I am looking for a rod to pitch with (1/2-1oz tungsten & jigs) to pads, sparse grass, wood, etc. I was wondering if this same rod could double as a punching rod for 1.5oz? I would say 70% of the time I would use for the 1/2-1oz pitching and the remaining for punching. I haven't done any punching so I am not sure what is needed rod wise.
What kind of taper do you all prefer with a flipping stick (fast?) vs a punching rod (mod or mod fast?)? Softer tip for one vs the other?
Do you care if the guides are single or double footed as long as the rod is rated for what you want? I'm looking at rods around X-Heavy rated from 3/8 oz to 2oz
Thoughts and additional info?
If ya fishing pads, sparse grass, wood, etc. Ya ain't gonna be punching & probably don't need more than 3/4 oz.
On 2/2/2017 at 8:32 PM, Catt said:If ya fishing pads, sparse grass, wood, etc. Ya ain't gonna be punching & probably don't need more than 3/4 oz.
Yes agreed, but want to be able to punch grass mats with 1.5oz If possible with the same rod.
On 2/2/2017 at 8:52 PM, Dypsis said:Yes agreed, but want to be able to punch grass mats with 1.5oz If possible with the same rod.
How often do you throw a 1.5 oz?
I have 2 Texas rig setups; one is for weightless to 1/2 oz & one for 3/4 to 1.5 oz.
You can do it with one rod but you'll either be to stiff for one or to light for the other.
Edited by CattOn 2/2/2017 at 9:03 PM, Catt said:
How often do you throw a 1.5 oz?
I have 2 Texas rig setups; one is for weightless to 1/2 oz & one for 3/4 to 1.5 oz.
You do it with one rod but you'll either be to stiff for one or to light for the other.
I have done basically 0 punching before but for this rod maybe 20-30% of the time maybe even less.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:03 PM, Catt said:
How often do you throw a 1.5 oz?
I have 2 Texas rig setups; one is for weightless to 1/2 oz & one for 3/4 to 1.5 oz.
You do it with one rod but you'll either be to stiff for one or to light for the other.
I have done basically 0 punching before but for this rod maybe 20-30% of the time maybe even less.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:03 PM, Catt said:
How often do you throw a 1.5 oz?
I have 2 Texas rig setups; one is for weightless to 1/2 oz & one for 3/4 to 1.5 oz.
You do it with one rod but you'll either be to stiff for one or to light for the other.
I have done basically 0 punching before but for this rod maybe 20-30% of the time maybe even less.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:14 PM, Dypsis said:I have done basically 0 punching before but for this rod maybe 20-30% of the time maybe even less.
3/8 to 2 oz is a huge gape
Others will no doubt disagree but in my opinion when fishing heavily matted grass I want a rod that allows me to turn the bass's head & get her coming up in one motion on the hookset!
You need a a shimano zodias 7'5 heavy. I have that rod. It can do both things.
I use a 7'6 XH Kistler Helium for punching. It has micro guides and a moderate fast taper. I've also used it with weights as small as 5/16 oz and thought it worked fine. It's certainly a bit overkill for flipping sparse cover with smaller weights but it works.
You never mentioned a budget. I am going to make a few suggestions in the "under $200" price range. If your budget allows you to spend more then look at the same rods in a Champion series instead of a Fury series. There are two Dobyns Fury rods to look at. The first is a Fury FR765 FLIP. It is a nice flipping stick that is rated for 1/4 to 2 ounce. I doubt I would push it that far but it should handle up to the 1 1/2 punched. If you truly want to punch more, than they have a rod called the 805 Flip/Punch and that should work fine. It is rated as a 5 power rod( pretty beefy ) 8 foot long and is rated for 3/8 to 2 1/2 ounce lures. Those two rods cost $109 and $119.
The Champion series is a higher end rod with a more expensive, lighter more sensitive blank and some better components. A Champion DC 805 Flip/Punch rod rates for the same weight of lures and costs $260.
Another option would be to go to IROD and look at the Irod Genesis II IRG7114P “Bub’s Punch Rod. It rates for lures weighing between 1/2 and 2 ounces. It runs $150. If I went this route I would call out to Irod and discuss your intended use with them. I have done just that. Before I purchased my Irods I called them and they were happy to help me select the rod that worked the best for me.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:32 PM, Catt said:
3/8 to 2 oz is a huge gape
Others will no doubt disagree but in my opinion when fishing heavily matted grass I want a rod that allows me to turn the bass's head & get her coming up in one motion on the hookset!
Ok, well at this point it's a conversation between you and I...
I guess this is what I was hoping to get out of this thread, what do people prefer taper, power for lets say 1/2-1oz flipping vs 1.5oz punching (hook set to get the fish moving instantly). I would lean towards a rod for more flipping vs one that is for punching. Like I said I have done nearly no punching and I can't say I see myself doing a whole lot going forward but want to have a rod to do so if/when the opportunity comes.
Because of the types of cover, depth of water, & bass size I don't throw anything lighter than medium heavy extra fast.
If budget is a concern look a Berkley Shock
So depending on the manufacture I guess I'm somewhere around a Powerful MH, H, or lighter XH.
For flipping lets say 3/4oz to pads or spars grass is a softer tip preferred? Or is it no different that what I prefer at say 3/16oz that I use a lot? I dont have a lot of time with 1/2-1oz jigs/t-rig just feeling others preferences (although everyones is different).
I have a MH rod for T-Rig currently for weightless to 3/8oz but feel that's about the max I'd go on that rod.
G Loomis NRX 916C UBR. You can thank me later.
Irod Genesis II Bubs punch rod. Great punching rod, and I have flipped as low as 1/2 Oz jigs with it.
On 2/3/2017 at 1:14 AM, Dypsis said:So depending on the manufacture I guess I'm somewhere around a Powerful MH, H, or lighter XH.
For flipping lets say 3/4oz to pads or spars grass is a softer tip preferred? Or is it no different that what I prefer at say 3/16oz that I use a lot? I dont have a lot of time with 1/2-1oz jigs/t-rig just feeling others preferences (although everyones is different).
I have a MH rod for T-Rig currently for weightless to 3/8oz but feel that's about the max I'd go on that rod.
Again it depends on what types of cover or depth of water ya fishing!
Right now I'm fishing less than 10' in & around buck brush so a heavy extra fast is what I'm throwing 3/8-1/2 oz jigs on.
See below & tell me if ya want a soft tip?
On 2/3/2017 at 2:47 AM, Catt said:
Again it depends on what types of cover or depth of water ya fishing!
Right now I'm fishing less than 10' in & around buck brush so a heavy extra fast is what I'm throwing 3/8-1/2 oz jigs on.
See below & tell me if ya want a soft tip?
I fish mainly shallow rivers - Potomac, Chickahominy/James, Upper Bay, etc. 2-5' is normal for me. Cover is wood/docks, pad fields and grass. So I am leaning to a H or XH depending on the Manufacturer as I am am wanting something more than my current MH.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:59 PM, fishnkamp said:You never mentioned a budget.
I try not to get too caught up in budget or a specific rod. Currently just learning, hearing, and taking everything in and with a grain of salt at that. So I can make an educated decision when the time comes. I will certainly look at your's along with everyone else's suggestions, but I think I am still unsure of the direction I am leaning to.
I don't do any flipping but I do pitch and punch a lot and I like the dobyns dx 795. It is powerful and I give them the gusto and just rip them out of cover. I fish out of a yak so if there in the thick of it, I end up cranking the yak to the fish with them pinned under the mat. I love the length makes for easy pitches. I don't normally use over an ounce weight which means my total is around 1.5 with bait and hook.
The rods I suggested are rods designed for exactly this purpose. If we look at the Dobyns Fury 795 Flip first. It is a 7 foot 6 inch rod. Flipping sticks and Punching rods are rated slightly different meaning they will be beefier than a standard rod. So if you had a 7'6" standard casting rod in heavy power and a heavy power flipping stick of the same length the flipping stick will be beefier and have a faster tip. The 765 flip is rated as a Medium Heavy Flipping stick with a lure rating of 1/4 to 2 ounce. This is much stiffer than a regular medium heavy casting rod. It is built to take the hard shock of driving that big thick hook on a short distance using heavy pound test braid. This goes even more with the 805 punch rod.
the fury is a 765 and has a split handle. I hate split handles and you would have to move up the the sierra series in a 766 to get a full handle. They both have a 2oz upper limit. I cannot discuss either as I have not fished them.
Sorry that was a mistype on my part. I had typed it correctly in my original response.
One nice thing about the Champion series rods is that they make most of the DC champs in both split and full handle to make everyone happy. I have handled the Fury 765 Flip as my friend Kris has one.The rod is really nice and light and well balanced. It casts very well.
On 2/2/2017 at 9:32 PM, Catt said:Others will no doubt disagree but in my opinion when fishing heavily matted grass I want a rod that allows me to turn the bass's head & get her coming up in one motion on the hookset!
Can't tell you how important this is!
Here in Florida, the vast majority of bass I lose (only talking big bass),
is because I didn't turn the bass's head fast enough. Once a broad-bodied bass
gets wedged in the weeds, head-thrashing is going to grant him his freedom,
as though the hook was held in vise-grip pliers. Yeah, you'll get your lure back,
but there won't be any bass on the end.
Roger
I am kinda a tackle snob, not that I catch the big ones but I just enjoy fishing with the nicer gear. I own a few champions and a few dx rods but none of the lower grades. The savvy was the only other grade when I was buying. I have a wife that looks at numbers vise cost so I go big and have less numbers to keep her in the box. I look for rods that are special and people fall in love with. The dx 795 is one of those rods. The steez flexlight cranking rod is another. I know many people don't spend near as much as I do, but I have gone threw so many hobbies getting a "good enough" setup just to spend more later to upgrade. I have no idea what the OP's budget is but that would sure help. I stay away form the what can I get for 150 dollar threads.
On 2/3/2017 at 3:16 AM, fishnkamp said:The rods I suggested are rods designed for exactly this purpose. If we look at the Dobyns Fury 795 Flip first. It is a 7 foot 6 inch rod. Flipping sticks and Punching rods are rated slightly different meaning they will be beefier than a standard rod. So if you had a 7'6" standard casting rod in heavy power and a heavy power flipping stick of the same length the flipping stick will be beefier and have a faster tip. The 765 flip is rated as a Medium Heavy Flipping stick with a lure rating of 1/4 to 2 ounce. This is much stiffer than a regular medium heavy casting rod. It is built to take the hard shock of driving that big thick hook on a short distance using heavy pound test braid. This goes even more with the 805 punch rod.
Now that I never knew..... Thanks!
A "Flip" is just a cast. Punching typically employs heavy gear, to get the bait to penetrate heavy cover. Any rod you get to punch with, you can use a flip cast.
In fact, add a flip punch cast to your repertoire, but don't take out the cat.
Angry John I agree my first, and not my last, Dobyns was a Champ DC 705C. I consider it to be a fantastic rod, Much like the G Loomis IMX rods that I used to buy. However I was trying to keep my suggestions in the price range the op was asking for opinions on.
To get into preferences on taper and power - for heavy cover, I prefer a mod-fast extra heavy rating.
On 2/3/2017 at 3:54 AM, J Francho said:A "Flip" is just a cast. Punching typically employs heavy gear, to get the bait to penetrate heavy cover. Any rod you get to punch with, you can use a flip cast.
In fact, add a flip punch cast to your repertoire, but don't take out the cat.
A flip is not a cast! A flip is movement of the lure with extra line taken up by the off hand as shown. The reel is never used and it a close quarters technique which allows very fast fishing due to never having to reel and cast. It is done best with long rods to allow more distance. A common length of flipping sticks being 8' or so.
A pitch is a cast where the reel is used and for longer ranges than the reach of a flip will allow. It is common to go back and forth between techniques while working down the bank.
Punching is not so much a technique but how the lure and weight is set up. You can pitch or flip with a punch setup. The equipment is exactly the same and will vary with cover. The thicker the cover the heavier the gear, taking into account how large of fish is common or capable of being caught in the area.
On 2/3/2017 at 3:54 AM, fishnkamp said:Angry John I agree my first, and not my last, Dobyns was a Champ DC 705C. I consider it to be a fantastic rod, Much like the G Loomis IMX rods that I used to buy. However I was trying to keep my suggestions in the price range the op was asking for opinions on.
I don't see a price range anywhere except where you mentioned $200. Did I miss the budget????
On 2/3/2017 at 4:17 AM, Angry John said:A flip is not a cast!
I'm not going to debate the semantics. To me, casting a lure out isn't predicated by using reel; you're "casting out" your bait. If your definition varies, then substitute your own verbiage. My point is, you can flip and pitch with ANY rod and reel, and I often do. Punching is a specific technique employed in heavy cover. Cover dictates rod, reel, line, and bait style. Does that explain my point better?
On 2/3/2017 at 3:43 AM, RoLo said:
Can't tell you how important this is!
Here in Florida, the vast majority of bass I lose (only talking big bass),
is because I didn't turn the bass's head fast enough. Once a broad-bodied bass
gets wedged in the weeds, head-thrashing is going to grant him his freedom,
as though the hook was held in vise-grip pliers. Yeah, you'll get your lure back,
but there won't be any bass on the end.
Roger
That is the reason I preach "stay as near vertical as possible", the farther away from vertical the more cover ya have to drag the bass through.
That buck brush may look dead but believe me it's only dormant, I've had to cut 65# braid off cause I didn't move her fast enough.
On 2/3/2017 at 6:29 AM, Catt said:That buck brush may look dead but believe me it's only dormant, I've had to cut 65# braid off cause I didn't move her fast enough.
Sounds like a couple places where deep milfoil have zebra mussels growing on. Braid doesn't always work here. Awful stuff. Oneida has emergent weeds, called "water willow." Stuff actually has bark like stems. With zebes growing on them. Ugh. Can't relate to the size of those fish, but I can relate to the problems with cover.