What makes a good flipping reel?
 

I mean what do I look for in 1 I've always wanted to try flipping just unsure what I should look for in a rod and reel combo.Suggestions?

I would suggest casting rod for almost all flipping situations. I personally finesse flip lightweight jigs with spinning rods, but that is another story.

It really depends on what type of flipping you want to do as far as rod selection goes, but here are some suggestions. I look for heavy strength and light-weight.

Kistler Flippin Stick
Quantum Smoke
Falcon
Shimano Cumara

As far as a reel goes, I prefer high speed for flipping deep and heavy cover because it helps get a quick turn with a good deal of line intake before a hookset. I stick with Quantum reels with a burner.

Flipping rods tend to be long, light as possible, and extra heavy since flipping is usually done in heavy vegetation and the fish will sometimes need to be "horsed" out. The rod really needs to be comfortable for the user so trying a few out in the store is your best bet for finding one with a good fit.

A high quality casting reel is a must for me to pitch with and since I use the same setup for both flipping and pitching, I use a Curado 200e7. Some say that lower ratios allow you to horse them out better, but I have not had any issues with that at all in the past 2 years of doing it. A specialty reel designed specifically for it is the Ardent Flip and Pitch reel which has had great reviews from what I have seen. If I ever go to a specific setup for flipping, that would be my reel of choice.

Any reel will work...the most important thing is that your drag works real good.

My favorite flipping rod..and I flip a ton is a Medium Heavy..however you will need to feel them because all MHs are not the same.if you are on a tight budget ..Walmart carrys a nice Lightning rod..61/2 or 7 foot is my favorite...a light rod with backbone.

When I say any reel..I'm not talking about a closed faced spinning reel...lol
I generally use a reel that doesn't cast that great BUT the drag works great..I have 2 such reels..ab
And both are used for either flipping jigs or worms..they are both loaded with braid..

I also will flip with mono at times...that is risky but I get more hits.

But my favorite is a bait aster...it's nice having that thumb against the spool if needed....also less memory...less line to wrap around stuff..like the reel itself...Openfaced spin casters also have advantages but I believe the bait caster has a few more...including stronger gears to winch out big Bertha...

Today I was caught off guard and left my 4 worm rods home so I was forced to use my spinning outfit to flip..I had braid on the extra spool..I snapped her on and put my Team Diawa 61/2 foot MH and Symetre Shimano to work..I only missed 1

I like to flip for bass as part of my everyday fishing but i like to be able to use the same rod to do a couple of different things. I use a medium heavy rod with a quantum accurist pt and i love that reel. I am actually looking for another one. They are great because it allows you to use a bait caster and what they call a flipping switch so when you want to flip you just hit the switch and when you let off of the bail release it engages right away unlike regular bait casters that you have to give a turn of the handle. Quantum makes a newer version with a flipping switch I would definitely check it out.

Back to my original answer...to each their own here..I,ve grown out of the keeping up with the new fad syndrome.
Lol..use what works best for you..there is no right or wrong..back in the 1980s my wife and I were dirt poor..my flipping rod was a 19.99 Diawa crapville 6 foot spinning rod equipped with a 19.00 Graphite crapville spinning reel..I boated countless bass flipping with that outfit..

Now that mt finances have increased some..I have 13 rods..my favorite.( the one that you can hold for 6 hours) is a rod I bought for 5.00 from a garage sale....a Fenwick Triggerstick..in which I cut off 5 inches from the butt and sanded down to fit my small hand...Medium Heaviys can differ from brand to brand,,this rod is truly a medium heavy..bends at the tip but quickly sets the hook..

The 7 foot Lightning rod I also use actually feels like a heavy..nice for jigs but not to my liking for worms..

Summary,,it's all about feel and what you can afford..I can flip with a Zebco 202 if I had to..when flipping..line and presentation are very important as well?.And to reach in there where the average fishermen thinks"No way",,this is where the hawgs live during the Spawn..in the 10" deep cream of asparagus soup.LOL

I hate to encourage wasting money ...but here is what I used to land most of my flipping fish this year...It's a 79.00 Fenwich Triggerstick..cost me 5.00 at a garage sale and a 150.00 Pfluger President Baitcaster..cast isn't the greatest but the drag is awesome which is crucial when flipping...the line on this one is 20 pound Power Pro..2 years old..I use 4mm glass rattles..note the bulge in the middle of the worm and a red split shot..I hadn't put that on the line yet..sorry...

Yeah, not IMO tho.. Those things are terrible to use.. You should see the mess in mine right now.. LOL I am going to have to cut all the line the heck out of it. It has a knot so darn tight there is no way I can untangle that darn thing. I did that one on a slow troll a couple of weeks ago after a fish hit it.. AAgghhh I wished I never bought that darn thing right now LOL..

Phil...when you get the knot out..just use your baitcaster as a flipping rod..You don't ever have to cast it when you flip..if you have that big of a knot in it your spool is too lose..you need to hold your rod straight out and push the botton on your baitcaster..I can count to 10 before my lure hits the floor..if yours is hitting the floor ssooner it's too loose..now if you ever get good with it maybe sooner than 10..oh heck..let me get my reel and see how fast the lure really does drop..wait right here..

OK ..i apologize..I tried 2 baitcasters...one has an1/8th ounce weight the other a 1/2 ounce crankbait..NEITHER lure drops at all when the button is pushed and both of these reels cast a mile..SO..if your bait is dropping ..tighten up the spool until it stops dropping..

Hope this helps..
C7