Shorty Rod For Pitching? 2025
XF15-Loader reply :
I did some pitching from my kayak last summer and had a blast. However, I think I might benefit from a shorter rod...shorter than the 7'1" Mojo Bass I was using, anyway.
Any suggestions for a 6'8" - 6'10" rod for pitching?
Thanks!
-J
jbrew73 reply :
Falcon head turner.
XF15-Loader reply :
@jbrew73 I've got a Bucoo and it seems to fish a little light (ie MH fishes like a M). Are the Caras rated heavy as well?
jbrew73 reply :
Yes but I’m used to it. I think their weight / oz ratings are on the money but the wording may be 1/2 power or so off. I typically pitch 3/8 jigs or 1/4 tx-rig with the head turner and I have other falcons for 1/2 and up.
kschultz76 reply :
On 1/22/2019 at 10:07 AM, XF15-Loader said:I did some pitching from my kayak last summer and had a blast. However, I think I might benefit from a shorter rod...shorter than the 7'1" Mojo Bass I was using, anyway.
Any suggestions for a 6'8" - 6'10" rod for pitching?
Thanks!
-J
What weights/lures are you pitching and what kind of cover?
If you like your Mojo, theres a 6’8” MH/f available in the Mojo, Avid X, and LTB series. I have a 6’6” MH/F LTB that makes a good pitching stick in tight quarters.
Kistler also has a 6’9” MH/XF in the Helium 3.
No experience with them but the new Daiwa Tatula Rods with cork handles have a 6’10” MH as well.
rangerjockey reply :
I like the head turner as well. It's really just a more powerful version of the finesse jig (Eakins) rod.
It also makes a good spinnerbait/buzzbait rod and even bigger walking baits.
I think they fish pretty close to the power rating but tend to be more parabolic than some.
XF15-Loader reply :
@kschultz76 mostly 3/8 to 1/2 jigs and some t-rig plastics in the same weight range.
kschultz76 reply :
Then I think any of the rods I mentioned from St Croix or the Kistler are definitely going to work for you then.
rangerjockey reply :
3/8 -1/2 The head turner would be perfect.
fishindad reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 7:32 PM, rangerjockey said:3/8 -1/2 The head turner would be perfect.
This. Love it for pitching 3/8 and 1/2 jigs to docks and in close quarters.
Brad Reid reply :
Minnow,
Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.
My favorite kayak rod, by far, is a St. Croix PS56MF. It is my "go to" rod. You'll be able to cast much farther under boathouses, piers, etc., your accuracy will improve, and the shorter rod means you'll wield better leverage over the fish once it is on the hook.
When I am standing in my canoe or kayak, I am also pleasantly surprised at how very far I can pitch with this short rod. Some of this is likely owing to I can make my pitch from a lower rod angle. It is also a much easier rod to pitch while seated where kayak anglers use that sort of horizontal version.
Gosh, I love this rod! A small photo below. Brad
YoTone reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 8:49 PM, Brad Reid said:Minnow,
Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.
i agree with this statement.
maybe check out a GLoomis CR724
FishTank reply :
I have seen guys use a 7' St. Croix Yak rod with great success for this sort of thing but I don't care for the weird grip material.
XF15-Loader reply :
@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short. I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?
@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em. Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?
Thank you all for your input!!
-J
kschultz76 reply :
On 1/24/2019 at 8:49 AM, XF15-Loader said:@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short. I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?
@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em. Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?
Thank you all for your input!!
-J
The SC Mojo Yak Rods are essentially a Mojo Bass rod with very short handles and Winn grips. To me honestly they seem pretty gimmicky. Maybe it’s bc of the size of my kayak but I don’t a shorter handle helpin me in anyway.
zell_pop1 reply :
On 1/23/2019 at 8:49 PM, Brad Reid said:Minnow,
Do yourself a giant favor if you intend to use a short rod from your kayak and think much shorter.
My favorite kayak rod, by far, is a St. Croix PS56MF. It is my "go to" rod. You'll be able to cast much farther under boathouses, piers, etc., your accuracy will improve, and the shorter rod means you'll wield better leverage over the fish once it is on the hook.
When I am standing in my canoe or kayak, I am also pleasantly surprised at how very far I can pitch with this short rod. Some of this is likely owing to I can make my pitch from a lower rod angle. It is also a much easier rod to pitch while seated where kayak anglers use that sort of horizontal version.
Gosh, I love this rod! A small photo below. Brad
I have that rod too for skipping docks, I just wish it had a slightly longer handle. There used to be some 5'9"/5'10" dock skipping rods around wish I could find a used one but until then that rod gets it done.
As for a short pitching rod any 6'6" Mh/f should do. I use an old Team All Star 6'6" rod for the most part.
Brad Reid reply :
On 1/24/2019 at 8:49 AM, XF15-Loader said:@Brad Reid, Im not convinced I'd want a rod that short. I'm pretty accurate and get decent distance roll casting from the seated position. 5'5" is pretty short, what all do you use that rod for?
@FishTank I've seen the SC Yak line but haven't really heard anything about em. Are they somehow different than the other comparably priced SC lines?
Thank you all for your input!!
-J
Gosh, I use it for any "short" work. I fish almost exclusively from a kayak or my canoe and I just don't make many long casts. Drop shot, tossing my Keitech 4" swimbaits, T-Rigged worms, etc. And, in certain locations like under trees, under bridges, under boathouses.
No doubt, though, that for long casting applications covering a lot of water, power fishing, you want a long rod.
One of each?
Brad
By the way, there is a new video Hank Parker put out. I think I saw it up at the top here. In it, he and a close friend were tearing it up on a private irrigation lake. I think they caught 400 bass, something like that.
Anyway, Hank espoused the virtues of a short rod with a pistol grip one of his sponsors manufactures. Lots of video of him casting with it, great accuracy and I believe he mentions the general benefits.
His was a casting rod.
Brad
J Francho reply :
I pitch with all my rods, from 6'2" on up to 8' in my kayak. I'm not sure why a shorter rod would be better, or worse, just different. Now pitching to heavy cover, at short range, like 10' or so - a little longer than a flip cast - I find a shorter rod to be an asset controlling big fish on a short leash. I favorite G. Loomis 803 JWR I use for this type of fishing.
XF15-Loader reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 3:24 AM, J Francho said:I pitch with all my rods, from 6'2" on up to 8' in my kayak. I'm not sure why a shorter rod would be better, or worse, just different. Now pitching to heavy cover, at short range, like 10' or so - a little longer than a flip cast - I find a shorter rod to be an asset controlling big fish on a short leash. I favorite G. Loomis 803 JWR I use for this type of fishing.
I feel like I'd have better control with the shorter rod.
J Francho reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 3:34 AM, XF15-Loader said:I feel like I'd have better control with the shorter rod.
Better control of the fish on a short leash? Yes.
Better control casting? That's just practice.
basshtx reply :
I dont understand how professionals like Mike Iconelli pitch with 7'9" rods when he's only 5'9" tall.
I'm about 5'10 and going up from a 7' to a 7'1, I can feel the difference. I feel less in control.
J Francho reply :
What does height have to do with it? I'm 5'7" and my heavy cover rod is 8'. I pitch with it all the time. It's a tip up presentation. If the bait is smacking the water, you're not using enough tip speed. When the weather is better, I'm going to have to make another pitching video.
XF15-Loader reply :
@basshtx, I understand how he does it from the bow of a bass boat. What I can't seem to grasp is how you'd do it from a seated position with an 8' pole as @J FranchoFrancho has suggested. I realize its a tip up presentation but getting tip speed while trying to keep the line up is where I have a problem. Does that make sense?
All in all, I agree it's probably an issue of practice but, I need a reason to buy a new rod and dammit, this is my reason...lol. Don't tell my wife!
-J
J Francho reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 4:51 AM, XF15-Loader said:What I can't seem to grasp is how you'd do it from a seated position with an 8' pole as @J FranchoFrancho has suggested.
You do not pitch from a seated position. You can roll cast, or kind of lob cast, but pitching is out.
This was a 7'6" rod:
MN Fisher reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 5:16 AM, J Francho said:You do not pitch from a seated position. You can roll cast, or kind of lob cast, but pitching is out.
This was a 7'6" rod:
Another reason I installed outriggers on my canoe. Trying to pitch with a 7' rod from the seated position is near impossible unless you've got arms like an orangutan.
basshtx reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 4:21 AM, J Francho said:What does height have to do with it? I'm 5'7" and my heavy cover rod is 8'. I pitch with it all the time. It's a tip up presentation. If the bait is smacking the water, you're not using enough tip speed. When the weather is better, I'm going to have to make another pitching video.
I bank fish primarily, If I used a 8' rod to pitch my rod tip would hit the ground. I also tend to set the hook with a sweep, which would also hit the ground. Your height has everything to do with it, the taller you are the position of your rod is higher. I can see how professionals do it because they're on a boat so they're like 2-3ft off the water.
OCdockskipper reply :
On 1/25/2019 at 5:16 AM, J Francho said:You do not pitch from a seated position...
I would agree with you, for that is what I was taught when I learned to flip way back in the 70's. However, Bill Dance had an episode last year where he was flippin & pitching (and explaining the difference between the two) while seated. I'm guessing it severely limited his distance, but there was no footage of him standing the entire show.
I mention this not because it is something that most of us would want to emulate, but rather that it is indeed possible & being done. I guess if you had a handicap or balance issue, it would be better than nothing.
J Francho reply :
On 1/26/2019 at 3:00 AM, basshtx said:I bank fish primarily, If I used a 8' rod to pitch my rod tip would hit the ground.
Your rod tip won't hit the ground, if you are doing it right. The rod is pretty close to horizontal when you start the pitch. Again, when it gets nicer, it sounds like I'm going to have make a video.
J Francho reply :
This isn't mine, but it's pretty good. Pay close attention to the part where he shows the slight back hand motion. Dude is using a long set up for this, and on shore. As far as the 2-3' above the water thing? My deck on my bass boat is probably less than a foot above the water. In my kayak, it's inches. So, that isn't the problem, it's technique. Anyone should be able to pitch from most places, while standing. I've seen Bill Dance pitch sitting. He's not getting much distance.
basshtx reply :
On 1/26/2019 at 3:56 AM, J Francho said:This isn't mine, but it's pretty good. Pay close attention to the part where he shows the slight back hand motion. Dude is using a long set up for this, and on shore. As far as the 2-3' above the water thing? My deck on my bass boat is probably less than a foot above the water. In my kayak, it's inches. So, that isn't the problem, it's technique. Anyone should be able to pitch from most places, while standing. I've seen Bill Dance pitch sitting. He's not getting much distance.
3
He looks pretty tall, but for the sake of ending this debate, I guess use what works for you.
I just don't see what benefits there are for using a rod longer than 7'6 for any bass fishing technique.
J Francho reply :
On 1/26/2019 at 4:04 AM, basshtx said:I just don't see what benefits there are for using a rod longer than 7'6 for any bass fishing technique.
For pitching, the benefit is less effort for greater tip speed = longer cast. The longer rod also helps if you're pitching under docks, since you have more line out initially which means you have a little more distance (12-18") under the dock. There are other benefits for other techniques, but this thread is about pitching.
On 1/26/2019 at 4:04 AM, basshtx said:He looks pretty tall, but for the sake of ending this debate, I guess use what works for you.
I have a 13' float rod for steelhead, and I often use a pitch cast while standing in water. If you're doing it right, rod length only makes it easier.
basshtx reply :
On 1/26/2019 at 4:09 AM, J Francho said:For pitching, the benefit is less effort for greater tip speed = longer cast. The longer rod also helps if you're pitching under docks, since you have more line out initially which means you have a little more distance (12-18") under the dock. There are other benefits for other techniques, but this thread is about pitching.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this is how I pitch. My rod tip is lowered (pointing toward the water) while I have the bait on my the opposite hand, as I release the bait, and the bait pendulums out, I raise my rod tip. I've done this with a 7'1 rod on flattish surface that is about even with the water level and my bait slaps the water. I have to stand a few feet above the water level in order for that not to happen.
Notice on the video thumbnail his rod tip is lowered, pointing at an angle. In order to make up for my height to rod length ratio, I have to stand higher than the surface of the water so my bait can pendulum out without hitting anything.
J Francho reply :
Don't lower the tip. Start at pretty much horizontal. In the thumbnail, it's the part where he's demonstrating the wrong wrist action. Watch the part where adds a bit of back hand. This where you start to get a lot more distance from you pitches. When I pitch on the side walk on my street, I can get the bait into the front yard, three houses down using this technique.
XF15-Loader reply :
Wow, who knew this topic would generate so.much conversation.
Anyway, I do pitch from a seated position....and it looks a lot like the video. It may not be the proper technique but it works for me. I pull plenty of bass off of cover but, often times I'll smack the boat or water as I'm pitching.
I've come to the decision that I'll just keep working my technique and try to refine things a bit. More money for tackle and less headache from the wife...lol.
Thanks!!
-J
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