Boat Flipping with a L or ML Rod 2025
Midwest Big Bass reply :
General question: Am I good to boat flip bass on a L or ML casting rod? I've expanding my toolbox this year to add in some lighter applications and don't want to break my new gear. Thanks for any suggestions, consideration, and so on.
MN Fisher reply :
If it's a dink (1# or less), not a problem...otherwise I'd invest in a net.
I net all my bass when in the canoe...even the dinks.
Tennessee Boy reply :
I suggest setting your drag with a scale or known weight to protect your rod and prevent break offs. Set the drag to about 1/4 of the maximum line weight of the rod or 1/4 of your line test which ever is lower.
waymont reply :
Net or lip any fish over 1lb
Delaware Valley Tackle reply :
Imo boat flipping fish is unnecessary and abusive to both equipment and the fish. My favorite thing about MLF when it started was the fish landing penalty. If you absolutely must lift a fish with the rod, hold it parallel to the water to maximize deadlift capacity.
Midwest Big Bass reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 2:24 AM, Delaware Valley Tackle said:Imo boat flipping fish is unnecessary and abusive to both equipment and the fish. My favorite thing about MLF when it started was the fish landing penalty. If you absolutely must lift a fish with the rod, hold it parallel to the water to maximize deadlift capacity.
Fair point, thanks!
J Francho reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 12:53 AM, Midwest Big Bass said:Am I good to boat flip bass
No.
Spankey reply :
Get a nice Frabill net it will last you lifetime.
LCG reply :
If the fish weighs more than the Lure rating of your rod ( sure hope so 
) , you stand a pretty good chance of breaking the rod. Pay the $20 for a net. Easier on your equipment and the fish.
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 5:25 AM, LCG said:If the fish weighs more than the Lure rating of your rod ( sure hope so
If any rod was THAT delicate, I'd return it. Still, netting every fish...unless it's a 5" bluegill...insures you don't have an accident.
LCG reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 5:31 AM, MN Fisher said:If any rod was THAT delicate, I'd return it. Still, netting every fish...unless it's a 5" bluegill...insures you don't have an accident.
Not saying it can't be done but my medium heavy rod is rated to 1oz, a pound is 16oz. That's asking for problems and probably the cause of many broken rods, maybe not right away but down the road.
redmeansdistortion reply :
I only boat flip panfish, everything else is either netted or I reach in the water and grab it if I have no net.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 12:53 AM, Midwest Big Bass said:General question: Am I good to boat flip bass on a L or ML casting rod? I've expanding my toolbox this year to add in some lighter applications and don't want to break my new gear. Thanks for any suggestions, consideration, and so on.
Yup ~
You'll be fine ~
A-Jay
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 6:15 AM, A-Jay said:Yup ~
You''l be fine ~
A-Jay
Ouch - that's gotta hurt...how much depends on the cost of that rod.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 6:33 AM, MN Fisher said:Ouch - that's gotta hurt...how much depends on the cost of that rod.
I Guess ~
But you know that's not me.
I'm this guy . . .
#nothingbutnet
A-Jay
Hammer 4 reply :
Use a net, or lip it..
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 6:37 AM, A-Jay said:I Guess ~
But you know that's not me.
I'm this guy . . .
#nothingbutnet
A-Jay
Ya, me too. Even the hammer-handle northern I got last year (1.5#) was netted even though it was on my MH rod. Only thing I flip into the canoe with the rod is panfish...unless it's a BIG crappie - then it gets netted.
Tizi reply :
I trend to lip my fish. I have a net, but have always reached down and lipped them.
Spankey reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 6:15 AM, A-Jay said:Yup ~
You'll be fine ~
A-Jay
That rod would have never broken if he had kept this hand off of it. He took any mechanical advantage of the rod away. That fish was not even that big. The rod was most likely a quality rod. You can get away with that with an ugly stick. GREAT VIDEO. Everyone should see this clip. Most educational thing on here in awhile. That thing went off in his fingers like a firecracker. I'd bet dollars to donuts he never done that again.
Midwest Big Bass reply :
I apologize as I wasn’t trying to have a short sighted or controversial topic. I’m relatively new to bass fishing and all I know is what I see or read. I see anglers on MLF flipping all the time and had never had a conversation about it. This helps quite a bit.
Logan S reply :
The line and hook you would likely be using with a L or ML rod wouldn't be ideal for boat flipping anything of size either.
Bass smaller than 14" or so are generally OK to flip on just about any gear....At least for me. Above that it's situational for your line/hook/rod. I've boat flipped bass in the 5lb class and netted 12" smallies...Depends on the situation, my gear, and my judgement.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 7:29 AM, Midwest Big Bass said:I apologize as I wasn’t trying to have a short sighted or controversial topic. I’m relatively new to bass fishing and all I know is what I see or read. I see anglers on MLF flipping all the time and had never had a conversation about it. This helps quite a bit.
You Certainly do Not need to apologize ~
I'm the one who should be & needs to apologize.
Your question is certainly valid however, like may 'techniques' in fishing, there are many ways to get it done.
And we each have our own way of doing them.
Some folks boat flip most of the time, some folk never boat flip at all and then there's the bassheads who fall somewhere in the middle.
Experience has shown that boat flipping sometimes breaks rods, utilizing a net rarely does.
It's up to you how you want to handle this deal.
No real wrong answer though.
I apologize if my response had you thinking any differently.
A-Jay
Midwest Big Bass reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 7:40 AM, A-Jay said:You Certainly do Not need to apologize ~
I'm the one who should be & needs to apologize.
Your question is certainly valid however, like may 'techniques' in fishing, there are many ways to get it done.
And we each have our own way of doing them.
Some folks boat flip most of the time, some folk never boat flip at all and then there's the bassheads who fall somewhere in the middle.
Experience has shown that boat flipping sometimes breaks rods, utilizing a net rarely does.
It's up to you how you want to handle this deal.
No real wrong answer though.
I apologize if my response had you thinking any differently.
A-Jay
No worries A-Jay! I’m just here to learn. I appreciate that you and others take the time to respond with thoughts and opinions. I can’t gain perspective if people don’t take the time to answer my silly questions.
A-Jay reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 8:32 AM, Midwest Big Bass said:No worries A-Jay! I’m just here to learn. I appreciate that you and others take the time to respond with thoughts and opinions. I can’t gain perspective if people don’t take the time to answer my silly questions.
The questions are not silly and you should ask whatever you like.
Bass Resource is just that and sharing info is the foundation of it.
A-Jay
Team9nine reply :
True light action rods you’ll need to be careful, but if you know what you’re doing, you can boat flip some decent sized fish on a ML outfit. How concerned you are with actually landing a fish will play into it. Species aside, I’ve flipped thousands of fish aboard with ML outfits and never broken a rod yet.
Hammer 4 reply :
Personally I don't see a need to flip heavier fish. Pro's do it to save time, we are not on the clock. Now, if your catching bucks/dinks, by all means flip in. With say a 5lb and up bass you risk having that fish fly on your deck bouncing around into who knows what, I've seen pro's have this happen, and it's not good for the fish. Bass can't protect their eyes if they are slammed into something. Anything over 2 lbs, gets lipped or netted, for me, it's liping them, I don't, and never have owned a net.
While I'm at it, seeing people lay a Bass on the ground with little sticks all over really irks me, good way to damage an eye. Please be Careful with your fish.
And my rant is over.
BaitFinesse reply :
On 1/25/2020 at 12:53 AM, Midwest Big Bass said:General question: Am I good to boat flip bass on a L or ML casting rod? I've expanding my toolbox this year to add in some lighter applications and don't want to break my new gear. Thanks for any suggestions, consideration, and so on.
No. Those BFS (BFS bass rods and not a trout casting rod) rods have a lot of lifting power and strong back bones similar to a medium powered rod but the tips are crazy light and you are asking to break them trying to boat flip. A trout rod is even worse and is a noodle from tip to butt.
Pic is a light powered Majorcraft Volkey BFS 682L rated 1/16 to 1/14. Notice how beefy the rod is near the reel seat for a light powered rod.
On 1/25/2020 at 3:45 PM, BaitFinesse said:No. Those BFS (BFS bass rods and not a trout casting rod) rods have a lot of lifting power and strong back bones similar to a medium powered rod but the tips are crazy light and you are asking to break them trying to boat flip. A trout rod is even worse and is a noodle from tip to butt.
Pic is a light powered Majorcraft Volkey BFS 682L rated 1/16 to 1/14. Notice how beefy the rod is near the reel seat for a light powered rod.
This is my light powered Kuying Teton 662L trout rod for comparison.
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