Daiwa Man, however ...

[SteveF]

Hey all, I absolutely love my Daiwa Alpha's, Sol's and just purchased new Zillions.

I'm looking for a great flipping and pitching reel.  I have a new St. Croix Tournament Bass 7'6" MH Moderate pitching stick and am having a hard time deciding on a reel for it.  Would you go with an Alpha with slow gear ratio for winching power and extremely smooth for lighter baits.

Alpha Type F (already have 5 of them)

Zillion (6.3 or 7.1)

Shimano 50MG

Other?

Please help me decide on a reel, would prefer a Daiwa however am open.  Also please include what you prefer, slow with power or fast to move the fish faster?

Thanks.

Steve

[.RM.]

I'm looking for a great flipping and pitching reel.  I have a new St. Croix Tournament Bass 7'6" MH Moderate pitching stick and am having a hard time deciding on a reel for it.

With out a doubt from your list, Zillion (6.3 or 7.1)  

All my jig and t-rig rods are carrying 6.2:1 or higher GR reels (Shimano, Garcia, and Quantum). I want to move the fish' head as soon as hook set is made.

Tight Lines!!!!  

[SteveF]

Would you recommend the more universal 6.3 as my other 2 are, or the high speed 7.1?  

I also haven't been able to use my Zillions yet as the ice is kind of thick to punch a weight through  ;D, but how does it do with lighter jigs and T Rigs ... say 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz?

Thanks for your advise, and I would love to hear anyone else's as well.

Take care all,

Steve

[Grey Wolf]

I'm looking for a great flipping and pitching reel. I have a new St. Croix Tournament Bass 7'6" MH Moderate pitching stick and am having a hard time deciding on a reel for it.

With out a doubt from your list, Zillion (6.3 or 7.1)

All my jig and t-rig rods are carrying 6.2:1 or higher GR reels (Shimano, Garcia, and Quantum). I want to move the fish' head as soon as hook set is made.

Tight Lines!!!!

X2

[Raul]

Would you recommend the more universal 6.3 as my other 2 are, or the high speed 7.1?

I also haven't been able to use my Zillions yet as the ice is kind of thick to punch a weight through ;D, but how does it do with lighter jigs and T Rigs ... say 1/4 oz and 3/8 oz?

Thanks for your advise, and I would love to hear anyone else's as well.

Take care all,

Steve

If you are going to flip, pitch, worm or jig ( any technique that creates slack line ) why would you choose the slowest version if in order to maintain the contact with the bait you gotta reel in the slack line as fast as you can ?

[SteveF]

I feel that the slower gear ratio makes me slow down more and fish slower, which is why I love the Alpha's on my EC68MXF for my T Rigs and spinnerbaits. I understand where you are coming from, but the St. Croix Elites are so sensitive that I don't mind having a very slight slack in the line when working the bait, I think that the rod will transmit the bite, but the reel will force me to fish slower ... am I right or wrong ... I don't know but that is my reasoning.

Steve

[Raul]

I feel that the slower gear ratio makes me slow down more and fish slower, which is why I love the Alpha's on my EC68MXF for my T Rigs and spinnerbaits. I understand where you are coming from, but the St. Croix Elites are so sensitive that I don't mind having a very slight slack in the line when working the bait, I think that the rod will transmit the bite, but the reel will force me to fish slower ... am I right or wrong ... I don't know but that is my reasoning.

Steve

Steve, in all of those techniques the speed of the retrieve is given by you with the rod, not with the reel: X ammount of hops or twitches per second not how many turns of the crank per second.

[SteveF]

But I tend to leave it in one place longer with a slower gear ratio because I am taking up slack probably but at the same time not moving the lure.

Steve

[.RM.]

Would you recommend the more universal 6.3 as my other 2 are, or the high speed 7.1?  

When I'm punching through garbage with the heavier 1/2oz jigs I have it setup on an old Quantum® Competition QG3501 that I have tweaked to the 7.1:1, mostly because of the heavier weight. For my lighter 3/8 up close jigs (Curado 201B 6.2:1), and 3/8 oz t-rigs I use my (Revo SL 6.2:1). These are all mounted on custom rods I built for each reel. But I truly think it is all personal preference and personal technique when it come to pitching and flipping up close and at a distance (slack line).

But I tend to leave it in one place longer with a slower gear ratio because I am taking up slack probably but at the same time not moving the lure.

Almost a dead stick technique. I tend to leave my jigs in one spot for a couple of minuets. I remember pitching the jig then almost smoking a full cig, then moving the jig (with rod tip only about 1") then letting it sit again, and taking up only a crank or so to take up any slack.

Just my .02¢

Good Luck & Tight Lines!!!!  

[Grey Wolf]

Do you sometimes think you're talking to a wall ?

[SteveF]

Bass Brat,

Please explain the wall you are referring to?

Steve

[Grey Wolf]

Bass Brat,

Please explain the wall you are referring to?

Steve

Simple , you have your own way to fish and these suggestions do not agree with the way you fish.You fish the way you feel comfortable with.

All I'm saying is you have your mind made up and suggesions roll off your back like water off a ducks back.

If this upsets you then I'll apologize now and we won't get into a ticking contest.

[michbass]

Its not on your list but the Steel 103 is a great pitching and flipping real

Should be though for the price. Don't do a whole lot of either here in Mich though, not  a lot of thick stuff to do it with.

[SteveF]

Bass Brat,

I did not doubt anyone and totally agree with a faster gear ratio makes since for flipping and pitching, I guess I didn't see where I doubted someone on there opinion.  I was asked why I feel a slower ratio was better for me in my mind for my standard finesse fishing, but I never stated that a faster or slower was better for flipping and pitching or for that matter than my way was right.  Reelmechnic understood my reasoning as I like to leave my baits, jigs in one place longer and the slower gear ratio makes me slow down even though I am moving the bait with my rod I have to take more time reeling to take up that slack which in turn leaves my bait motionless for a longer period of time.

michbass,

It's funny that you mentioned that as I did go with the Steez 103HL (I believe that is the code for the left handed model in the 103 series).

I would really like to hear why some prefer faster gear ratios over slower, is it lest cranking or is it a matter of more casts throughout the day?

Thanks all,

Steve

[Jimzee]

I would really like to hear why some prefer faster gear ratios over slower, is it lest cranking or is it a matter of more casts throughout the day?

I prefer a faster gear ratio on my pitching reels for one reason, to get that fishes head turned as fast as possible and get him out of the thick stuff I mainly fish in.  A faster ratio will help do this.

[SteveF]

I totally agree that it makes sense, and I went with the Steez for the ability to present light baits like my (slow) Alpha Type F's, but yet a faster gear ratio.  I'm hoping that it is a winner.

Steve