Dear friends,

I've to build a flipping rod for a friend. I'll use a G.Loomis blank (Flipping Stick, FS904X). Are there differences in grip lengths, number/kind of guides or the way they are distributed over the blank,...?

I've never seen one of these rods...

Thanks,


Daniel

The rear grip on a flipping stick depends on the person using it and what he likes, it usually falls between 8 and 11 inches for me. My personal preference is 8 to 9 inches depending on the blank. The first guide/wraps from the reel is set just outside the collapsed length of the rod. The rest are set as per the static distribution method discribed in the library article above.
The handle length is easy to figure out, just tape everything up temporarily and have the customer move the reelseat back and forth on your temporary arbors until he finds the swing point/ fishing point he likes. It helps to have them flip from a chair or something else that gets them up off the lawn when doing this.

Daniel,
I would say a typical flip stick has a rear grip between 9-11 inches. I personally use a 10" rear grip, and that is usually a good comprimise for length. I too prefer the spiral wrap on my flipers, but it is not really necesary, just personaly preference. I use either the Fuji concept charts, or the Forhan equal distance chart for a starting place with my guides, and then tweak from there. For a 7'6" spiral I usually end up with 9 guides. As for the type of guides, for a spiral I have been using a double foot 12, then the rest single foot flys in 10, 8, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, 7, +tip. I suppose you could easily use size 6 guides, I just dont think they look balanced with the size of the blank. If you are building it conventional with guides on top, the fuji chart is a pretty good place to start.

Scott Sheets

p.s. both charts are on www.georgescustomrods.com in his articles section.

Serioiusly consider using a spiral wrap on your flippin' rod! I just finished one up for a bass tournament friend of mine. I used the Simple Spiral as shown in the last issue of Rodmaker and this guy says it is the very best flippin' stick he's ever used. He also mentioned that he no longer has the tip telescoping section twisting loose as it did on his earlier spiral rods.

One last thing, you can't put the butt guide any closer than where the blank is when the rod is in the collapsed state. So collapse it and mark the location so you don't put the butt guide so close that you can't collapse the rod!

One other thing about collapsible rods. If you plan your guide spacing with the rod fully extended, and find that the butt guide would be to close to the reel seat you can simply take a length of round foam and insert it into the extension peice from the rear so the rod can only collapse soo far. I had a quarrow flip stick that was done this way, I found it when I broke the rod and dissasembled it. It makes a heck of alot of sense. You can still collapse the rod, you protect the butt guide, and you can still do a good distribution of your guides without worry.

Scott Sheets