Most Well Balanced Flippin Stick Under $200

[jalberg]

As many of you know all my rods got jacked last fall, so I'm trying to rebuild my collection. I held an abu garcia vendetta 7'6" rod and it seemed way tip heavy, so I wanted to get some feedback from you guys to see what you think are the best for balance.

I had a Daiwa Zillion flippin stick prior to my break in and really liked it but im trying to spend less. Any ideas?

[Superduty]

I think you need to put a reel on it to truthfully check out if it's balanced. I own way too many flippin sticks covering a wide range of price ranges. Most are tip heavy. They are simply big beefy rods. I put a balancer on them most of the time. The vendetta is actually extremely light for a rod of it's price range.

[Larson15]

I would take a look at the Shimano Crucial, Dobyns Savvy and the Powell Max. They are around that 170 range.

[grab the net]

I agree with SD, you have to put the reel your going to use on the rod to get a real feel. Any rod can be counter balanced, a little lead in the handle, take off the butt cap, epoxy it in place after you determine the right amount. Lots of rods in the $100.00 to $150.00 point price these days. Go to the NW Sports show, most all the major companies are there, pick em all up, compare and then look for a show special.

[RK]

Hiya -

As several have said, a little tip-heaviness is an inherent reality with a long rod. Can't beat physics. Frankly, a lot of long rods balance better with a bigger - or at least heaver - reel vs the small, light reels popular now.

Still, some rods are better balanced than others to begin with.

Shimano flipping sticks seem nice, though I don't own one. The Crucial series has several models in the right price range, and Crucials are dang nice rods (I own a couple of them, just not a flipping stick).

Larson mentioned Powell, and they're a rod company I'm really getting to like. Been in the high end fly rod business for years (their bamboo fly rods *start* at $1,900 ), and got into the bass market a few years back. Incredible bang for the buck - very reasonable price and components you usually only find on much higher priced rods. Their Endurance line is pretty sweet, and I have a few rods from their Max series that I love. (Probably have one more by spring. Maybe two...heh.) Compare them price-wise to a St Croix Mojo (they're within $30-40 of each other dollar-wise) and, as much as I like St. Croix, it's not even a contest... Powell is well worth checking out.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[DjC05]

I like the direction the boys are stearing you> The Crucial flippin stick is a very nice rod, but I have also recently discovered the Powell rods. They are really nice rods for the price point> My cousin has four of them and swears by em. They would be a solid rod to rebuild your collection with....Check them out!

[blakjack23]

I think the Vendettas are known for their tip-heaviness. Light rods, but just tip heavy.

The Crucial, Savvy and Max are all great choices in that price range. Sounds like a trip to Cabelas is in order

[olski]

It's been a pretty good trend the last few years that to keep up with jones' most rod manufactures have had to build a rod of quality and keep it in a good price range, heck a guy would have had to pay double or sometimes more for these same type rods a few years back.

Shoot you couldn't even pick up a set of the guides they are using for what you can get a rod for now. (We win!)

I guess my point is alot of good rods for that $ and it's always fun to shop.

Totally didn't answer your question. Sorry

All the rods mentioned above are nice along with Lamiglas Excel, Carrot Stix wild. Abu Veritas, Etc.

[Wayne Ek]

Superduty and Grab the net gave you some good counsel, pick the reel you want to use for flipping and then fit that reel to a good pitching/flipping stick. At $200 your getting up into the top end sticks and the quality is going to be pretty much the same. When pitching or flipping your going to use a heavy pound test, be it braid or fluorocarbon, so feel and finesse are not an issue. The issue is much more personal. It involves comfort issues, do you hold the stick behind the reel, on the reel or infront of the reel when pitching/flipping. Does the combination of rod and reel give you wrist strain, does it hurt your fingers when you set the hook. Do you like butt heavy or tip heavy rods. So find the reel first, then fit it to a rod and don't be satisfied until you find a combination that is comfortable to you. I don't want to sound snobbish, but unless you only have 1 or 2 rods to select from most anglers will not use a rod that is uncomfortable and unbalanced in their hands.

[Chris519]

I just got a 7'6" Shimano Crucial last summer. Love it!!

[moviking]

As I said in a prior post, I really like Carrot Sticks. I use them for just about everything. I also use the Carbonlite reels of Bass pro. Excellant combo.

[HellaBass]

I have found the Dobyn's rods to be as balanced as well or better then most rods you will find, so check out the Savvy Series for your price range