anyone use this rod? i'll be flipping cover and punching hyacinth with it. any suggestions to anything better in this price range? any thoughts at all would be appreciated

I've got one but got it late in the season and haven't had much of a chance to try it out, have taken it out but just for small swimbaits and larger t-rigs and it is a great rod for that.  It seems like it would be well suited for flipping and punching too, unless you prefer a longer rod which some do.  The one thing to watch is the action while using braid, it's an XF action and if you fish braid with a tight drag, you can bust some gears or so I have heard.  I got mine from a member here with that very problem.   

yeah i hear that. i gotta have some give when nadine sucks in the bait. and also originally i wanted a longer rod so i think i'm going back to that, with a moderate tip. thanks