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When I was a kid throwing baits into whatever puddle I could find, I was flipping and pitching before I even knew what it was.
As a youngster, flipping was pretty well the only method I knew for getting a bait exactly where I wanted it.
I could see the fish just below the surface and even breaching in the shallows around the weeds, reeds, and other bank foliage and structure.
Now I have a name for what I used to do instinctively; it’s flipping. And I also have a preference for a rod-type for best flipping results, as do many anglers.
Usually, we’re targeting a larger class of fish at close quarters, and it’s usually around pretty difficult structure, where a poor, inaccurate cast spells doom for your expensive, favorite lure.
In this article, we’ll examine two spin rods and two casting rods perfect for flipping, in which accuracy of casting will be enhanced, and you’ll also be able to wrestle a fish from its cover.
Whether or not the rods listed below are the best available is up for debate. There are plenty of class above, and plenty of class below that give them a run for their money.
What’s important is that they’re perfectly designed for flipping and offer terrific value.
Best Flipping And Pitching Rods Reviewed 2024
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
1. Okuma Scott Martin – Best Casting Rod
This entire Okuma series is fantastic, affordable, and feature-packed with a limited lifetime warranty.
The 691MHA would be my go-to casting rod for hunting a larger class of fish from the cover.
- Scott Martin designed rods for tournament concept fishing
- All rods have been designed for specific tournament applications
- 30-Ton carbon, ultra sensitive blank construction
- Customized C-40X carbon reel seats on casting and spinning
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The medium-fast taper is ideal and the medium-heavy power is perfect for wrestling big fish out of the cover quickly.
It’s a stiff feeling rod, which is brilliant for flipping accuracy yet maintains a high level of feel and responsiveness.
There are 10 Fuji K-Concept frames guides fitted with Fuji Faz-Light guide inserts that contribute to the accurate casting and the lightweight feel of the rod.
For such a strong rod, it’s particularly light, which is one of the most compelling features of this particular model.
The split EVA cork butts are perfect, and the trigger-style reel seat offers excellent casting ergonomics.
At 6’9”, this is my perfect length, however, others may prefer just that little bit longer. Because it weighs only 3.8 ounces, long sessions are less tiring
Line class is 10 to 17 pounds and suits a lure weight or casting weight of 1/8 – 3/4 Oz.
I appreciate the one-piece configuration, but that will be a drawback for some anglers, even though it’s a relatively short fishing rod.
Features
- Specific bass rod series
- 30-ton carbon blank construction
- Fuji K-Concept guide frames
- Fuji Faz-Light guide inserts
- Customized C-40X carbon fiber skeleton reel seat
- Contoured EVA/compressed cork fore and rear split grips
- Screw down foregrip
- Limited Lifetime warranty
2. Cherrywood HD Casting Rod – Best Budget Casting Rod
The Cherrywood series is particularly popular with a huge selection in the series.
What’s more this rod gets you on the water and flipping for not much more than pocket change.
I’m a big fan of composite rods for the combination of sensitivity and durability, and will often recommend them as a more forgiving blank when it comes to securing a fish on the strike.
The composite is also more forgiving on those anglers who can be a little bit hard on their gear, with full carbon models more susceptible to breakage through mishap.
The stainless guides with stainless inserts seem to be rudimentary next to the fancy stuff available now. However, they’re particularly durable and certainly get the job done.
This would be my choice for chasing a lighter class of fish hiding in soft cover.
Having a 7′ length makes it an ideal casting rod with accurate casting and a fast action that is more than adequate for flipping for a smaller class of fish.
Being composite, the rod is a little heavier than its competitors, however, it’s not too heavy to cause unwanted fatigue via rapid casting over super-long sessions.
It’s rated from 6 to 14 pounds and will manage baits of 1/8-5/8 Oz. The cork handle is by no means premium cork, yet it is comfortable and sensitive.
The one-piece design offers strength and blank integrity but some anglers may balk at a 7 footer they can’t pull down.
Features
- Hybrid design (Composite blank)
- Lightweight stainless steel guides and inserts
- Cork handles
- Great Retro design and color
3. Abu Garcia Veritas Spinning 6’9” 1 pce – Editors Choice
The Abu Garcia Veritas series is a beautiful-looking series of fishing rods. Some may find the all-white rod with flashes of silver and red to be a little pretentious.
While medium light, I’d still use this rod to tackle just about anything. Given its strength, this would still be my go-to option for chasing a larger class of fish with a spin configuration.
The other benefit of this rod is that it’s not only a gem for flipping and pitching, but I can also pair it up with a compact 3000 size spinning reel and cast it a mile.
The titanium alloy guides reduce line friction and keep things nice and light while offering excellent durability.
The grips feel fantastic to hold on to, and the overall balance makes it a pleasure to fish.
It’s designed for casting a lighter class of lure which is great for flipping accuracy.
However, you can up the lure size and weight to compensate for weather conditions of the class of fish you’re hunting.
6’9” is my ideal length for flipping.
There are benefits for a longer rod under some conditions, however, rod length can be very subjective when it comes to flipping, with anglers having very specific demands, and many others not caring about length at all.
This is a fabulous rod for flipping and will make a great general-purpose option for a host of inshore applications. The challenge for most anglers will be to keep the white blank white.
Features
- Powerlux blank
- ROCS (Robotically Optimized Casting System) Guide train
- Titanium alloy guides with ultra-light Zirconium inserts
- Closed Cell EVA
- Ergonomic Abu designed reel seat
- Limited 3-year warranty
4. Penn Battalion Spinning Rods – Best Heavy Fish Model
Some of the time, we just want to focus on targeting trophy fish, and the PENN Battalion 12 is the rod of choice for attacking 10-pound bass waiting by the banks in heavy structure and foliage.
The one-piece rod suits a line class of 12 to 20 pounds. You can up your lure size and focus primarily on big fish.
At 7’6” in size. Anglers are afforded that little bit more leverage as well as the benefits of being able to hang back from the target zone just that little bit further.
The blank is 100% graphite making it supremely light yet very powerful and strong.
Fuji Alconite guides with Aluminum oxide inserts make line management a breeze. The inserts are particularly well suited to the use of braided fishing lines.
Fuji reel seats complement the premium cork handles. The handles feel fantastic, with sensitivity and durability a feature.
The PENN is highly responsive and offers an excellent feel which is critical for hooking fish when flipping.
Like the VERITAS, the PENN is exceptionally versatile, and if you could only choose one rod to cover everything inshore, this would be an excellent option.
The PENN is awesome in the hands of an experienced angler with honed flipping skills.
But I would also recommend it for the beginner trying to master the art of flipping accuracy, and I rarely recommend full graphite for beginners, as composite rods are more forgiving.
For those wanting to flip, pitch, and cast a heavier lure a country mile, the PENN offers this advantage.
I like a rod that is ideal for the specific technique for which you bought it, but has equal performance across different techniques and fishing applications.
The Penn Battalion II is one of PENN’S better inshore rods, and it’s a great choice for covering a multitude of inshore applications, especially flipping at big largemouth.
Features
- 100% graphite blank
- Fuji aluminum oxide guides
- Fuji Skeleton reel seat
- Premium-grade cork grips
- PENN BATTALION II 7’6” SPINNING ROD: Ultralight, powerful and durable. Our second generation Inshore/Nearshore spinning rod with premium hardware and carbon fiber construction.
- 12-20LB LINE RATING, MEDIUM HEAVY POWER: Fast action for responsive coastal skirmishing. Lure rating of 1/2-1 1/2 ounces.
- PROPRIETARY SLC2 CARBON FIBER one-piece rod blank is durable, light and sensitive for precision maneuvers.
- FUJI GRAPHITE REEL SEAT provides a lightweight and dependable anchor point for the reel. Fuji alconite ceramic guides withstand rough treatment while keeping lines strong under tension in both fresh and saltwater.
Last update on 2024-09-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What To Look For In A Good Flipping & Pitching Rod
Let’s now look at some of the main considerations when looking for a good quality flipping and pitching rod.
Choosing a Good Length For a Flipping Rod
With a little practice, you can flip with just about any fishing rod depending on where you’re standing.
The optimum rod you use from a boat is likely to differ from a bank or any other land-based situation.
The geography and conditions can impact what might be regarded as the best flipping rod. Therefore, there are few immutable rules for selecting a great flipping rod.
Not only are the situational considerations, but there are also personal, physiological considerations.
For example, a 5-foot person and a 6-foot person will need different rods for optimum performance. Not to mention plain old personal preference relative to individual techniques.
So it’s important to note when you’re looking for a flipping rod that will achieve peak performance for you, that you feel or try out a few options first.
Given the list of variables, where does the average angler start the search? There are a few things to look for, and a few parameters that are suitable for peak flipping performance.
The Power of The Rod
Low-powered rods present issues for flipping as you will likely be pulling a larger class of fish from heavier structure.
A fast secure hookset is necessary, as is the ability to pull the fish from cover post haste.
To achieve this a medium-light power is probably the lowest power you should select, and only for lighter foliage cover and a smaller class of fish.
From this point, everything up to heavy power will work. The bigger the fish and the heavier the cover, the more power is advised.
Also Read: Best Flipping Reels
What Action Rod Is Suitable?
This is where personal preference comes into it, as a balance needs to be achieved between casting accuracy, feel, and sensitivity.
You will also have to consider the line class you’re fishing and the size of lures you want to cast.
Having said all of that, I’d probably not overthink things and go with a moderate/fast to fast (so many rods shaped like this anyway)
Avoid slow rods, as you will struggle with accuracy, and you will also struggle to wrestle larger fish from the cover.
Just be aware that full graphite rods, although extremely light and ideal for flipping, can pull hooks on the strike of soft-mouthed fish.
Line Weight
Line weight will be determined by your rod and reel outfit. However, as you’re flipping and not aiming for maximum casting distance, you can go outside the manufacturer’s recommendations.
When you’re fishing at close quarters, think more about your lure weight when you’re selecting a fishing line.
I’m inclined to fish as heavy as I can, particularly when I’m fishing hard and heavy cover.
I need significant pulling power when hooks are set, and I also want plenty of abrasion resistance for when I invariably get wrapped up on something gnarly.
I like braid when fishing the reeds, pads, and weeds, because of its cutting power. But for heavier hard structure, I like heavy mono for abrasion resistance.
Mono also has shock resistance which can be a pretty significant advantage when striking aggressively at close quarters.
Lure Weight
Lure weight is tied to so many variables that there can be no reasonable indicator. I’ve used the lightest of soft plastics and seen outlandish monster swimbaits used.
Selecting a lure comes down to your outfit, your target, and your ability to impart peak action on the lure.
There are three main considerations for line weight when flipping.
Firstly, and most importantly, you have to be able to get it to the target zone accurately.
It’s pointless having a light lure you can’t flip to the perfect spot. You’re flipping, so you are aiming to land your lure accurately to an inch.
Secondly, it needs to be sized appropriately for your target.
And thirdly, you need to be able to impart enough action on the lure to give it the life it needs to be attractive.
Durability
Close quarters fishing will put extra strain on your rod since you will be pulling hard and quickly, battling fish from cover.
You’re very close to the strike zone, and your target will be green all the way to the boat.
7 to 10 pounds of very upset bass will make short work of a flimsy rod. They’re understandably very angry, and they’ll not want to leave their cover.
In my experience, the battle with fish is rarely the cause of rod damage. I have only ever broken rods through mishaps and user errors.
Composite rods are far more durable than full graphite rods, particularly where impacts are concerned.
If you’re an angler that’s rough on gear, a composite blank might be a sound investment.
The bottom line is your rod must be strong for flipping applications that target a larger class of fish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Heavy Rod Good for Flipping
Heavy rods can be great for flipping. When you’re chasing trophy bass, for example, it’s bordering on essential.
If I could only select one rod, however, I’d be more inclined to select a medium or medium-heavy.
I’m not always chasing monsters, and I will frequently be using lures not well suited to heavy rods.
Heavy rods are also heavier to hold on to much of the time. I like a lighter feel.
With an open budget, I’d make sure I was equipped with a selection of rod powers from medium-light to heavy, so I have all situations covered.
This is where rod series like the Cherrywood come in handy. They’re highly affordable, and the purchase of several power classes is well within the reach of the strictest budget.
Can you Flip with a Spinning Rod?
Flipping with a spinning rod is equally as productive as spinning with a baitcaster. It’s frustrating to hear ‘experts’ say that you must have a baitcaster for effective flipping. It’s simply untrue.
Flipping with a spinning reel is easy. Moreover, there are plenty of anglers who only have spin in the arsenal.
Pitching, on the other hand, is a little bit easier with casting reels as there are fewer movements involved, and many casting reels have flip switches that assist in more price casting.
Anglers should be aware that flipping with a spin reel is fun and easy. There’s no need to go out and purchase a casting reel for high-performance flipping, a spin reel is just fine.
What is a Good Gear Ratio for Flipping?
Speeds of 6.5 and over are great for flipping. Remember, we’re doing our best to pull fish from cover, so a quick line uptake is advantageous.
That doesn’t mean you’ll struggle with slower speeds, it more a case of faster has benefits.
Final Word on Flipping Rods
While peak flipping performance is achieved by a few rod qualities, it’s important to remember that they’re not critical.
However, most anglers I’ve ever met want to give themselves the best chance possible for solid striking and pinpoint accuracy.
A medium/heavy spin or casting rod of 7 feet with a medium-fast to fast action will do the trick nicely.
Composite or carbon comes down to personal preference. For durability go composite, for lightweight power, go carbon.
Any of my 4 best flipping rods listed above will deliver most anglers a great flipping result. Ultimately though, the performance is up to you and your skills.
See Also: 6 Quality Bank Fishing Rod Holders
