So I was at APT show yesterday and talked with the guys from Ardent reels. They had a reel specifically for flippin there in their line up. I would like to get more into this style of fishing but I have not really tried it. It makes sense that having a rod dedicated to this style of fishing would be best much like having a cranking rod. But..... I was wondering if you guys have thoughts about a rod/reel set up you recommend to not only learn how to do this, also to last a while with the beating that heavy pitching and flipping can inflict on equipment.

I've been practicing pitching while seated its tough haha. Most of mine are more side armed lobbed but that'll change when i get a standing yak. As far as those reels go, they make scence but I've never had an issue with any plain baitcaster set up correctly. I could see rod length and stiffness being more important

I like the idea of pitching/ flipping, however, do any of you who yak p/f in a seated position, and if so, is there a technique used to do it. I only do it from a bass boat... Sounds like Torpedo goes side arm with a lob... Baitcaster? Spinning reel?

From my kayak I can't pitch or flip very well. My seat sits low and is not adjustable. Wonder if the Jackson or the Native seats from the higher position will allow you to do a better job of it? And I really want to hit a couple of good looking Punch Rig cover spots (thick with lilly pads and vegetation) this summer but that too would be tough from sitting position. I still love to pitch/flip jigs though, so looks like I will need to be upgrading! Getting real interested in those Nutech NuJigs (discussed on TFF and elsewhere) for extreme heavy cover and hook set.

I am fairly sure I could do it sitting down but would get neither the distance or accuracy without a lot of practice.

I pitch and flip from my boat with either hand with good accuracy. I've done it for years and made myself do it with my off hand because of a bout of tendonitis.

You can't flip really from a seated position, but you can do a sidearm pitch which I do frequently when working boat docks. A reel with centrifugal cast control seems to work better than a reel with magnetic cast control-it lets the spool accelerate more quickly.

As far as a rod, I see guys with 90"-96" rods made for flipping, but most of them aren't really tall enough to handle the rod length. I'm 6'4", and I just use a 7' hvy rod. I never felt the need for anything longer. And for pitching, I will use a 7' med to med-hvy unless I'm throwing a heavy jig or punching grass with a 3/4-1 oz weight.

I do it all the time and all it takes is practice. If you like that reel then get it but its not necessary.

Does pitching a fit and flipping off Jet Fleas with either hand while seated count for anything?
I suck at trying to pitch or flip a jig from the yak!

I used to be pretty good at p/f from the yak. I've been fly fishing for about 6 years so I'm going to have to practice to see if I still can. The nice thing about p/f from a yak is you can ease in pretty close so distance is not a huge factor. I'll now have the high seat advantage so I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of difference that makes.

im interested in the nu jigs as well. does anyone carry them locally?

I don't see anywhere to get those NuTech jigs other than his website ( www.NuTechlures.com ) so I am going to bite the bullit and order some (yes I am a tackle-addict, aint afraid to tell the wife either!). Looks like several folks around here have ordered some but haven't heard of any results, but they are pretty new. I can hang a jig on a splinter - or that seems to be my luck so looking forward to testing out how weedless, snagless these are.

I almost never flip from a kayak OR boat. Not sure why. But I would just rather pitch. I pitch a lot from my kayak and I suggest a heavy/fast rod. The reason I like this set up is I'm usually pitching into some sort of cover and I want to really control the fish and not let it get wrapped up. If it dives into grass or gets wrapped around a crossbar on a dock I want enough backbone to pull it out. As for a reel I want something fast like a 7.1:1 reel so I can recover line in a hurry. From a kayak fishing perspective this is the reason I like a kayak I can stand up on comfortably. I can pitch a lot easier standing than sitting. Hope this helps.