What is a good handle length for a flipping Rod and why the long size as most are.

Glenn McMurrian

Glenn,
10-11 inches.

Flipping rods are typically long and the longer grip better balances the rod.

be safe

Check out Tackle Warehouse. All handle lengths are listed.

Glenn;
If you are just looking for general info on flipping sticks the advice given so far may suffice. But if looking for info on building one to better serve you. Here are some pointers that will aid in building a rod whcih will perform better you.

mass produced flipping stick handles can be anything up to 15 inches or so.
Using the handle length to better balance a flipping stick is in my opinion the last consideration I would use to archive that, and in fact it would not be a consideration.

The handle length in a flipping stick is solely about rod performance and to achieve that performance, the fist thing you need to consider/determine is; what style of flipper you are, or are building for.
More acuaratley what type of hook setter you/they are when flipping, and how they hold the reel.

Some flippers (myself included) rest the grip under their four arm, both to lesson wrist fatigue and as leverage when setting the hook. I palm the reel, and prefer a split grip, and build so the taper of the back half of the grip rest just past my "Flexor Carpi Muscle". Stopping 1-5/8 inch short of my elbow so the handle does not get caught in my clothing in colder weather. So for me grips measured from back of reel seat are 11-1/4 to 11-1/2 inches.
Depending on your arm length and how you hold the reel, your handles could be longer or shorter.

Other flippers are "belly hook setters" planting the butt of the rod against their belly and using it as a leverage point when setting the hook (Roland Martin and Bill Lowen) use this style as do several others. For some reason I've noticed over the years that anglers with bigger bellies tend to favor this technique more so then slender anglers.

With this style the handle needs be longer at least and inch or two past the elbow final dimensions also depending on how they hold the reel.

As far as length;
Every six inches of rod allows you to flip about a foot further. many anglers will let out about enough line so that the bait rests about even with the reel. so with each 6 inches of rod length you have the six inches of line up the added length and six inches back the added rod length to where bait lines up with reel. a taller person can get away with allowing the bait out further.

For us shorter people allowing the extra line can cause the bait to slap against the boats gunwale screwing up rhythm or worse allowing the jigs hook to grab a rod off the deck slinging it over board leaving you standing there in amazement as your rod disappears into the depths. (and yes that is a personal experience)

Thanks for the great info on the different types of flipping sticks and those specs that you give are dot for dot the same as I use too.

Glenn McMurrian

Great job, Steve.