One of the reservoirs where I fish gets covered in lilly pads and other weeds by the time summer rolls around.  I want to try flipping and pitching tubes and other soft plastics in this cover to hopefully find some of the bass there.  What is the best rod, reel and line setup for this application?  I've heard that longer, heavier rods are better.  I've also heard that braid has it's benefits for cutting through the weeds but on the other hand it may be a little to visible for this technique.  Lastly I would imagine there are benefits for both a spinning and a baitcasting setup here.  Which do you all think is best?  Thanks.

more of a pitchin scenerio to me.i have several pitchin rods as i pitch more than cast.my pitchin rods are 7' med. hvy.depeding on cover and water clarity i use 14-25lb. fluoro or 50lb. braid.i'll use the braid around abrasive stuff like reeds,thick laydowns w/ alot of branches,sometimes pads.i prefer the fluoro if i can get away w/it.

flippin for me is a vertical presentation in heavy cover and i use almost always braid 50or 65lbs.on a 7 1/2 hvy rod.

i use only hi speed baitcasters.i want the speed and muscle to get him out before he can wrap me.

At least a 7' heavy rod with a stout reel 50lb braid. Like gatrboy said, horse em out of the thick stuff quickly or they will wrap you up.  JMHO

Ronnie

Currently, I'm using an All Star Big Carolina rod for flipping and pitching, 7'6" heavy action rated at 1/4-2 ounces.  I'm using an old school green shimano curado spooled with 65lb power pro.  Here in FL, just about everything is heavy cover.

Looks like braid is the general concenus then.  Makes sense for strength but when presentation is as important as it is with flipping is braid too visible in the water?  

I belive me that when your fishing heavy cover you don't worry about the line. I belive it blends it to the weeds. I have a buddy that fishes clear lakes with 50lb braid. Her gets more bites then me most of the time.

That's true, I guess the green colored braided line would blend in with all the cover.  

I don't like braid.  Admittedly, I haven't used the newer lines but I don't think that matters.  I fish 2 primary conditions, rocks and heavy wood.  Braid doesn't hold up any better (or as well) as XT in the rocks and when I can't get to a pitched bait that is hung up, I can break it if I have to but it's strong enought that a fish rarely breaks it.  

I do carry a spare spool loaded with power pro but have never had to put it on.  

Another thing to keep in mind is that braid can be hard on rods and reels when used at close range... be sure to set your drag light enough (properly) to prevent damage/breakage from a close in hookset.  

i use a 7' heavy falcon cara w/ a new 7.1 curado and 17-20 lb mono.  i just don't like using braided line.  

I also use braid for pitching soft plastics, Sufix 50 on a TD-Z 105 and a BCR 844.