What is your favorite rod ...

[rumbal]

Hello everyone! I'm going to get a reliable setup for pitching in heavy cover. My question is: what is your favorite rod and reel for pitching? I hope your answers will help me to pick up a good rod and reel.

Thanks in advance.

[soccplayer07]

at what price point?

[rumbal]

Not more than $ 300

[rumbal]

Sorry, the rod and reel about $ 700.

[Bayou Bass]

For pitching it is a toss up.  I have a dobyns 704 that I really like and I also have a custom built rod called a Cajun Limb that I really like.  The Cajun Limb is heavy power fast action with a great tip.  It has spiral guides and a full cork rear grip with no foregrip.  I typically pitch 1/4oz T-Rig plastics to cypress tress and other shallow water cover.  I also pitch 3/8oz jigs to similar targets.  The Cajun Limbs are made in Baton Rouge and are great rods built on Falcon blanks.

[SWMIBASSER]

Man that budget opens up enough options that this discussion could go on forever.

I would probably pick the Loomis BCR 853, in Mossyback or GLX, and then pick up a Revo Premier, or Skeet Reese. That's just me.

The biggest thing for me is to pick a rod that has enough length but isn't cumbersome. An overly long handle also becomes cumbersome and just gets in the way.

If going custom I think I would add some provision for an add on balancer to get the balance perfect.

A reel needs to be a high speed reel, that can bring line back in quick, to make the next pitch.

[Bronzefly]

Hello everyone! I'm going to get a reliable setup for pitching in heavy cover. My question is: what is your favorite rod and reel for pitching? I hope your answers will help me to pick up a good rod and reel.

Thanks in advance.

With a $700 budget, you'll be able to put together a very nice combo for sure - especially if you look for lightly used gear.  I pitch with a BCFR 863 GLX and a BCR 855 GLX most often.  Don't let the "3" power make you think it's a standard Loomis "MH" rod - the BCFR series is much different than the BCR series.  Either rod would work and have some other good uses as well.

The Chronarch D7 is a very comfortable reel with plenty of power and it pitches VERY well.  If you wanted to consider a Daiwa, the Zillion is also a well built reel with power.

[Fishes in trees]

I think that when you are pitching, the reel is just as important as the rod.  For instance, a reel like the Calcutta 200 TEGT, with 11 ball bearings, will extend the range of whatever rod you're using to pitch with.  It will handle finesse pitching, i.e. throwing 3/16 tubes on 10 pound fluorocarbon.  It will handle 25 pound fluorocarbon or braid should you be throwing 3/4 ounce jigs into knarly stuff.

Favorite rod  has changed several times in the past few years and is still subject to upgrade.   I have a pair of Kistler rods 7 and 7 1/2 MH that I like quite a bit.  If you will be weaving in and out of alot of trees and overhead cover, don't be afraid to go shorter, 6 1/2 or even 6'.

Don't stop at $700.  The quest for the perfect pitching rod & reel combo offers you a unique chance to get really self indulgent.  Go for it!

[Pantera61]

Sorry, the rod and reel about $ 700.

Piece of cake, Evergreen Tyrant HD rod, Revo STX HS reel

[David P]

Save some money!

I do a lot of flipping and pitching and I use a few different rods for it.

  My favorite is a Dobyns 765 Flippin Stick. Amazing rod, and incredibly light. It's 7'6" and a 5 Power Rod.

They have a 766 if you want an even heavier duty rod, but for what most guys do, a 765 does the trick.

For a reel, Revo STX is an easy pick. The drag is the real selling point, given that when you're pitching heavy cover, you don't want your drag slipping when you're pulling a big fish out of an additional 10lbs of weeds.

  You can get the rod and reel for all of $400 and use the $300 for another combo.

I use the 765 probably more then any other rod I have, the fish in my photo was caught on it.

Good luck.

[BMoore]

how do you guys pitch with these long rods off of a boat? If I go over 7 foot or so I can bring the tip down far enough to pitch accurately.

For pitching I like the dobyns 703 or 704. GLX 853/854 would be sweet also. Throw a core on one of those dobyns and you'll still have money left over.

[steezy]

For flippin/pitchin:

1st - Steez SVF 7' MedHeavyFast w/Steez 103SHA reel

2nd - G.Loomis 7' MBR843 MedHeavyFast w/Steez 103SHA reel

Overall Favorite:

1st - G.Loomis 7' MBR842 MedFast w/Steez 100SHA reel

2nd - Steez Fle-X-Lite 7' Med w/Steez 100SHA reel

[Lucky Craft Man]

$700 Budget...here is how I would break that money down (this is my personal opinion).

First, I would spend $280 on the Shimano CORE 100MgFV that is currently for sale in the Flea Market Section (Scroll down to page 2 where he mentions he is selling it):

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1264703177/15

Then I would goto *** and buy a G Loomis GLX BCR854 or GLX BCR855 (depending on how heavy the cover really is).

With the extra $20 or $30, I would get a spool of 15 lb. Berkley Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon.

That is an awesome set-up (and one I use for all my weighted plastics). 

Good luck in your shopping, but whatever you choose, make sure to feel and hold both the rod and reel (and preferable the reel on the rod) before you purchase it.  The last thing you would want to do is buy a rod and reel to soon find you don't like how they feel in your hand.

[rumbal]

One more question. What is the difference between GLX MBR844C and GLX BCR854 (excluding the length) ?

Thanks all!

[flippin and pitchin]

For flippin I like the Lamiglas 806 and a Revo SX.  The 806 is honestly tip heavy but has a shorter rear grip.  For Pitchin I like the Lamiglas XMG50 704 and the Certified Pro 764 ( my favorite ) with the Revos. I have $772.00 total invested in these three set ups new.  I'm very happy with them. My Excels won't be here for two weeks.  We'll see how they effects my preferences. 

[Bayou Bass]

how do you guys pitch with these long rods off of a boat? If I go over 7 foot or so I can bring the tip down far enough to pitch accurately.

For pitching I like the dobyns 703 or 704. GLX 853/854 would be sweet also. Throw a core on one of those dobyns and you'll still have money left over.

It takes some getting used to but it is quite easy.  You just have to set the tension on your reel pretty loose so you don't use as much rod to pitch.  I only move the rod 1-3 feet down then up to pitch.

[Cavfirst]

Kistler Mag 7" mag worm carolina rig hvy-daiwa black widow 2 reel.

[Bronzefly]

One more question. What is the difference between GLX MBR844C and GLX BCR854 (excluding the length) ?

Thanks all!

They are both "heavy" and "fast" but the BCR is definitely faster, less moderate.  I know the MBR will work well for jigs and worms, but I prefer the BCR series for bottom contact presentations.

[VillePlacian]

I have to agree with one of the previous post.  For the money, you cant beat the quality of a Kajun Limb.  I've been fishing one, long before they were available to the public, and they have never let me down.  They are super light, sensative and strong.  They are now, only available through Bowie Outfitters in Baton Rouge, and if you go by ask for Jacob.  He is the the fishing department manager, and he seems to know his stuff.  A brand new Kajun Limb runs apprx. $145 and comes in either solid cork or EVA foam, split grip handles.  Try one out, you will not be disappointed.  I now have 5 Kajun Limbs in my collection.