The Best Flipping and Pitching Rod - Buying Guide and Reviews of the Top Sticks

There are many fishing rods on the market that are great for flipping and pitching. However, some that market themselves as suitable for flipping are less-than-ideal for the job. Given this, we’ve reviewed some of the top options on the market to help you make a wise purchase. We’ve listed our winner, along with the other rods we tested, so you can make a proper purchasing decision.

Here's a glance at the best flipping rods of 2023:

Best Flipping and Pitching Rod Reviews

Ardent Denny Brauer Flipping Stick Fishing Rod - Our Pick!

Amazon 

Summary

Denny Brauer is a Bassmaster Classic Champion, an angler with some of the greatest skill and talent on the entire planet. His rod series from Ardent offers some fantastic options, and the Flipping Stick is quite possibly the best of the bunch.

While we’d like to see a bit longer rod, at seven-and-a-half feet long, the Flipping Stick is adequate for the job. It features medium heavy power combined with fast action to make this a hook-setting machine. You can rest assured that this rod won’t let you down when it comes to setting your hook fast and deep.

The rod is rated for lines between eight and fourteen pounds. This is perfect, and right smack in the optimal line weight for this type of fishing. The lure weight is rated for lures from a half an ounce all the way to an ounce and a half! That’s an entire ounce range, which is fantastic. While the product advertises that the bottom lure weight is a half an ounce, you could also use baits smaller than that without much worry.

The rod features high modulus IM8 graphite blanks, giving you a fantastic feel while also being extremely strong. With both Fuji guides and reel seat, the build quality of this rod is absolutely top-notch. The split cork grip is extremely comfortable to hold and of the highest quality. You won’t find a higher quality rod on the market.

At the end of the day, this rod flat-out performs. It offers great specifications and a wonderful feel, and it’s built like a tank. We can’t ask for any more than that in a flipping rod, and can wholeheartedly recommend the Flipping Stick to anyone who’s looking.

Lew’s American Hero Speed Stick Flipping Rod

Amazon 

Summary

Lew’s is a fan favorite in the fishing rod space. Their American Hero Speed Stick Flipping Rod is a beast of a rod that will certainly help you catch more fish.

With a length of seven-and-a-half feet, it’s on the shorter side of the scale, but that doesn’t hinder this rod very much. With its heavy power and fast action, you’ll be able to quickly set the hook and not miss those fast strikes. The shorter length doesn’t hinder the hook set or the fight, but you’ll have to get a touch closer to the logs or other obstructions you’re flipping around.

The Speed Stick Flipping Rod can handle lines from twenty to forty pounds, giving it a huge range of high-test line. Using a nice braided line within these parameters will give you a super quick hook set to go with the power and action making it a good pairing. You’ll also be able to use lures from a half an ounce all the way up to two ounces! This is a huge range, and Lew’s should be commended for that.

The build quality is extremely good here as well. Premium IM6 blanks go nicely with the overall graphite construction of the rod. The stainless steel guides and a lightweight reel seat are also very well made. The EVA foam grips make the rod a joy to handle, extremely comfortable, and slip-resistant.

KastKing Pro Tournament Flipping Rod

Amazon 

Summary

KastKing is a name that’s becoming more commonly known, but it may still be under your radar when you’re shopping for fishing rods. Perhaps this review will help open your eyes to how excellent their Pro Tournament Flipping Rod truly is. The rod is absolutely as high-quality and reliable as any of the others on this list, and should not be overlooked.

At seven feet five inches, the KastKing is one of the shortest rods we would recommend. However, it handles well and its smaller size doesn’t cause any big problems, other than requiring you to be closer to your casting spots. The heavy power and fast action are great, making this rod feel fantastic when casting, setting the hook, and landing the fish.

With a wide line weight range of fifteen to thirty pounds, you’ll be able to use your favorite line without issue. The same goes for lures. Feel free to use anything from 3/8 of an ounce to two ounces. This means you’re only limited by your imagination, so tie on your favorite lure to your choice of line and get to flipping!

The build quality of the KastKing is really good. Made with high-quality carbon blanks and carbon, this rod is strong and light! Fuji guides and reel seat combined with the fantastic Winn grips on the handle make the KastKing feel extremely premium. Handling this rod is a reel treat.

Again, don’t let the name put you off. Give the KastKing Pro Tournament Flipping Rod a fair chance, and it will not let you down.

Okuma Scott Martin Tournament Concept Rod

Amazon 

Summary

Okuma teamed up with professional angler Scott Martin to create the Tournament Concept Rod. They’ve developed a line of rods that are high quality, and the model we chose (TCS-C-7111H) is a fantastic option for a flipping rod.

Coming in at almost eight feet in length, the rod is fantastic for flipping. The heavy power and fast action are wonderful compliments to the length. They combine to form this synergy of hook setting power and finesse that makes the rod a joy to use.

You can use a line anywhere from fifteen to 65 pounds, and lures from a quarter of an ounce all the way to two ounces. That’s a nice large range, with the lure weight range being especially impressive.

The Okuma is made with decent quality materials. The rod features super sensitive carbon blanks, rated at 30 tons, that provide strength and power. Stainless steel guides with aluminum oxide inserts and a high carbon reel seat are also quality additions. The handle is made of EVA foam and cork for a comfortable hold. While this rod doesn’t feel as high end as some other rods on this list, it certainly isn’t terrible, either.

Okuma makes great rods, and this rod is fantastic if you’re looking for one to use for flipping.

Dobyns Championship Series Flippin’ Rod

Amazon 

Summary

The Championship Series from Dobyns is a high-end series of fishing rods, and the Flippin’ Rod is a great addition. With the Dobyns name, you know you’ll get quality, and the engineering and elegance of this rod shine.

At seven and a half feet long, this rod is a good size. The heavy power and fast action make it a powerhouse that can set hooks deep and land fish one after the other. This combination makes the Championship Series a fantastic choice for any angler looking for a flipping rod.

The line weight range is from 14 to 30 pounds, and the lure weight ranges from three-eighths of an ounce all the way up to two and a half ounces. These are great ranges and will not handcuff you into using a line or lure you do not want to. You’ll have the freedom to mix and match as you see fit.

The build quality of the Dobyns rod is top notch. Made with high modulus graphite blanks, Kigan guides with SiC inserts, and a Fuji reel seat, this rod hasn’t cut corners on materials. The kevlar wrapping adds some added strength and durability to the rod’s overall build. The cork grips are extremely comfortable and fit well in the hand.

Dobyns has created a nice, well-rounded flipping rod with the Championship Series Flippin’ Rod.

KastKing Perigee II Fishing Rod

Amazon 

Summary

The second KastKing rod on the list is the Perigee II Fishing Rod. It comes in with some decent specs, and at a fair price.

The rod is on the shorter side for what we would call a comfortable length for flipping at seven feet four inches. It does feature a nice heavy power and fast action, meaning the hook sets are powerful and swift. If only this rod were a bit longer it could have been a much bigger contender.

The rod can handle lines from 14 to 25 pounds and lures from three-eighths of an ounce to an ounce and a half. While not mind-blowing, these are both acceptable marks. The ranges are not quite as wide as other rods here, but should be fine for just about any circumstance when you’re flipping.

The build quality of the Perigee II is good--nothing spectacular, but nothing glaringly bad. Fuji guides, carbon blanks, and a high-quality graphite reel seat make the Perigee II a well-made rod. The EVA grips are comfortable, but not top of the line.

The KastKing Perigee II is a good rod. It won’t blow you away, but it’ll perform very well.

Our Pick - the Ardent Denny Brauer Flipping Stick Fishing Rod!

When it comes to flipping rods, nothing can outshine the Ardent Denny Brauer Flipping Stick Fishing Rod! It does pretty much everything right, and truly has a fantastic feel.

This list has so many rods that are great for flipping, so if you venture away from our top pick, we’re confident any of the other choices will work out well for you.

Whether you’re new to the flipping technique, or a seasoned veteran, the Ardent Denny Brauer Flipping Stick Fishing Rod is the best rod on the market hands-down. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

Criteria For Choosing a Flipping and Pitching Rod

When flipping for bass, you’ll need to make sure you have a rod that’s equipped with the proper length, power, and action. Considering the rigors of bass fishing, you’ll want to select a rod durable enough to withstand multiple angling trips to ensure you get a good return on your investment.

While most people can’t tell the difference just by looking at fishing rods in the store, there are certainly things to keep in mind, such as the material the rod is made of, the backbone it has, and the grip ergonomics. All of these things will combine to make a rod suitable for flipping and landing some nice bass.

Check out our guides for drop shot and jigging rods

Length

Flipping is a close proximity fishing technique. This means you’ll be fishing in shallow water where the distance between you and the fish is quite small. In order to keep from spooking the fish away, you’ll want to make sure you have a nice long rod where you can keep your shadow away from the fish. That combined with the added strength of the longer rod will make sure that you’re reeling in trophy bass all day long.

Power

When flipping for bass, you want to make sure you buy a rod with a nice strong backbone, or power. You’ll be looking for a rod in the medium heavy to heavy range of the scale. This will ensure that you’ll be capable of quickly setting the hook, fighting the bass, and lifting the rod in the boat after.

Action

As is the case with most bass fishing rods, you’ll be looking for a nice fast action on a flipping rod. This will help you to set the hook deeply, allowing you to miss less fish. A fast action means the hookset starts faster as the rod bends higher on the blank. That’s a quality that every bass angler is looking for, and for the flipping technique, it’s exactly the same.

Line Weight

Most of the rods we’ve tested hold a line weight of around ten to twenty-five pounds. This is a great range for bass fishing, and thus has been perfected by rod manufacturers for their flipping rods. While we generally like to see as wide of a range of line weight as possible, this range is perfect for the power, action, and length of the rods you’ll be buying for flipping.

Lure Weight

Most people who use the flipping casting technique use a jig or a weighted soft plastic bait. This generally falls in the 3/8 ounce to 1/2 ounce range. While you can go outside of this general guideline, you’ll find that most of your flipping will be done in that general weight range. You need to make sure that the rod you choose can handle the lure weight you want to flip.

Durability

Bass are known to put up an enormous fight after the hook is set. Given this, you’ll want to make sure the grip and rod are not only comfortable to hold, but also durable enough to land hundreds of fish. Look for high-quality materials like carbon and graphite along with a nice EVA or cork handle. If you decide to skimp on any of the materials, you could end up experiencing a short life cycle for the rod, which will ultimately cost you more money in the long-run.