccio said:

What's your reel choice for this rod?  Thanks!  I don' have any XGs at this point, so will be shopping.  

I didnt talk much about my reel.  Daiwa Tatula SV 103 or something.  

 

I used to use some Lews BB1.  it was okay.  I spooled it full of 65lb braid. I could punch/flip and my spool control wasn't the best.  eventually the line would loosen on the spool.  I would occasionally need to face away from shore and bomb out a cast and reel it back in to tighten up the line on the spool.  

 

the Tatula SV holds much less line.  way less.  and the light spool somehow made me better at thumbing it to a slow and stop.  I eliminated the need to occasionally tighten up my line.  well it is very rare.   my system I way better.  I cannot wait until next season.  

[casts_by_fly]

1 hour ago, Masaccio said:

Interesting.  Thanks.  What is you preference for gear ratio?  There are interesting discussions about this for flipping/pitching vs. punching in in heavy vegetation.   

I used an 8.1 in the SX. The STX is a 7.1.  Both are what I had and not bought specifically for the rod. I might use a 6.2 now that capt phil reminded me of a reel I have. 

 

1 hour ago, Captain Phil said:

I am definitely "old school" when it comes to flipping and pitching.  When flipping first started, I wanted the longest heaviest rod I could find.  I used an 8' 6" Dee Thomas flipping stick because I could cover more territory.  Eventually, pitching became the thing and long rods were not needed.  Rod weight and sensitivity is the most significant factor in these rods. You will be holding the rod for long periods of time and you don't want to strain your arms or back. Get something comfortable.  Today's rods can be sensitive without being heavy.  One of the best I have seen lately is the Shimano Zodias 7' 2" ZDC72MH. It's a real workhorse. Reels don't matter that much as long as they aren't too heavy.  I used a Shimano Chronarch Bantam 100 for years when flipping.  If you like flipping thumb bar reels, the old Shimano Castaic CA-200s are hard to beat.  Don't overthink the reel. It's doesn't do much in this type of fishing.  As far as line goes,  I'm using 30 pound braid now and no leader when flipping and pitching.  I snell all my hooks.

Thanks for the reminder.  I have a bantam 100 sitting in the basement I need to pull out. It sits a little higher off the rod than I prefer but it’s a heck of a tough reel and might be a nice option to throw on this rod this year.