01-04-10, 12:33 AM | #1 |
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What makes a good pitchin rod?
This post is NOT intended to ask for anyones brand or model preference, but rather the makings of a good pitchin rod for pitchin baits into medium to heavy cover. Lots of us are going to be buying new tackle before the spring season begins and I'm sure pitchin rods will be one of the items anglers will be looking for. I would think that what makes a perfect pitchin rod for one person may not be the same for another. Say for example if your either tall or short. Someone who is 6'6" tall might find a 7 1/2 foot rod to feel great while someone who is 5'6"tall might feel more comfortable with a 7'0" pitchin rod. Also, someone who fishes the deep south or in California where 15 pound bass are somewhat common might need a pitchin rod that is much different than say some from up north where an 8 pound bass is a monster bass. Myself, I'm in northern Indiana and I'm looking for a new pitchin rod for this year. And I'm torn about exactly what would be the best combination of specifics. For me, from past experience, I know a 7 foot rod is my choice in length. I'm fairly acurate with that length, and it feels comfortable in my hands. More so than a 7 1/2 foot rod. Next, I know I would prefer a good IM8 or better graphite blank. Light, strong, and good at telegraphing what is happening to my lure. But then we get into the power and action of the rod. A medium heavy power rod or heavy power rod? Medium fast action tip, fast tip, or extra fast action tip? It's these last to qualities I'm not sure of. For pitchin plastic baits t-rigged with a 1/2oz tungstin weight or jigs into heavy cover, I'm leaning towards a heavy action rod with a fast tip. For most of the bass I could expect to catch up here I would think that would be about right. Plus I would think a fast action tip would be easier to pitch baits with than an extra fast tip. But maybe I should go with an extra fast tip. Being I only started pitchin baits this past year, I'm fairly new at it and still learning what makes a good pitchin rod. Looking through catalogs at what the various rod makers consider a pitchin rod, you soon realize the rod makers don't seem to all agree on the criteria for a pitchin rod. So I thought this would be helpful for anyone in here who is planning to buy a rod for pitchin to read from other anglers who have plenty experience with pitchin, what they consider regarding the rods build spucifics to be a good pitchin rod?
Last edited by keithdog; 01-04-10 at 01:06 AM. |
01-04-10, 12:49 AM | #2 |
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I usually pitch heavy items than you so this may not be helpful, but here goes.
For me I prefer a heavy rod 7 foot even with an extra fast tip. I have used longer rods, and find that my accuracy is best with 7 foot. Metally, I get a better hook set on the 7 footer than my 7 1/2. My cover is why choose the heavy. The medium heavy just didn't have enough backbone for deep in the reeds. I like the extra fast tip more for the hook set than the extra distance of the pitch. Although you didn't mention it, I really like an extra long handled rod. It allows me to use my elbow and ribs as a pivot point. I hope this helps.
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01-04-10, 01:09 AM | #3 |
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Watching KVD's video about pitchin he mentions liking a rod tip that is fairly flexable for easier pitching. But I wonder like you Cass if an extra fast tip wouldn't be better for the hookset.
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01-04-10, 02:07 AM | #4 |
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Don't get too caught up in the IM ratings of rods. There is no standard for IM ratings. One companies IM6 may be a better rod than another companies IM10. It is good for comparing rods from within one company but doesn't translate from brand to brand. Go with a known rod from a know manufacturer and you will be good to go as far as quality.
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01-04-10, 07:40 AM | #5 |
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Very good point Jrpb!
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01-04-10, 09:19 AM | #6 |
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I fish with a 7' H F.
I like the 7' over the 7'6" got pitching because I'm more accurate with the 7'. For the cover I fish, I think a MH would have worked fine, but a H isn't going to hurt. and besides, I'd rather be over powered for some situations and be good for the times I need more power than be underpowered in those times. Also, I got a great deal on my rod that I couldn't pass up. Some say MF, some say F and some say XF. Personally, I like the F or XF for pitching. If you're pitching lighter baits, then the MF may help you, but I normally pitch 3/8 to 1/2 oz. so the F works well. Another reason I went with the F over MF is because I also use the rod for casting jigs in some of the smaller reservoirs I fish and the F action is much better for casting the jigs and getting longer distance hooksets than the MF. As for the IM rating. While, it's not perfect, It does help. Normally, I take into consideration the prices of rods as well. An IM8 rod that costs 75 bucks more than another companies IM6 is probably going to be better. But the best way to tell the quality of rod is to try them out. BB
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01-04-10, 09:36 AM | #7 |
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In this part of the country our cover is not heavy by any means, so my choice of a pitching rod is a 7' MH Fast Action. Brand is somewhat important when selecting the rod because I have two pitching rods... one is a 7' MH Fast Action Fenwick Eagle GT, the other a BPS Extreme 7' MH Fast Action. The Fenwick fishes a whole heck of a lot like a heavy action rod, and the rod is mainly used for pitching jigs or really heavy t-rigs (1/2 oz. +) and the Extreme Rod has a little softer tip and I use that for pitching baits between 1/8 and 3/8 oz.
Ryan
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01-04-10, 09:47 AM | #8 |
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Ya, I'm 5'11", so, 7' rod dose is good enough for me. H action Fast tip.
IM8, or 50 million modulus blank, or better. And a light rod too. Some thing under 4.5oz. Light guides, strong guides, and guide frames that one the one on an XML (not sure what to call the ). A very balanced rod, with split grips, and no or a small fore grip. (helps with sensitivity). Or a downlocking fore grip. And a comfortable exposed reel seat! If I'm gonna be pitching all day long, I want something that's comfy! Magtouch reel seats a REALLY nice! Hope this helps!
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01-04-10, 11:40 AM | #9 |
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i used to use a big 7'6" or 8' super heavy rod but a pro that i fish with a good bit told me that he uses a 7' medium heavy for pitching and the bigger rods for flipping. Since i started doing that i have made more accurate and quiter pitches and had much more success. i use braid with a fluro tip so it has very little stretch on the line and when you set the hook at close range you dont need a super heavy rod to drive it home. It's all about being accurate he told me there are times you have to put it right on top of their heads and if you dont you will not get him to bite.
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01-04-10, 12:09 PM | #10 | |
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Take this for what you will. IM ratings aren't all they are cracked up to be and don't always mean much in terms of a good rod.
http://flw.flwoutdoors.com/article.cfm?id=141123 Quote:
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01-04-10, 01:35 PM | #11 | |
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Quote:
Thats a great article!
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01-04-10, 06:07 PM | #12 |
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Now this is something that is EXTREMILY helpful. Even i can understand it too. Now i know what to look for when picking out a new rod. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS!
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01-04-10, 06:56 PM | #13 |
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Great article Jrob! Thanks
Thought I'd add something I find interresting. A 7' H power rod with fast action tip seems to be a favorite in this post for pitchin. However, in most catalogs I've looked at, that rod is often described as a carolina technique rod. It's obviously not suprising that one rod can perform well for more than one technique. What I find interresting is how manufacturers often classify a rod as being specific to one technique, rather than mentioning the other techniques that same rod would work well with. I have found a few advertised this way, but the majority are not. Last edited by keithdog; 01-04-10 at 07:02 PM. |
01-04-10, 07:08 PM | #14 |
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Manufacturers are great at trying to make you think you need a different rod for every application. In general I would say a 5 or 6 power rod with a fast or Xfast action in anywhere from 7' to 7'6" would be great for pitching/flipping or c-rigging or frogging or heavy t-rigging or.....you get the picture.
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01-04-10, 08:20 PM | #15 |
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A few observations:
1.Good thread Keithdog. 2.A 7'6" rod is only for big guys is a myth. I'm 5' 7" and I've fished a 7'6" rod for 20 years. I wouldn't flip or pitch with anything BUT a 7'6" rod. I've got 3 on board locked and loaded at all times. You can move alot of line with a 7 1/2 ft rod and pitch further with ease. 3. I agree with KVD. I want a rod with lots of backbone in the butt section and a flexible tip. You can sling shot a bait with a flexible tip and muscle a bass with the butt section. 4.You've got to try the rod because one Manufacturers MH is anothers Heavy or Med. etc. |
01-04-10, 08:47 PM | #16 |
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I think most manufacturers use their prostaff to determine technique specific rods. If one of their pros says, I like 7'H F rod for c-rigging, they'll call it a c-rig rod.
BB
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01-05-10, 01:13 AM | #17 |
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Jigger, you make a good point when you mention one manufacturers MH rod is equal to anothers heavy. I noticed looking at the Shimano rods in the BPS catalog, the Crucial, Compre, Volteus, arn't even shown listing a casting rod available in heavy power, but there are several listed as MH power. I woould guess Shimanos MH would compare to other makers heavy power rods. Although, the Shimano Cumara rods do show a few listed as heavy.
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01-05-10, 02:00 AM | #18 | |
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Quote:
http://www.tacklewarehouse.com/descp...ANO-SCRCR.html |
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01-07-10, 12:23 AM | #19 |
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The heavy cover isn't too thick in MN for the most part. I mainly pitch to milfoil mats, docks, and bulrushes. There's almost no flooded wood.
I use a 7' 5" med power pitching stick for general jig fishing and light(1/4-1/2 oz) pitching, and also a 7' 11" heavy power rod for pitching in grassbeds with heavy jigs and worms. The heavier rod also doubles as my frog fishing setup. I use 15 lb fluoro on the lighter rod, and 50 lb braid on the heavier setup. I prefer a very long handle when pitching, jigging, frogging, or whenever a hard hookset and fight may be needed. One with the rod butt extending all the way to my elbow. It takes a little getting used to, having that rod butt hitting your elbow once in a while, but when you get used to it... Also, I'm right handed, and I very much prefer to use left handed reels on my pitching/power hookset combos. It feels much better to have my dominant hand holding the rod when I need to hammer a fish and drag it thru some milfoil with it's head up. Also, I don't have to switch hands when I'm pitching, because many strikes come as soon as it hits the water. I know I was missing strikes from switching hands because my worm was frequently coming back all bunched up and I didn't feel a thing, and this doesn't happen nearly as often after I switched to using lefties for pitching. I'm very happy with this rod, so here it is. The call it a M power, but it feels like a MH with a soft tip. Plenty of backbone. Look at the line and lure weight rating. Like your avg MH rod, or pretty close. http://products.gloomis.com/gl/produ...=1262837889107 |
01-07-10, 04:10 PM | #20 |
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I like the advice, but some don't make the distinction between a good pitching rod and a good flipping rod. I have fished an eight foot stick for a while (not mine alas) and for flipping I couldn't think of a better stick, but I hated pitching with it, the tip was a little light and it was just too long. it was a H MF. For my pitching rod I like a MH or H XF in the 7'3-7'9 range.
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01-07-10, 07:58 PM | #21 |
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Im in California and lots of big fish around. I pitch with 2 different rods depending on what Im fishing. If it heavy cover with lots of weeds, then I want a 7'6 in MH flippin stik. For almost all other applications its a 7'MH. I prefer a Powell 735, its light, sensitive, all kinds a back bone, and plenty of tip for pitchin accuracy. To be honest I could use this rod or a 734 for all my pitchin, just like a bit more rod for the nasty stuff. Hooksets are usually not a problem since its generally a short line technique.
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01-11-10, 08:41 PM | #22 |
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For me I like a 7'3" rod. Alot of people tell me the bigger the better, but I really like a shorter rod. Heavy action with a fast tip. It has to be as light as possible. It helps accuracy and it definitely helps from fatigue of fishing all day.
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01-11-10, 10:16 PM | #23 |
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I use a 7'6 mh and a 7'10 h depending on what cover I'm fishing.
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