What Do You Look For In A Flipping Rod?

[Wisconsin Heat.]

I dont own a rod dedicated to flipping, but its quickly becoming my favorite tactic. i like to punch a little bit, the mats arent thick, so i dont think i need an 8 foot rod. tight now i am using a 7'2" skeetreese jig/worm rod. i miss a few fish and think i need a better rod for the job. So, what should i look for? im looking at rods under $100. is weight of the rod a big factor? should i look for a split grip or a full handle? or does that even make a difference? am i over thinking this?

[BASSclary]

Overthinking it alot.

Of course weight matters. Lighter is better. Lighter with a good balance is even better. Split-grip vs Full Grip is completely preference.

Are you going to be doing real flipping? or do you mean pitching? People often confuse them. I want an absolute broomstick for flipping.XH/XF. I want a slightly softer tip for pitching. A H/F. A good length is probably 7'6". I wouldn't go under 7'.

I would look at the Falcon Bucoo line-up. They are excellent rods at the $100 price point. If you can save a little more for a Powell I guarantee you will love it.

[ww2farmer]

I want a rod at LEAST 7'6" for true flipping. For one, the longer the rod the further away from what ever I am flipping I can keep the boat........some times that matters. At least a H power is a must, get the hook set and get the fish moving out of the cover and to you as quickly as possable, I would rather have to duck 2 lbers flying out of the water on the hook set, than letting a 5+ getting back down in the cover on me. Moderate fast action is a must as well. This is short distance/heavy line fishing, with a powerfull rod, the moderate fast action does a few things, protects your line AND the rod with a little bit of flex, keeps you from completly tearing the face off of fish on the gung ho hook sets needed to turn fish and get them moving in heavy cover. It also lets me feel my way through cover a little better. Not all Mod. fast flipping rods are created equal, one that has that nice little bit of parabolic action to it, but quickly loads into the power of the rod is what I like best.

[J Francho]

Moderate fast action is a must as well.

Absolutely! All the hype over X-fast rods does not apply in the jungle.

Sling shot those pigs out of cover. You want the stress spread out over the entire blank, and that blank better be tough.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

Hvy-XHvy/Mod Fast 7'6"+ length. I don't like adding weight to any rod but will use a full grip on a flippin' stick to balance out the longer length. Strong yet light guides also help. I spiral wrap and use micros but you won't find that design over the counter.

[flippin and pitchin]

I agree with DVC for the most part. Each angler has their personal preference in actions. I wanted a rod that was light, balanced, being a 7-6 or 8-0 will feel tip heavy and sensitive is a must. I had to go outside my normal preferred manufacture to get what I wanted, but it was worth it. Flippin sticks are one rod I want a full rear handle on as well.

[Hooligan]

The only hard and fast rule that I have for my flippin' stick is that it needs to be a mod-fast. I have had other rods that aren't and I'm falling back to the St Croix and my 904IMX more and more. I don't really fall to the need of HVY for it, we don't always flip the heaviest of cover here, a MH will sometimes suffice.

[piscicidal]

I have experimented a little bit on flipping/punching rods and have kind of settled in on my Dobyns Champion 766FLIP and 805FLIP/PUNCH. I absolutely love that 805 rod...it's got an extra long, one piece cork handle. The rod/handle length are just perfect for me from an ergonomic standpoint (I'm 6'1"). I can pitch cast baits all day long (left or right handed) with that setup with very little effort or fatique.

[Wisconsin Heat.]

Overthinking it alot.

Of course weight matters. Lighter is better. Lighter with a good balance is even better. Split-grip vs Full Grip is completely preference.

Are you going to be doing real flipping? or do you mean pitching? People often confuse them. I want an absolute broomstick for flipping.XH/XF. I want a slightly softer tip for pitching. A H/F. A good length is probably 7'6". I wouldn't go under 7'.

I would look at the Falcon Bucoo line-up. They are excellent rods at the $100 price point. If you can save a little more for a Powell I guarantee you will love it.

I am actually doing a lot more pitching now that i think about it, i do alot of shore fishing but i still get out on the boat every now and then. I have another question for everyone. i was looking at teloscopic rods, i think they would fit in my car alot better- idk if id even fit a full 7-6" in my car! being a teloscopic rod, does it have any negative effects on the rods quality?

[Sam]

1. Specifications of rod to note if the rod can match the line test and bait weight I like to throw.

2. Strength of the rod, such as heavy or medium heavy.

3. Length of the rod, usually 7 feet or longer.

4. Number of guides. The more the merrier. Getting to like the micro guides.

5. Split grip or cork grip. Getting to like the split grip.

6. Sensitivity. The more the graphite the more sensitive the rod.

7. Reel seat. Any problems with how you seat the reel?

8. Fast or extra fast tip.

9. Where will you be fishing the rod? Heavy grass, pads and gunk or open water rocks, wood, grass banks, etc.?

10. Manufacturer's warrenty.

11. Brand name. I would rathere spend a little more and get a known brand name than one of the Mafia Mutual or Sifting Sands rods.

12. Is the rod "specific" to the technique you want or is it a good "all around" rod that you can use for various techniques?

13. Information from the Forum on various brands and rods that the guys favor. This may drive you over the edge so make notes and then cull the rods down to two or three that you like. Go to store, with your reel, set it up, see how it feels, and then decide.

OK, you are now ready to make a decision. Which rod will it be????

[BassThumb]

One must for me is having a nice, long distance between the reel seat and first guide. This makes flipping a lot easier. Compare a Dobyns 735 to a 766 and you'll see what I mean. It makes a big difference.