Hey guys,

Looking for some opinions on good punching rods. I live in Minnesota and fish a ton of Milfoil and need to get a better punching rod. I am looking for a rod between $100-$150. I've had people say get a 7'11 rod but I am 5'9 and feel like this would be a little too long...maybe not though. Please let me know what you guys think.

Thanks

I stand the same and I use a 7"11. I have the St. Croix Mojo flippin stick. I don't have any trouble with it. I also have a 7'6 flippin stick I prefer over the Mojo but only because it's lighter.

Im 5'9 and every rod I have is between 7-7'11 so you will be fine, not sure on rod every rod I have is a Paragon Power Tackle and those are out of your price range. If you want to spend just a little more you can get a KC power tackle rods.

iRod Genesis II


I recommend you try the IRG775C. It's an extra-heavy flippin' rod that's built for flipping heavy, matted vegetation. It's a super light rod with great sensitivity. And best of all, it's right in your price range! iRod has been known to make great punchin' rods. This rod is no exception!

Try the Megabass Levante "Perfect Pitch". It's a heavy, fast rod that is 7'3". It fishes shorter and stronger than it looks. Retail is around $199 but I found them for $160 a while back. I've been using it to flip, pitch, punch HEAVY reeds with a 1 oz tungsten punch weight. Great choice and a very sensitive blank.

Not to hijack, but what if cost wasn't a concern? Is the Power Tackle (104.5?) considered the best as far as light, sensitive, yet can still horse a bass out of the thick stuff?

Shimano Compre 7'7" MH/ XF is what I use and I love it! For me it has just enough tip and a lot of backbone for driving the hook home and pulling them out of the thick stuff

Castaway East Texas Grass Rake

Old School but will get them out of some junk.

The Levante is a good choice but for punching I would go with the Flipping Special or the Leviathan. Both will do the job a tad better I feel like. Used both for punching and depending on weight of rig and how heavy the mat/cover is dictates which one I use. Not saying the Perfect Pitch can't get it done just saying the other two are better suited for it.

I'm the same height as you & anything longer than 7'6" just doesn't feel right to me. I use a 7'4" for heavy flippin'.

Just remember punching is not flipping or pitching. Its a whole different beast. Its more vertical than horizontal presentation and the longer rod can help get the bait over some openings in the mat and maintain that vertical aspect so you can pull fish up and out instead of through and out if that makes sense.

I agree that the "Perfect Pitch" would be a tad light in the power department for true punching, workable perhaps but not ideal. I have the Levante Leviathan and it is a beast that is well suited for punching and I am also 5'11" and do not feel overwhelmed by the length. I cannot speak for the flipping special but it will be my next purchase.

No, the Power Tackle Grass Mat Special or GM 105, if money were no object.

Try the Megabass Levante "Perfect Pitch". It's a heavy, fast rod that is 7'3". It fishes shorter and stronger than it looks. Retail is around $199 but I found them for $160 a while back. I've been using it to flip, pitch, punch HEAVY reeds with a 1 oz tungsten punch weight. Great choice and a very sensitive blank.

I fish 2 lakes with heavy grass and in the summer all I do is flip grass.

1 lake is loaded with milfoil up to 15 ft. Milfoil usually isn't that thick or hard to get through so I typically use a 3/4 or 1oz weight on a dobyns extreme 795 flipping rod. Milfoil doesn't mat up on the surface like hydrilla does so you just kinda have to shake it through. I get significantly more bites on the lighter weight but you can cover water faster with a 1oz.

The other lake has a ton of super thick hydrilla down to 20 ft and requires a 2 oz weight (sometimes 2.5oz) and you have to throw it in the air to get enough momentum to blast through it. I use a dobyns 805 flip for this one.

If I could pick 1 flipping rod I would use the champ extreme 795. TW had them on sale recently for 199 which is a STEAL.