7'-10" to 8' flipping stick blank suggestions?

[chris c]

I am looking to have a 7'10" to 8' flipping stick built, and wondering about what blank to go with? I have all my rods built on G Loomis blanks, but you can't get their GLX 7'11" blank, and I don't know that I want to spend $300 on a blank if I could get it. I looked at Mudhole and found the Lamiglas IM956F for about $110 or the Rogue 711FS7C for about $100. I am looking for a strong rod with good sensitivity, and non-telescoping. I will probably put no foregrip and recoil guides on it. Let me know what you guys think.

Also, what do you think is the shortest rear grip I could get away with and still have the rod balance well? I will be mounting a Curado 200E7 on the rod. I would like a 10" rear handle, but don't know if it will be too short. All my other 8' crankbaits rods have an 11" handle, but I feel it will be a little too long on my flipping stick.

Thanks

Chris


Modified by chris c at 10:42 AM 1/11/2009

[PA Officer]

My favorite flipping stick is a Rogue BB796 extened to 8-foot. Beside being the best flipper in my aresenal, it's also the most versital. I can flip with it, throw a frog, swimbaits or even pitch 1/4oz jigs accurately.

Somthing to consider. Extending a blank is easy, and I've never had any problems afterwards.

[Bassn81]

Chris,
What size baits will you be throwing, what size/type of line and what kind of cover will you be flipping?

Of the two you have listed I would go with the Lamiglas. There is nothing wrong with either, I just personally prefer Lamiglas over Rogue.

Another Lamiglas to look at is the IM 92 F, the blank is 7'8", but can easily be extended to 7'10"or 11" without effecting the action/sensitivity of the rod.

Batson makes the IMB944. It is 7'10" Mag Bass rod. that has a sweet tip for working baits. It can easily do duty as a flip/pitch, frog, swimbait, C-Rig rod.

A 10" rear grip is fine of these rods if it is comfortable for you to work. I would recommend that you use a balance system with anything this long. I don't use one for my standard flip stick, but my IMB944 has a balancer on it and it is MUCH more comfortable w/ it. Here is a pic. of the grip on a 944....the grip length is 11.5" on this rod. The balancer is an adjustable kit that I will have available for my rods.