Flipping and pitching for is one of the best ways to get your blood pumping. When you feel that line tighten up and you need to yank a lunker out from the water you’ll need the right gear. In this post you’ll find the best reels for flipping and pitching.
Best Reels for Flipping and Pitching
- Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F – Best Overall Value
- Shimano SLX – Best Budget Pick
- Shimano Metanium Dc – Premium Pick
- Abu Garcia Revo Rocket – Fastest Gear Ratio
- Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS – Tournament Ready Value Pick
- 13 Fishing Concept A2 – The New Kid on the Block
Best Reels for Pitching and Flipping
When the heavy grass mats start to grow in the summer or you need to make short cast, flipping and pitching is going to be your best chance to get to those bass. You can get away with any kind of reel, but if you want to be good at flipping or pitching, you’re going to need the right reel.
A good flipping reel manages line well, has a high gear ratio, and is made with high quality materials. Down below you will see our list of reels from different reel manufacturers. We bet our next PB fish that you will find the perfect flipping and pitching reel for you.
1. Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F – Best Overall Value
Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F
$249.99 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $249.99 |
| Line Capacity | 14/100, 16/90 |
| Weight | 6.9oz |
| Max Drag | 12.1 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 7.1:1 |
The Daiwa Tatula Elite P/F Reel is our favorite out of the list. It has a 8.1:1 gear ratio, but also comes in a lower 7.1:1 gear ratio as well. It is a low-profile style reel that fits in the hand. The frame is made out of high quality aluminum that makes it light and durable.
What makes this reel our favorite is this is a true Pitching and Flipping reel. The Magforce brake system was re-engineered to make pitching and flipping easier. It also has a shallow light spool to help with short cast and limit backlashes and birds nest. Everything about this reel is designed for this technique. When it comes to price and quality, this is the reel you want to buy. Pair this with your favorite punching rod and you’ll be catching them in no time.
2. Shimano SLX – Best Budget Pick
Shimano SLX
$89.99 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $99.99 |
| Line Capacity | 10/120, 12/110, 14/90 |
| Weight | 6.9oz |
| Max Drag | 11 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 8.2:1 |
The Shimano SLX is a great budget friendly option for flipping and pitching. You might already have one of these because most people’s first bait casting reel is a Shimano SLX.
With an 8.2:1 gear ratio, it can yank any bass out of the water quickly. It has a durable metal body and compact in size. If you’re looking for a budget options that you can do more than just flipping and pitching with, this is your reel. You can use this reel to fish any kind of bass fishing lure like crankbaits, frogs, and weightless senkos. It’s not only the reel with the best price on this list, it is also the most versatile.
3. Shimano Metanium DC – Premium Pick
Shimano Metanium DC
$499.99 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $499.99 |
| Line Capacity | 10/110, 12/90, 14/75 |
| Weight | 6.7oz |
| Max Drag | 11 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 7.4:1 |
The Shimano Metanium DC is the most jam packed premium reel on this list. It has every bell and whistle. This is basically the Ferrari of the fishing world. With the Hagane (magnesium) body and CI4+ side plate, this reel is durable and light as a feather.
It also comes with the advanced Shimano DC chip that makes sure you don’t backlash even on the shortest of cast. If you’re looking for the premium of premium reels, this is the one for you.
4. Abu Garcia Revo Rocket – Fastest Gear Ratio
Abu Garcia Revo Rocket
$289 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $289 |
| Line Capacity | 175/10 145/12 100/17 |
| Weight | 7.3oz |
| Max Drag | 18 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 10.1:1 |
The Abu Garcia Revo Rocket lives up to it’s name. With a 10.1:1 gear ratio, it is the fastest reel on this list. Abu Garcia is one of the classic brands in bass fishing. When you pick up one of their reels you know you’re buying a reel that has been put to the test.
With a stainless steel handle and stainless steel frame, it has the durability to match the speed. It has 10+1 stainless steel bearings and maxes out at a whopping 18 lbs. of drag. If you’re looking for a fast reel to catch up to those runaway bass, this is the one for you.
5. Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS – Tournament Ready Value Pick
Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS
$159.95 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $159.95 |
| Line Capacity | 12/120 |
| Weight | 6.9oz |
| Max Drag | 20 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 8.3:1 |
The Lew’s Tournament MP Speed Spool LFS reel is perfect for flipping and pitching into those heavy cover areas. With 20 lbs. of drag you will be able to yank anything out of the thickest grass.
It has an aluminum body with graphite side plates for durability and lightness. The combat grips make it easy to reel in your next PB bass. If you’re a Lew’s fan and want to upgrade your casting reel line up with a flipping and pitching one, you’re going to want to pick this one up.
6. 13 Fishing Concept A2 – The New Kid on the Block
13 FISHING Concept A2
$153 Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.| Price | $180 |
| Line Capacity | 12/125 |
| Weight | 7.4oz |
| Max Drag | 25 lbs. |
| Gear Ratio | 8.3:1 |
The 13 Fishing Concept A2 is a powerhouse flipping and pitching reel. 13 Fishing is one of the newer fishing reel manufacturers and they have come out swinging.
The Concept A2 is a full HD Aluminum frame, slide plate, and handle. The Bulldog drag system can be set to a whopping 25 lbs. so it can handle the biggest trophy bass. If you’re looking to try something new and get away from the usual brands, the 13 Fishing Concept A2 is perfect for you.
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Best Fishing Line for Flipping and Pitching
You have your reel, now you need to spool it up with some good line. The best fishing line for flipping and pitching is going to be braided line or fluorocarbon. Both are very sensitive and have minimal or no stretch at all.
When selecting your line, you’re going to want something strong. 20 lbs. test line should be the lightest you go. When you think about the places you will be flipping and pitching you are going to want something that can pull a fish out of heavy cover.
Braided Line for Flipping and Pitching
Depending on how heavy your cover is you can go with heavier line. Braided line is great for almost every flipping and pitching situation. The line is super sensitive and has no stretch. When you set the hook, you will have the best changes of pinning that bass.
PowerPro Spectra Moss Green Braided Line
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.PowerPro is the go-to braided line. It can be found almost anywhere and is quality line. If your water is stained or the cover is very heavy you can stick with straight braid to lure when flipping or pitching. Otherwise you’ll need some Fluorocarbon.
Fluorocarbon for Flipping and Pitching
Fluorocarbon line is great for clear water situations. In areas where you have high visibility you wont be able to get away with straight braid. A fluorocarbon leader is going to be necessary so you don’t spook fish with your line.
Berkley Vanish Fluorocarbon Fishing Line
Buy Now Disclaimer – This website uses affiliate links and get a small commission at no additional cost to you.Berkley Vanish is a quality affordable line. It’s a staple in most anglers tackle box and wont cost an arm and a leg to buy a spool. Tie this with your favorite joiner knot and you’ll be able to flip and pitch into the clearest of water.
Is Monofilament Good for Flipping and Pitching
You’re going to want to stay away from Monofilament. While it is a very durable line, it was too much stretch for flipping and pitching. You’re more likely to get frustrated because of a missed hook set with mono. If you’re flipping or pitching, stick to braid or a braid to fluoro leader.
Best Rod to pair your Reel for Flipping and Pitching
You have your reel, your line, now you need your rod! The best rod for flipping and pitching is going to be a nice heavy rod with a fast action. Most flipping and pitching scenarios involve flipping into heavy cover and you’re going to need a nice stout heavy stick to make sure you can muscle that fish out from whatever it’s hiding in.
Best Reel Gear Ratio for Flipping and Pitching
When it comes to gear ratio, the faster the better. The reason why you want a fast gear ratio is to catch up with a fish. When making short cast into cover, fish tend to swim towards you and away from cover when you set the hook. A fast gear ratio helps you keep tension on the line and keep the fish pinned.
How fast you want to go is totally up to you, but an 8.1:1 gear ratio is a pretty good sweet spot. One thing to keep in mind when deciding on your gear ratio is how much line you take in when you reel in. For most reels on this list you need to turn the handle and reel in some line lock the spool. Super high gear ratio like a 10.1:1 gear ratio, you will bring in more line than with an 8.1:1. You could potentially move your lure out of the strike zone of your bass just by locking the spool.
Best Baitcasting Reel for Flipping and Pitching
Whether you are flipping or you are pitching, we hope you have found the best reel for your flipping and pitching dreams. Go out there and catch a donkey or two and break your PB.
