Flipping Stick 7 ft or Less

[Bud Kennedy]

Due to on deck length restrictions, on deck rods must be under 7'.  I am also wanting to do more flipping and am considering using a new Daiwa Elite Pitch and Flip reel.  What if any recommendations can you make for a flipping stick that is on the short side.  Since most of the time I am a river angler, long casts tend not to be my thing so close quarters fishing is a way of life here.

[Donald Garner]

You might check out the BPS rods.  I've seen some that were like 6'9"in.  When I first started bass fishing I was using 6ft > 6 1/2 ft. rods for flipping and pitching. They were Med Heavy Action.

[fishballer06]

Dobyns makes an Extreme 705...

I know St. Croix makes a 7' Heavy, and I'm pretty sure Abu does as well in the Veracity and Vertias lines.

Outside of that, check out some of the Japanese made rods like Megabass. Shorter rods are still popular over there and you can get them in heavier powers. Check out the following models:

Destroyer P5 Killer Code, Tachyon Shaft, Super Destroyer.

[Eric-Maine]

Due to on deck length restrictions, on deck rods must be under 7'.  I am also wanting to do more flipping and am considering using a new Daiwa Elite Pitch and Flip reel.  What if any recommendations can you make for a flipping stick that is on the short side.  Since most of the time I am a river angler, long casts tend not to be my thing so close quarters fishing is a way of life here.

My  Denny Braur Team Diawa flipping sticks from back in the day all collapsed down to 6' and extended to 7"6. I had a St Croix that did the same.  In the days of the 150 hp max no one could fit the long rods. I eventually gravitated toward 1 piece as my boats got bigger. Do any of the manufacturers still make these?

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[Bud Kennedy]

After thinking about this a while, it strikes me that what I want to do will involve lighter baits.  My requirement is not to use heavy weights for this particular project.  If I am going heavy then of course my seldom used 735C will do the job.  What I am looking to throw would be light jigs and even creature baits with very little weight or perhaps even weightless.  I know this is not traditional for a flipping stick and just maybe I can use a rod with less power to do this kind of work.    The pattern here on the river for the most part requires a slow falling bait and often at a weight that can be used and or carried with the tide.  Maybe I am just calling this a flipping stick because that will be the presentation style but really is not much more than a worm/jig rod perhaps in the 4 power range.  Just don't know.  What I do know is that I need to hit specific targets not all that far from the boat but up against cypress knees etc.  We don't really deal with weeds/grass on this river but I wish we did.  Just wondering if I am just overthinking this process like I usually do.

[Capt. BassinLou]

After thinking about this a while, it strikes me that what I want to do will involve lighter baits.  My requirement is not to use heavy weights for this particular project.  If I am going heavy then of course my seldom used 735C will do the job.  What I am looking to throw would be light jigs and even creature baits with very little weight or perhaps even weightless.  I know this is not traditional for a flipping stick and just maybe I can use a rod with less power to do this kind of work.    The pattern here on the river for the most part requires a slow falling bait and often at a weight that can be used and or carried with the tide.  Maybe I am just calling this a flipping stick because that will be the presentation style but really is not much more than a worm/jig rod perhaps in the 4 power range.  Just don't know.  What I do know is that I need to hit specific targets not all that far from the boat but up against cypress knees etc.  We don't really deal with weeds/grass on this river but I wish we did.  Just wondering if I am just overthinking this process like I usually do.

Like you mentioned, a 4 power will fit the bill just fine in those lighter applications.

[fishballer06]

After thinking about this a while, it strikes me that what I want to do will involve lighter baits.  My requirement is not to use heavy weights for this particular project.  If I am going heavy then of course my seldom used 735C will do the job.  What I am looking to throw would be light jigs and even creature baits with very little weight or perhaps even weightless.  I know this is not traditional for a flipping stick and just maybe I can use a rod with less power to do this kind of work.    The pattern here on the river for the most part requires a slow falling bait and often at a weight that can be used and or carried with the tide.  Maybe I am just calling this a flipping stick because that will be the presentation style but really is not much more than a worm/jig rod perhaps in the 4 power range.  Just don't know. 

In your case, the GLoomis 803/804JWR rods might be right up your alley. Buy whatever series fits your budget.

[coldfront]

After thinking about this a while, it strikes me that what I want to do will involve lighter baits.  My requirement is not to use heavy weights for this particular project.  If I am going heavy then of course my seldom used 735C will do the job.  What I am looking to throw would be light jigs and even creature baits with very little weight or perhaps even weightless.  I know this is not traditional for a flipping stick and just maybe I can use a rod with less power to do this kind of work.    The pattern here on the river for the most part requires a slow falling bait and often at a weight that can be used and or carried with the tide.  Maybe I am just calling this a flipping stick because that will be the presentation style but really is not much more than a worm/jig rod perhaps in the 4 power range.  Just don't know.  What I do know is that I need to hit specific targets not all that far from the boat but up against cypress knees etc.  We don't really deal with weeds/grass on this river but I wish we did.  Just wondering if I am just overthinking this process like I usually do.

bud, I routinely pitch/flip 3.5 inch tubes with 1/8 ounce bullet weight on a Powell CB755.  that's a 7'5" rod with more parabolic action (designed for crankbaits after all).  still:  it's a GREAT all around rod for lighter baits up to about 1/2 ounce.  my personal preference is for mid-7 foot length rods.  but do have a few shorter and don't see why you wouldn't be very happy and most important SUCCESSFUL with a preferred set up.
if you're not dragging gorillas out of hydrilla/weeds/etc, might not even need to use those heavy GAFF hooks that are so popular.  some smaller guage hooks, EWG/texposed should do nicely.  or those eakins finess jigs?
plus, whatever rod you settle on will likely be great for a lot of other applications:  swim jigs, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, t-rigs, senkos...
stop thinking.  pull the trigger.

[Bud Kennedy]

Keeping with my original thought for a short rod, I chose to buy a Dobyns Fury 664C.  Currently my go to rod that I call little blue is a custom unit from Lee Smith and I wanted something somewhat similar with regards to size.  I have multiple Fury and Sierra products and decided on the fury from a cost perspective although several other models would have been ok.  Now I need to settle on the reel I want to use.  I like the Daiwa Pitch and Flip and based on feedback from the members here this might be just the ticket I need. I am still undecided about at this time mostly because of cost but I see some of the reels for sale dropping down to $188. from $249.