backpain...

Read all you can, ask questions, and take your time. You will be glad you did.

X2 I have fished with everything from the Carbon Steel series to the LTX2 with the and have not been dissapointed with any of their rods.

Should work fine, might be a bit heavier than the mainstream rods but should do just fine for cranking.

Now THAT is a bass pic! I am of the mindset that the picture is to capture the memory, not to bragg about a fish. I want to be able to look at that picture later on and relive the fun and thrill of the catch. I will never get a fish mounted, so a good photo even if "long armed" and who knows, maybe even seems to get bigger with time... so much the sweeter. It means that the memory is still simmering and getting richer--bolder with time. Maybe one day I will not be able to fish, and all I will have are the memories. Let them simmer! 8-)

Same fish different angles? looks like a trick question to me.

If it is your first flipping stick, a 7' heavy would not at all be a bad choice. Because it is a touch shorter it would make true flipping a wee bit shorter due to the rod length. However, it would help you a whole lot in the control and accuray department. Kind of like learning to ski on shorter skis and getting longer ones later for speed, or starting out golf on only irons and geting the woods when you have the swing under control... basicly it would help you get the fundamentals of accuracy and presentation down strong, and you would be surprised how accurate you could be in tight quarters with a 7' rod. In the end resulting in more fish. As you progress, a longer rod would give you more distance, and you would be able to control it. It is HUGE in flipping and pitching to present the bait correctly. You can't get to the hookset if the fish scatter when you present the bait. I have a 7'6" Kistler LTA that I use as my "flipping/pitching stick". But I also have a 7' Heavy carbon Steel that I would not hesitate to use in the same cover as its bigger cousin. In fact I plan on keeping a finesse soft plastic rigged on it for flipping after the jig/larger presentation if I don't get bit on the jig. It is a ton easier to get the soft quiet entry with the shorter rod. Again, the trade off is you have to get a wee bit closer to do a traditional flip because of the length difference. On clearer waters, I often use a 7' heavy for flipping simply because I have to stay farther away and downsize lures anyway and get skip flips underneath of overhangs and docks rather than the traditional flip. The shorter stick makes all of the difference when finesse is the order if the day. To make a long post short, if it is going to be your starter flipping/pitching rod a 7' prodigy would probably work out just fine for this season. And next season, or later in the year as opportunity presents itself you could get a longer flipping stick if you desire.

You can use it. And decide for yourself if you need any more juice.

I would get a 7'2" Kistler Carbon Steel Frog n Slop, or a 7'6" Vandetta Heavy flipping stick.

If I were to be limited to only one baitcasting combo I might cry. But I would think I would want a 7' MH with a fast taper and good backbone. I have used one for just about every application at one time or another. I would spool it with 15lb 100% flourocarbon.

I have never fished one, but that has been my impression as well. On the other hand I know a guy on another forum that has switched all of his rods to them and says they are plenty strong.

I recently switched to an arsenal of all non foregrip rods, and have noticed a huge difference in sensitivity. But I moved from Berkley lightnings and the like to a higher quality rod. I am sure that has a lot to do with it. But having used the non foregrip rods, I would not even consider buying a rod with a foregrip for any kind of "feel" fishing.

The first thing to do is measure the floor of the boat at it's widest point. This will tell wether or not decking it will be a problem. I have a Lowe 1467, which is 48" (I believe) at the widest point of the floor. Mine is perfectly stable for two people to fish out of with a front and rear deck at the bench top level. Lowe offers 1467s with casting decks, a floor with no middle bench, and the like so with proper bracing it can be safely done, I wasn't comfortable doing so personally. My point is this, do your homework. Use common sense. Test your design with a temporary template and see what it does. Pay close attention to capacity limits, and remember that no matter what you do to it it will never be a "bigger bass boat" so you always have to be careful and wise in your use of the boat.

My aluminum boat seats are 15" wide. I am going to guess 5#s. Do you have any measurements, or a weight I am just curious. See if we have anyone close.

I think I have to agree.

I personally have 4 Carbon steel rods I purchased through a January promotion where I got $40 off each one. I can't wait to get them on the water! My brother converted me to a Kistler man over the past few years. I could not believe the sensitivity every time he would let me borrow one of his rods. I finally got one for myself last summer, and now I own 6 of them. I had to use the warranty once, and it was fairly painless. Ended up with a brand new next years model rod.

I agree with the faster reel on the frog setup. It is always good to be able to take in line quck on a topwater bait. They are making some new baits for fishing the slop that a fast ratio will help as well. I forget the name of the bait, but strike king is putting it out is is almost like a texas rigged soft plastic zara spook. If it were me, I would try them both out in each application and see which one shows itself better suited to the technique. Unless of course there is an obvious difference in the sensitivity area. As far as strength, sensitivity, and backbone I can attest that the kistler has plenty of each to be a great flipping stick. My first fish on mine was a 30" Musky that grabbed my jig in the timber. I thought it was the biggest bass of my life til we got it near the boat and it went ballistic splashing water everywhere. That rod took it with ease.

I used to have a Kistler Carbon Steel 7'3" Heavy Frog and slop I used as a flipping stick up until I got a Helium for my birthday. So I know it does a good job pitching and flipping, and it had good sensitivity as well. I would take the one with the most sensitivity and feel to use for flipping and pitching. The frog rod doesn't need quite the finesse as a flipping stick does for feeling the light bites. I have never used a vandetta, so I can't say as to which would be that one.

I have used both, and they are extremely good.

I have two of them, my wife got them for me for Christmas in 08'. I got the F series Heavy 1 piece 7'. The rods seem strong, but I can hoestly say I have never fished them much simply because of how heavy the things are.

Cut the hook off an old jig and call the family pet. ;D

That is just insane.

Remembering as I motor away from the dock that I forgot my new license.

If the fish are active enough to eat a 'shakey head' that is heavy enough to warrant a H rod, I'll fish with something much more efficient. At least up here, I'll only go up to 1/8 oz. X2 If they are even remotely active enough to take anything else I am throwing a texas rig or a jig into the heavier cover on a baitcaster. I am not a big finesse guy, but if I have to I am going very small with a robo worm on a spot remover. I currently have a 6'6" berkley lightning spinning rod with a penn spinning reel. I am crossing my fingers to be able to get a 6'9" medium action Kistler LTA soon though.

I wonder how these would compare to Kistlers carbonsteel series of blanks. They use the pac bay reel seats and guides as well. I have a vested interest in this subject as I am about to upgrade my rods this season from the berkley lightnings and am taking a close look at the BPS CL, Abu Vandetta, Mojo bass, and the Kistler CarbonSteel. Are there any others in the ~$100 range I should also take a close look at?

Give Kistler a try. I was given an 08' LTA flipping stick for my birthday in Oct, and never registered because it was my first Kistler. On my third outing with the rod I tried to pop a hung jig off of a limb and the tip literally fell of as if it had been cut. My frst response from Kistler was not to my likeing but when I pressed the issue a little they honored their warranty. I paid $50 for the replacement (a 2010 LTA) shipping included. I recently got an email from them expressing their sorrow that I had a problem with one of their products with an offer for 50% an 2010 LTA of my choice for my troubles. Not at all a bad experience. Just remember to register the rod once you buy it on their website, that is why I initially had the response I wasn't too fond of.