Jig rod vs. Flipping rod

[L Dub]

Besides the last line guide position, what's the difference? More in terms of action. Why would anyone need a flipping rod and a separate jig rod? Why not just use a flipping rod and fore go the jig rod? I was looking at the Loomis website and they have 'jig & worm' rods and flipping sticks. I'm confused.

[Oldschool]

The majority of my jig fishing is casting a jig at least 50 feet up to 100 feet.
The rod must be able to make long accurate cast and strong enough to control giant bass. Heavy flipping rods are a poor choice for casting. The pitching rods are too long and heavy, IMO.
Ideally you want a rod with more power than a worm rod, that is 6 1/2 ' to 7', medium/heavy, fast action, designed for line (fluoro or mono) between 8-20 lb, lure weight 1/4-1 oz.
I use Lamiglas XC664, XC704J and titanium TBC705DS rods.
There are other mfr's with similar rods.
Tom

[L Dub]

I guess that make sense. I never cast a jig anymore so I guess it would be moot to me?

So my understanding is that flipping rods are heavier? When I'm tossing the jig, I'll pitch 98% of the time. So I should be looking at the casting rods and not the flipping?

[DeltaDan]

Dubberz- Same rods - No need at all to buy another ...


Just learn the different technique of using your current rod.


Example -- Same rod for DeltaLuke - and he can both Flip and Pitch Awesomly with it !! (I think I have him beat in water entry for Pitchin' -- At least for now !! ) Luke can beat me WAY better for water entry Flippin' !

Why ? Cause he practices it alot ... even when he can't get to sleep he can be heard flippin' into a cup 10' away from him at the opposite wall.


Look at the pic below -- Same rod for both FLip/Pitch - Luke's Beechman 704 as his most loved rod ~ as Luke loves no other rod in his hand like that rod -- 'cause it grew into an extention of his very own hand.

-- just take notice of Luke's flippin how his hand and the line placement works the first eye from the reel. It only takes time at home on the front lawn or in the house to learn .... not any more new rods.... as you can not buy technique.





Cheers Bro,
Dan

[L Dub]

So would I be better off with a 7' pitching rod or a 7'5" flipping (but a really light one)? I think that's what I'm trying to figure out the most.

[civicrr]

Here is my limited experience. Longest rod I used to have was 7'.

I fish the Delta about 85% of the time. My rod of choice for pitching was a St Croix LTB MH fast. I would use it for pitching the Beaver, big worm, etc. Rarely would I cast those lures.

Friends kept telling me that I should be using a longer rod for pitching. Being vertically challenged @ 5'7", I didn't think I would like a longer stick.

When the 2nd Generation rods came out, I got a Dobyns 734. @ 7'3", the rod was just a little longer.

After my positive experience with that rod, I decided to buy a 765. It has worked really well for me as a pitching stick. IMO, I am able to hit the spots I want with less effort & a better entry. Even though I was told about the benefit for pitching, it took me getting a longer stick to really see it.

Since you said that 98% of the time you are pitching, go with the length rod you are most comfortable pitching with. Just don't count out a little longer stick when making a decision.

[Sinjin Kim]

I personally decided not to even bother with the flippin' technique and simply make repeated shorter pitches. Why? Because how often have you had a bass slam your bait on the fall/drop and missed the fish because there was too much slack line and/or your free hand was on the line instead of the reel handle?

I want to be in a position (hands on reel and rod) where I can immediately set the hook on the fish if and when the fish bites the bait on the fall.

This is another reason why I decided to pitch with a left handed reel. Since I hold the rod with my right hand, I want my free hand to be in the ready position instead of switching the rod from my casting hand (right) to the holding hand (left), placing the right hand on the reel and setting the hook. Too much time to give a fish a chance to spit the bait.

The only bait I may consider flippin' with is a large Senko since fish tend to hold onto the bait for quite some time. However, rigs and baits such as a T-Rig, Jig etc... have unnatural weight and I believe fish are more prone to spitting these baits quicker than a Senko.

[Beach Steve Biechman]

Way back in the old days before flippin and pitchin, rods were short and boats were short. Then some guy named Thomas invented pitchin and flippin and he used a real long rod (about 8') the only problem was the rod didn't fit in the boat and the tips were always getting broken. So, the telescopic flippin stick was invented. The problem with a telescopic stick is it is HEAVY. Today boats are longer and you can have a long single piece rod without a problem. What is needed for flippin or pitchin is a medium fast, soft tip rod with a lot of backbone in the length that suites your individual style of fishing. Topwater and light swimbait rods often make good flippin sticks. If you need a good flippin stick call me and I'll make one. They usually cost around $225.00.

Beach

[L Dub]

Steve, you have a PM.

[texas john]

I can see Im in the minority here. Being on a very limited budget, I buy all my rods for muliple purposes. For now this suites me fine. I have one Cranking rod, that I also use for some topwater applications. Being a big fan of the Jig (Pepper of course) I have two jig rods, both heavy action fast tip. I will also throw SB's with one of these rods if the situation calls for it. When I first started out fishing a jig, I was missing fish on my MH rods. This being said I was lake fishing and making longer cast. Now that I fish the Delta a lot more I see why people use a MH rod. I feel very comfortable with the heavy rods in my hands, and both flip and pitch with the same rod comfortably.

[Oldschool]

Way back in the old days before flippin and pitchin, rods were short and boats were short. Then some guy named Thomas invented pitchin and flippin and he used a real long rod (about 8') the only problem was the rod didn't fit in the boat and the tips were always getting broken. So, the telescopic flippin stick was invented. The problem with a telescopic stick is it is HEAVY. Today boats are longer and you can have a long single piece rod without a problem. What is needed for flippin or pitchin is a medium fast, soft tip rod with a lot of backbone in the length that suites your individual style of fishing. Topwater and light swimbait rods often make good flippin sticks. If you need a good flippin stick call me and I'll make one. They usually cost around $225.00.

Beach

Just a note in regards to Dee Thomas; his tulie dip'n rod was 14' long with no reel. BASS had to change their tournament rules to a 8' max rod and mount a reel to keep all the other fishermen happy.
As I recall Dave Gleibe pioneered the pitching technique. Today the two very different presentations have become one to most of todays bass fisherman. I have been using a 7' cranking rod since the early 60's, a Fenwick popping rod, the forerunner of todays trigger sticks.
For pitching/flipping; use the longest rod you can effectively present the lure with.
I believe bass fishermen are missing the purpose of fishing in tight to heavy cover and use the pitching presentation when they could more effectively cast or loop/roll cast or whatever it's called today.
Getting on top of wary bass along break lines, just pushes out or back into cover and turns them off. You should be targeting bass that are already back in heavy cover and positioned to ambush your verticle dropped lure. Just my opinion.
Tom

[Cooch]

I was looking at the Loomis website and they have 'jig & worm' rods and flipping sticks. I'm confused.

Most G-loomis rods that are labeled, "jig" rods, are NOT, true heavy duty jig rods, but infact what I call noodle sticks! These are typically medium to medium heavy rods with a moderate tip action. Yes, PERFECT fer worming, but worthless as a pitching /flippen stick for jigs. Now that's not to say, that a guy who never flips with that rod couldn't use it with like say a 1/8 or 1/4 oz football head jig on an open lake fer smallies and spots.

The easiest test is to pull the line down on that rod, load it up good. If it creates an upside down "J", DO NOT, pitch or flip with it, yer gonna git yer heart broken! If it has an even bend like an eye brow, now ya got the right pitching/flippen stik yer looking for!!!!!!!!!!

[Oldschool]

One easy test is lifting plastic water bottles. A good flipping rod should be able to lift a 1 quart water bottle, 4 lbs. A typical med/hvy fast action rod can lift a 1 pint bottle, or 1 lb.
String the rod with line and reel you use and give it try at home.
When a rod bends mostly in the upper 1/3, (J) it's a fast action, bends evenly it's parabolic.
You will be surprise how much power it takes to lift dead weight, so use some caution and don't break you prized rod.
Tom

[firebass]

Thanks to all who provide tips and info like this thread has done. Fun fishermen like me just want to hone in the skills and really appreciate when an otherwise tight lipped breed, like the bass fisherman, open up and give others the tips that can be tried on our own home lakes. Kudos to all who share what works for them, now to make it work for the fish in my lake. (I'm pretty sure someone sprayed fish repellent on my tackle box.)

[Gary Dobyns]

I'm confused a little. If you're looking for a Delta flippin/pitchin rod to handle a jig, grab a 7'6" or 8'. I'll use my rod line as examples. I make a couple of pitchin sticks in 7'3". They don't make the best flippin rod because they lack the length to pick up more line for the flip.

A jig rod, like those of G Loomis's are rods for fishing jigs in lakes. These will vary in length and power ratings, depending on if you are using a 1 oz. in 50 feet of water or tossing a 1/4 oz. in shallow water.

I teamed with Mike Long to make a 7'8" jig rod this year. It has the length of a flippin stick but is designed as a deep water jig rod. It does not have the power to be a trash flippin stick. It is a great deep water jig rod. The length lets pick up a lot of line on hook sets and helps with line stretch in deep water.

My 2 cents.

[bassenvy]

Gary how similar is that 7'8 jig rod to the 764?

[Gary Dobyns]

The action is close, a little faster. The rod is an Extreme and VERY light. I have guys flippin with it, but I HATE it as it was not meant to be a flippin stick. It is 7'8" and Mike Long has been after me for 3 years to make it. I have a new flippin stick in the works that is unreal.

[ugly stick]

*NM*

[bassenvy]

right on...that 764 is my favorite all around rod and I've been looking for something a little taller with a similar action that isn't too heavy.

do you have guys using that rod for rippin' chatters/blades,traps,etc...with braid on the delta? or is it too meaty for those baits?

[jimmy87]

if you are doing the true flippin it requires a specific rod.

pitchin rods are lighter and shorter.
Now you can flip with about any rod but to flip they way it was inteneded you need a 7'6" to 8 foot rod.
Flippin is for fishing the heaviest of cover with the heaviest line/rod

pitchin is for working just outside of the cover.


just my 2 cents.

[dockboy]

I like to fish jigs. IMO, a flippin rod and jig rod arent always the same, If you are on an absolute budget, then yes. For flippin and light duty pitchin, yeah a flippin' stick will work. But if you want to get into jig fishing seriously, take Cooch's advice. I like a 6'6"-7' heavy rod that can pull a fish out of there. My pitching stick is actually lighter action than my jig rod (lighter tip for more accurate pitches) and my flippin sticks are about the same power as my jig rod. But you certainly do need a solid flip rod if you fish cover. I wouldnt dare go heavy duty flipping with a pitching stick or 7' foot rod. Not to say it cant be done. But I want as much control as possible when the fish are in cover, and if Im flipping way back into cover, I want at least 7'6" of control, ya know?
That being said, a jig rod has a lot of different meanings. A jig rod for open water may be meant to fish 10-12lb line, or a finesse jig rod may be meant to fish 8-10lb. And then you have a heavy duty Delta or CL jiogs rod like what Cooch uses, meant for very specific usage. And as has been said, there are several mfgs. making great rods for each application

[L Dub]

Just left the Hook. Didn't see the 784. That sounds perfect for me!

[Mark Hiser]

L Dub, Look at the Dobyns Extreme 744C, If your at the delta or clear lake and you may be pitchin into heavy cover( like into mats or way back into the tules) it would make a better match. The 784C ML is a fantastic stick, but it really is for open water jig fishin.

Anyway, just my thoughts on it

Mark Hiser

[L Dub]

I looked at the 765 at Outdoor Pro yesterday and really liked it. Is there anything similar out there with a split grip?

[civicrr]

Not from Dobyns. 735 on up is full grip.

[L Dub]

Besides dobyns?

so far I've looked at Rogue, Loomis, Diawa.

[civicrr]

Powell & St Croix (LTB) sticks are split grip.

[leachman90]

I have been using the Dobyns 765 Flip 7'6"(Gen1)Gen 2 for both my flipping and pitching. Now we may not have the toads up here like you guys do on the Delta but I have stuck many fish over 7.5 lbs up here including fish up to 10.4lb. And I am fishing in heavy cover like russian olive trees and other wood and timber. I need a rod that I can haul off and whack them.And on some of the smaller ponds I am using my float tube so I don't have much room for mistakes.It only takes a couple seconds(or less) for a big bass to wrap you up around a branch and come unbuttoned.The 765 does the job for me.GB...Jim

[L Dub]

I don't know if this will get the thread deleted, but how does the Dobyns 764 compare to the Powell 764? Same action?

[bpm2000]

The action is close, a little faster. The rod is an Extreme and VERY light. I have guys flippin with it, but I HATE it as it was not meant to be a flippin stick. It is 7'8" and Mike Long has been after me for 3 years to make it. I have a new flippin stick in the works that is unreal.

hey Gary I just got one of the Gen1 Flip n Punch rods (8') and Ive read several instances of you noting you never really "dialed this one in" or something along those lines. How different is the Gen2 FlipnPunch?

thx

[ddoan]

just buy an affordable gl3 flippin stick...

-dominic

[L Dub]

Sup Dominic, long time no see. I'd rather stay away from flipping sticks. Seems like they're either too heavy or too stiff for what I'm looking for.

I think I'm settled on either the Dobyns or the Powell. Gonna try to head over to Hi's tonight to compare them.