Photos: Ricky Bodsford
Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ish Monroe has made a career of fishing shallow water with heavy gear in the thick stuff. As a professional angler he is versatile enough to do it all in bass fishing, but given the choice, he would be up shallow with a frog or flipping and pitching his way through heavy cover.
Having the Right Fishing Rod for the Technique
Monroe recently designed three new Tatula Elite rods for Daiwa that were built exactly to his specifications and they include a 7’4”, 7’6” and 8’ heavy. (See 8' in Video below)
While they are all heavy-action rods and built for similar- sized line and lures, they each have key differences that make them excel at the techniques they were designed for.
Inches Make a Difference in a Fishing Rod
Looking at the specs of the 7’6” and 8’ heavy Tatula Elite you will see similar ratings, but the extra length makes a huge difference according to Monroe.
“With an extra six-inches of rod length, you can flip a bait two-feet further and that also means you can pitch a bait about four-feet further,” he says. “This is key when you are flipping and pitching in clear water and need that extra distance.”
Slingshot Effect | Parabolic Bend for Flippin’, Pitchin’ and Punchin’
When selecting a rod for flipping, pitching, and punching, Monroe advises anglers to find one with a parabolic bend and softer tip. He designed his rods to have this exact action and says it makes a difference when landing big fish in heavy cover.
“If you punch into a mat and you set the hook hard, the action of the rod is almost like a bungee cord and it will help you get the fish out easier,” he shares. “Having that parabolic action and tip will help you land more of the big ones that you might normally lose.”
READ RELATED: Colors and Conditions for 5 Lures with Brent Ehrler
Feeling Froggy | Elite Frog Rods
Monroe is well known for his prowess with a frog rod. He says there are a few things he looks for with a frog rod: backbone in the rod and a soft tip for walking the frog.
His 7’4” heavy Tatula Elite is built to be able to make long casts, but also short enough that it can be used to hit close targets.
“The rod has a nice tip and that is really important with a frog rod, you want to be able to work the frog,” he says. “Some rods are too stiff and you can’t walk the frog properly.
Another key is having some backbone.
“When a fish pulls the frog under a mat you need to be able to set the hook and really hook them good,” says Monroe who hinted that he has another longer frog rod in the works with a similar action.
READ RELATED: What’s New from Daiwa
Versatility of Flippin’ and Pitchin’ Rods
Not every angler wants or needs multiple flipping and pitching rods, but Monroe said anglers are using the rods he designed are being used for a variety of different techniques.
“I have talked to some guys who are using them for deep jigs, Carolina-rigs, and swimjigs,” he says. “The soft tip of the rods makes them more versatile than just for flipping, pitching, punching, and frogs.”
Fishing Rod Weight Factor
Using big, beefy rods all day can take a toll on an angler; so, Monroe designed his rods to be as light as possible. One key to reducing weight was the type of guides used for these rods.
His rods all include the carbon fiber AGS guides, which stands for Air Guide System. They are 20 to 40 percent lighter than standard guides and Monroe says it makes a huge difference in the weight and also helps with sensitivity.
“The guides allow you to feel when a fish grabs your bait on the fall when you are flipping, pitching or punching,” says Monroe. “You can also feel when a bass has your frog and didn’t just blow up on it and miss it.”
READ RELATED: Reaction Bait Rod Selection with Cody Meyer
Angler Height Matters When Choosing a Fishing Rod
One factor that also plays into the rod selection equation is angler height. A tall angler might be able to easily flip and pitch with an eight-foot rod, but a shorter angler may think it is too much rod for them.
“Some people just don’t want an 8’ rod and the 7’6” size may be better for them,” he says. “I’ve heard from some shorter guys who are using my 7’4” frog rod for pitching and flipping and really doing well with it.”
Ish Monroe is a master when it comes to fishing heavy cover and his three new rods from Daiwa were built to his exact specifications. They are great for what they are built for and much thought was put into them to make sure they are exactly how he wanted them.
Advertising