Getting ready to have a custom flipping stick built. Anyone experiment with either micro guides or spiral wrapped guides? Thinking a spiral wrap might help with accuracy. What length do ya ll prefer. I have been using an 8 foot model and like that but wanted some input on other lengths. Thanks in advance.

I really don't like spiral wrapped. It hurt my accuracy. But when I pitch and flip. I turn rod sideways a little bit. I like 7'10" but 8' should be good to. I like to use the smallest guides u can. Depends on line u use.

Better to get an otc rod you can pick up,before,you buy it. How you gonna tell someone what you want,if you don't know what you want? 8 feet is too long,if you are "Pitching".

Good point on the otc rod, but I don't feel 8' is to long to pitch, yes if the target is 5 feet away then chances are it is to long, but I technically pitch more then I flip and I pitch grass with a 7'11" rod on a regular basis. If we are talking about pitching boat houses and docks then I would suggest something closer to 6'10" although I do use a 7'6" pitching boat slips sometimes

Unless you know exactly what you want I suggest an otc rod as well, the Castaway SKX fast flip is an awesome rod worth taking a look at

I use a Bps Carbonlite 7'6"H, has an extra fast tip. And also Micro guides. Very light weight, strong, and a great warranty/return policy. I'm running 65# suffix and it works great for my purposes.

I had one built with Micro guides and absolutely hated it. Maybe they've improved the guide foot design over the past year and a half, but I would have guides break off and in some cases literally disappear on me when I broke off 25lb fluoro. Like, it was there, then it exploded into a thousand pieces. I had it stripped and redone with normal Fuji SiC guides and love it now. I'm not saying Micro's are bad for everything, but heavy abuse and heavy line are rough on them.

Spiral wrapped guides really work well when loading-up the rod on a fish, It's hard to explain in writing but I think it helps a lot in controlling a big fish when you need to get it out of cover fast.

At my age with the eyesight gettnig worse, I find the small guides really herd to thread in low light. I stick with the standard size.

have the PT 105 and will admit it's not the easiest rod to flip with. the zbone is a beast IMO (7'6 XH) and I've set the hook on a falcon stump w 65lb braid and it didnt budge. Buddy of mine has the PT104 and it will rival any rod I own. might even be my next investment when the time comes

If the rod is 8 feet long,your bait will hit the water on a roll cast,unless you are 7 feet tall,or standing on the deck of a cabin cruiser. + longer is heavier and results in more fatigue and less "Pitches" over the course of the day. The preferred rod action for "Pitching" is medium heavy fast. "The 1" uses a Medium Heavy/Fast 6'6" GLX MBR 783c and it's beautiful.

Pitching = 6'10-7'3" With a Fast to X-Fast Action. Power depending on lure weight and type of cover....Micros all the way for better for performance and lighter weight. Either all on top or spiral. My slight preference is spiral! I also prefer a bit shorter handle when pitching. The shorter handle allows for better wrist action when dealing with long sleeves or rain gear and also gives you more fish control.

Flipping = 7'3-8'. Again power depends on the task and action Fast - X-Fast with micros. You can get away with a little longer handle for added leverage/balance but should not extend past the point of your elbow.

I use a Dobyns Champion 7'6" flipping stick. One of the things I like about what Dobyns did with this rod was moving the first guide further up the blank allowing you to pull more line when flipping. I would stick with regular guides...if you like to flip sometimes with braid those micro guides will make you want to have ear plugs by the end of the day. And I personally don't like the micro guides for flouro, but that is probably more of "me" thing. I think it causes memory problems.

The PT 104.5 is a good one too...they have recoil guides which are pretty awesome if you ask me. And that SOB is stout. I can't imagine what the PT 105 is like...

Try a Denali Rosewood in ether:
R844WJ 7'0" H
R905FX 7'6" XH
R955FX 7'11" XH

Also, did not mention until I read the last post. When Flipping (string in hand) I always start with a #10 butt guide. This will make grabbing the line a little easier.

Highly recommend spiral wrapping and micro guides when done to fit the application. Their are many different ways to spiral wrap and it is possible to use micro guides that are too small especially in slop 4's can get clogged up. You will also want to get some of the heavier micro's. Your custom rod builder should know enough to be able to set you up right.