Pitching rod for Minnesota

[Pogues2300]

No budget, looking for suggestions for pitching Lilly pads, milfoil… etc . Minnesota/Wisconsin is where I fish. I guess I’d consider it light pitching compared to watching southern tournaments. Maybe I already own the rod lol. Anyways, iced in bored looking forward to spring!

[WRB]

What rod do you have that may work?

What line and lures do you like to pitch?

Tom

[Pogues2300]

You know upon further review it’s just too complicated to ask questions on this site. I need to have a lawyer go over how I phrase things. Take care

[FrnkNsteen]

Seemed like reasonable questions. OP said he may already have the right rod, so seems reasonable to ask what rods they already have and what they like to pitch.

 

Seems like people are sensitive in the middle of the night!

[Pogues2300]

No its just the same people dissecting every statement I’m not sensitive just observant 

[MN Fisher]

8 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

No budget, looking for suggestions for pitching Lilly pads, milfoil… etc . Minnesota/Wisconsin is where I fish. I guess I’d consider it light pitching compared to watching southern tournaments. Maybe I already own the rod lol.

Any decent heavy rod would do - First couple years after I got back into fishing regularly, I was using a 7'0" Aird-X Heavy/Fast for my pitching work. Last winter I upgraded that to a Fury 765Flip,

 

8 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

Anyways, iced in bored looking forward to spring!

Ya - me too.

[gim]

9 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

suggestions for pitching Lilly pads, milfoil

Around that type of gnarly stuff I would definitely go with at least a MH rod, if not a H as @MN Fisher stated.  And definitely use some thicker braid, at least 40 pound test.  Maybe 50.  I assume you'll be pitching some texas rigged soft plastics into the "jungle" so you'll want horse power and winching power to pull them out.  Even a 3 pounder that gets tangled in there will be problematic if you are underpowered.

[casts_by_fly]

9 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

No budget, looking for suggestions for pitching Lilly pads, milfoil… etc . Minnesota/Wisconsin is where I fish. I guess I’d consider it light pitching compared to watching southern tournaments. Maybe I already own the rod lol. Anyways, iced in bored looking forward to spring!

 

8 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

You know upon further review it’s just too complicated to ask questions on this site. I need to have a lawyer go over how I phrase things. Take care

 

people ask questions to try to help better.  There are tons of options in the marketplace.  There is a rod, reel, or line to fill every possible use case and preference.  Rather than make assumptions about what you're doing or like, its better to ask a clarifying question or two.  In this case, you might be pitching 5/16 jigs or you might be throwing 3/4oz+plastic.  Since you said you might already have a rod for the job, then what's your preferred action/style?

 

For me personally, I fish a lot of similar aquatic veg over here in NJ.  Tons of pads, thick milfoil and pondweed.  I'm normally throwing 3/8-1/2 lead plus plastic or comparable jig.  My choice is the Falcon expert Amistad with 50 lb braid.  7'3" heavy fast, but not pool cue.  A 3/8 and beaver (palmetto bug, bandito bug, etc) is about as light as I want to go on it to maintain accuracy.  If you're fishing lighter lures, the Heavy cover jig is a better choice.  If you prefer a shorter rod and its more loose vegetation then the 6'10" head turner is designed as a light pitching stick.  I have all three of them and they have their place.  The head turner is my swim jig through vegetation rod.

[Choporoz]

2 hours ago, Pogues2300 said:

No its just the same people dissecting every statement I’m not sensitive just observant 

I vote sensitive.  I observe someone asking pretty open question and crapping on someone trying to help.  I suspect that when folks have more information about the situation, they just might be in a position to offer better suggestions.  

  But, I will try to withhold my judgement until we hear what your lawyer says.

[Chris Catignani]

25 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

... 

If you prefer a shorter rod and its more loose vegetation then the 6'10" head turner is designed as a light pitching stick. 

...

I like a shorter rod for pitchin' ... it enables you to "cast" without the tip being in the water. 6'10" is perfect for me.

[Pogues2300]

I admit upon further review I overreacted. That being said the other day a person asked what reel new to baitcasters for whatever price point. I offered my suggestion. I did not feel the need to ask what way wind blows, what type of line, I mean I get it but sometimes less is more. 

[gim]

13 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

I like a shorter rod for pitchin' ... it enables you to "cast" without the tip being in the water. 6'10" is perfect for me.

Probably dependent on how tall a guy is too.  Or how high your rig is off the water.

[casts_by_fly]

12 minutes ago, Chris Catignani said:

I like a shorter rod for pitchin' ... it enables you to "cast" without the tip being in the water. 6'10" is perfect for me.

I'm also finding that a 6'10" is a great overall length for me and better than a 7'.  Even the 6'11" is noticeably different than 7' (same handles on all of them).  Standing in a kayak I'm probably a little lower than others, but I'm primarily a sidearm roll type cast so not the tip down roll you see a lot of pros do.  I fish as short as 6'6" and I just dug out a 5'6" pistol grip to try something this year, but for a rod that is pitching and casting, that 6'10" length is just about perfect for me.

 

1 minute ago, Pogues2300 said:

I admit upon further review I overreacted. That being said the other day a person asked what reel new to baitcasters for whatever price point. I offered my suggestion. I did not feel the need to ask what way wind blows, what type of line, I mean I get it but sometimes less is more. 

 

Probably because a person new to baitcasters hasn't got any preferences or basis to go by.  They aren't looking to do a specific thing with it.  They just want a reel they can learn on, of good quality.  So you can infer answers to most any question in that case.  In this case, you're looking for a specific thing so a little basis to start from is super helpful.  Either way, stick with this site.  I've been on forums since 1999 (email servers before that) and this is one of the better ones for sure. There are some true experts here in lots of areas (published authors, tournament winners, etc).  

[Pogues2300]

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

I'm also finding that a 6'10" is a great overall length for me and better than a 7'.  Even the 6'11" is noticeably different than 7' (same handles on all of them).  Standing in a kayak I'm probably a little lower than others, but I'm primarily a sidearm roll type cast so not the tip down roll you see a lot of pros do.  I fish as short as 6'6" and I just dug out a 5'6" pistol grip to try something this year, but for a rod that is pitching and casting, that 6'10" length is just about perfect for me.

 

 

Probably because a person new to baitcasters hasn't got any preferences or basis to go by.  They aren't looking to do a specific thing with it.  They just want a reel they can learn on, of good quality.  So you can infer answers to most any question in that case.  In this case, you're looking for a specific thing so a little basis to start from is super helpful.  Either way, stick with this site.  I've been on forums since 1999 (email servers before that) and this is one of the better ones for sure. There are some true experts here in lots of areas (published authors, tournament winners, etc).  

I get your point I had to scroll up to make sure I gave the “basis” you referred to. Think I covered it. Minnesota, Lily pads, milfoil. I left straight braid or braid to leader. 

[Darth-Baiter]

my blind answer.  i would go with the MegaBass Valkyrie 7-2 heavy.    i imagine it could double as a frog rod.  or maybe bigger swimbaits and A-rigs.  

[MN Fisher]

Just now, Darth-Baiter said:

and A-rigs.

Ignore that part - A-Rigs in MN can only have one hook...so there's a 4:1 chance of loosing a bait but not getting the fish on a 5-arm.

[gim]

46 minutes ago, Pogues2300 said:

I left straight braid or braid to leader. 

I'd go straight braid on that one.  I know @T-Billy would agree with me.

[Darth-Baiter]

1 minute ago, MN Fisher said:

Ignore that part - A-Rigs in MN can only have one hook...so there's a 4:1 chance of loosing a bait but not getting the fish on a 5-arm.

i keep forgetting that part.   but he could travel to Ohio or something. 

[T-Billy]

7'4" - 7'6" Heavy Fast. 40# or 50# straight braid.

[MN Fisher]

30 minutes ago, T-Billy said:

7'4" - 7'6" Heavy Fast. 40# or 50# straight braid.

Go with 50# straight braid - that's what I use on my pitching reel.

[WIGuide]

The rod I really love for that is a St. Croix 7' H/F "Dock Sniper". I've got the discontinued LTB model, but they do still make it in the Mojo Bass. Despite it's name which it does excel at, it's very good around deep grass, shallow grass, pads, reeds, laydowns, as well as light punching and can be used for throwing a frog in a pinch as well. It's got a nice soft tip, but a lot of backbone, and the shorter length lends well to making pinpoint roll casts in tight quarters, but is long enough to pitch with. If you're going to be punching heavy matts, I'd go with something a little longer, but for the majority of the grass around here I feel like it's pretty much the perfect rod. 

[Columbia Craw]

Dobyns Champion 736C. It can double as your frog rod.  Two rods in one.

[Cbump]

On 3/5/2023 at 11:53 PM, Pogues2300 said:

You know upon further review it’s just too complicated to ask questions on this site. I need to have a lawyer go over how I phrase things. Take care

With some people here, I completely agree. 

[bx.versatile]

Milfoil weed edges, I do fine with 7-74MH with straight braid or with leader. 

 

Matted vegetation in shallow water, I would go with heavy straight braid.

 

Rod recommendations-

7'2 MH Zodias, Expride, 7'3 MHRebellion - Zodias/Expride are more moderate-fast, Rebellion has a faster tip. All have carbon wrapping (Hi-power X, x45 Braiding-X) that provides more power than its rating. I've thrown 2oz glidebaits with zero issues for past 3 years on the 7'2 MH Zodias.

 

Heavy Rods:

 

7'2 H Zodias or Expride - These rods balance well with high 6oz reels and lighter than most brands MH rods.

 

7'3 XH Phenix Feather - The best model in the Feather series IMO. It's a bit tip heavy, because it's the lightest rod at 3.8oz. More of heavy power with the moderate action, but I tend to throw frogs on it more, but can do other things well too, did I mention glides before?

 

[Pogues2300]

Thanks for the suggestions all. Appreciate the feedback.