need advice on reel for pitchin + flippin

[petebigbass]

what do you guys suggest for a baitcasting reel to be used for pitchin + flippin? thanks.

[Tavery5]

something with magnetic braking, If all gear ratios are an option I would go with the faster one. Something with a quality line guide in case you choose to use braid. Choose a price range and find one with the qualities that you prefer.

[keithdog]

I pitch with several reels, but my main reel for pitchin is the Revo STX. I couldn't be happier. But there are several reels out there in many price ranges that work very well. I have a Revo S that I pitch with that Kevin tuned for me and it's amazing now!

[Crankbait]

Does anyone know of a reel that has a flippin switch and also has magnetic brakes. like Keithdog said a tuned reel is an awesome improvement. Keithdog what kind of bearings did you put in those tuned reels?

[Tavery5]

Bass Pro Extreme

[BigBassin144]

When flipping, the reel isn't that big of a deal since the reel isn't engaged at all.

When it comes to pitching, my Daiwa Sol is the best reel I've used. Magnetic brakes are great, but a lightweight spool is a must for pitching. It lets your spool start up quickly so you get the maximum distance out of your pitch. However, these aren't on the market any more and are getting harder to find.

BB

[Tavery5]

How far you usually pitch your baits?

[BigBassin144]

Originally Posted by Tavery5

How far you usually pitch your baits?

I'm usually pitching around 6-8 yards when I do. When shore fishing, I'm pitching just to the outside edge of a small weed line. And in the boat, I'm probably closer than I should be, lol. I'm really not too great at it as I don't really pitch too much.

When using my Sol, I find I can gain around 5-6' with similar weight lure and rod when I have to. More than anything, the lighter spools means I can pitch the same distance with less effort. Unfortunately, my Sol stays on a rod for my lighter lures.

So this is in comparison to my Revo STX, the reel I actually use the most for pitching. Also to my Viento and BPS JM Signature, which I've pitched with occasionally.

BB

[Bassboss]

I've always thought the REVO's would be great reels for flipping and pitching, Mag or Centrifugal breaks (or both!), wide range of gear ratios, and arguable to best, and strongest drag in the industry!

[Tavery5]

I would say pitching is probably the primary technique I use, like you I try to keep the boat positioned about 6-8 yards from the target area. I usually pitch med to large plastic baits and jigs up to 1/2 oz. Most of the plastics are t-rigged with around 3/16 oz bullet weight pegged, so most everything is in that 3/8 oz. range. Using these baits I have not found any advantage to a light spool, primarily because there is enough weight to easily cast the mentioned distance and the fact that I only use enough spool tension to keep the spool from moving back and forth. I use the mag brakes to compensate for windy conditions, (which is almost always in KS). With clean bearings and setting the reel up in this manner many times I find them almost too fast and have to really concentrate to prevent backlashes. I think it would make it even more difficult for me if the spool was lighter and spun up even faster. I like to use a fast rod and let the weight of the bait pull the line off the spool in a very controlled fashion, rather than letting the rod load up and having it propel the bait at a much higher speed. I cover water fairly quick and like a high speed reel to pick up line quickly so I can make another cast. I do slow down in areas of heavy cover but allot of what I do is to isolated cover, so I try to make 2 or 3 cast to the same target from a couple of different angles and then move on.

I can see where a light spool could help with finesse type jigs and small plastics, but for what I usually use just about any good reel with a good magnetic braking system seems to work well.

[Jrob78]

I don't really have a specific reel for pitching, I'm apt to make a pitch or 2 with any set up I'm holding. I usually have either a Zillion or a Viento on my "flipping stick." I cast it more than I pitch with it though. I don't really flip much at all.

I don't know of any reels that have flipping switches, I think some Quantum's might but I'm not 100% sure. One nice feature all Daiwa reels have, is the ability to re-engage the spool by pushing the thumb bar back up. It's not exactly the same as what a flipping switch does but it's still faster than changing hands to turn the crank.

[Tavery5]

Originally Posted by Bassboss

I've always thought the REVO's would be great reels for flipping and pitching, Mag or Centrifugal breaks (or both!), wide range of gear ratios, and arguable to best, and strongest drag in the industry!

Most Revo's do make good pitching reels IMO. I like their spool design, and the fact that most have mag or dual brakes. The strong drag is kinda less important to me because allot of the time I will have the drag locked down, and most reels have more than enough drag when you fish them this way. Actually fishing braid with that much drag can put a lot of load on your gears when setting hooks and can cause you some problems if your not carefull.

[keithdog]

Originally Posted by Crankbait

Does anyone know of a reel that has a flippin switch and also has magnetic brakes. like Keithdog said a tuned reel is an awesome improvement. Keithdog what kind of bearings did you put in those tuned reels?

Well, I didn't do the work on the reel. Kevin did, and he didnt replace the bearings, but he did a basic tune which involved total clean, polishing and smoothing out stuff. But it made a huge difference. I won't go into a reel anymore other than just the very basics. Last time I tried to get into the main gears I ruined the reel, lol. So now I leave that up to guys like you and Kevin. Kevin offers a Super Tuning which may get into replacement of bearings and such. I plan to have that done this winter to my STX.

[DVT Mike]

Free spool is where it's at as far as pitching. Personally, I'm not a fan of flipping switches. They are not necessary and often a source of problems eventually.

[Crankbait]

Originally Posted by keithdog

Well, I didn't do the work on the reel. Kevin did, and he didnt replace the bearings, but he did a basic tune which involved total clean, polishing and smoothing out stuff. But it made a huge difference. I won't go into a reel anymore other than just the very basics. Last time I tried to get into the main gears I ruined the reel, lol. So now I leave that up to guys like you and Kevin. Kevin offers a Super Tuning which may get into replacement of bearings and such. I plan to have that done this winter to my STX.

You will be pleasantly surprised with the addition of orange seals to a super tuned reel

[Crankbait]

Originally Posted by DVT Mike

Free spool is where it's at as far as pitching. Personally, I'm not a fan of flipping switches. They are not necessary and often a source of problems eventually.

Your probably right but I’m not Denny,or Biffle so I feel that flippin switch gives me a head start…..just me. I am looking forward to getting a flippin reel with magnetic brakes!

[DVT Mike]

Ya, all this stuff we talk about boils down to personal preference. 99% of the time there is no right or wrong. I'm a rightie and have broken the habit of swapping hands and switched to left hand reels for several of my setups especially flipping and pitching rods.