I am going to be building a flipping stick and want to use glass but is there any difference between a Extra Heavy one piece glass flipping stick and a one piece Extra Heavy glass casting blank it does not need to be a telescoping blank.

any other suggestions

I need both heavy and extra heavy blank suggestions

Glenn McMurrian

Hi Glenn,
I think the short answer would be no. Assuming the the two glass blanks had similar specs they could be used for whichever application the angler preferred. Anglers are very particular about the type of flipping stick(s) they use. The desired powers seem to be fairly consistent, but the actions folks want for flipping are all over the place in my experience. I'm curious, why do you prefer glass for your particular flipping style? As far as suggestions from our lineup, you might check out the models below. I hope this helps out.

REVFS76MH and XH (graphite option, catalog page 32)
SPG845 or GCB710's (all-e glass options, catalog page 58)
JDGCB710's (RX7/S glass hybrid option, catalog page 42)

-The Batson TEAM
BatsonEnterprises.com

Hello Glenn - Since Mud Hole Custom Tackle is located in Florida, we know all about flipping heavy vegetation. Glass blanks are going to be much heavier in the hand. A Glass rod blank can be very tiring compared to well balanced graphite rod blank. Here is a link to a very well rounded selection of some of the very best flipping blanks on the market [www.mudhole.com] Thank You

Bob McKamey
Mud Hole Custom Tackle
bobm@mudhole.com

I have to agree with Bob, if ever there were a technique that called for a light well balanced rod, it's flipping. If flipping is your main presentation for the day, you're going to make hundreds and hundreds of presentations. The more tip heavy the rod, the more fatiguing it's going to be.

As far as Geoff's comment on the actions anglers prefer for flipping being all over the place, I would completely agree with that as well. I have 3 rods that I use for flipping and pitching. One has an extra fast action, one a fast action, and one a mod fast action. I have to admit that I used to think that an extra fast action was the way to go, but I find myself using the rod with the mod fast action more and more often. Especially on lakes that are known for having bigger fish. I just feel more confident with the mod fast action when I have a big fish on, than I do with a faster action blank.

I will say that I still believe a fast or extra fast action rod is better for moving fish on the hook set, and that is why the moderate fast action rod I have has substantially more power than the rods I use that have faster actions. I feel the added power makes up for the slower loading blank.

NO WAY I would glass for flipping.
First being the weight factor mentioned above.

Second and equality important is the lack of sensitivity glass has compared to graphite.

You can choose the action you like, but you will land more of the fish you hook with a moderate fast action.

I just like glass for my larger crank baits.

Glenn McMurrian

The first production flipping stick was on an S-glass saltwater blank, non- telescoping, 7 1/2 ft long, though Dees' original was much longer, bass tournament rules shorte?n to rods, now they are allowed long rods again.

I always liked the telescopic version of the fliping rod..the larger heavier bottom section kept the rod in balance even with a big jig and pig..making a flip seemed automatic because of the balance..

You don't balance a flipping rod or really any rod used for slack and semi slack techniques with the weight of the bait you're throwing with it in mind ..... you find your balance point with a slack or semi slack line in mind. The weight of the butt section of a telescoping rod most likely is heavy enough (depending on the total length of the rod) to make the rod balance tip light with no weight, or the weight of just line hanging off the end. Because the rod is tip light it is takes less effort to accelerate the rod tip. It's actually that, that makes flipping and pitching with a tip light rod, a breeze.

I have a rod I added 2.375 oz too so that it would balance tip light. It's actually extremely tip light. It's balance point is pretty much right at the forward tip of the reel's foot. It is an absolute gem to fish with. It feels heavy if you pick it up in a vertical position, but as soon as you move it to a fishing position the feeling of the added weight goes away, and it actually feels lighter.

Yes! what David said only more better..lol.