Could Use Some Pitching Help...

[Kenneth Lee Owen]

I've been working on learning two new techniques. Pitching and skipping. While the skipping is something I would like to know, the pitching is becoming more and more important, especially with the condition of the lakes around me (heavy heavy vegetation everywhere). I recording myself practicing in my yard but I seem to be having the same problems. I'm not getting more than about ten feet of distance and the bait doesn't stay to low to the ground, so it isn't exactly quiet when it hits the water. If you can spot a flaw with my technique if you could point it out to me that would be much appreciated, or just letting me know I'm on the right track would be good as well.

http://vimeo.com/50080217

[kylek]

watch this video from Glenn. It has some great tips

 

[buzzfrog]

Practice, seems your doing it, the above vids should help. 90% I do it like a pro but sometimes I just screw up, it flys like a kite lol... Practice practice

[Loop_Dad]

It looks like you are getting more than 10 ft and you at least look like you know what you are doing. Looks is important in fishing

I'm still practicing myself so use this at your own risk.. but a couple of things I didn't realize first but helped me. 1. Loosen the break a lot for distance. 2. Position the wrist higher. 3. Have a bit shorter line out than generally recommended length of 'lure by the reel'. 2 & 3 will lets you shoot out lower without going up. Hope you get more tips. I'm interested too.

[Kenneth Lee Owen]

Thanks everyone for the helpful hints. I had already seen a few of those videos, but that last one had a lot of info. I'm thinking from what he said it might be a really good idea since I'm still learning, to switch hands so I can be set up for a fast hook set. Got me thinking it might be beneficial to learn to cast with the other hand too so that I can start my retrieve faster. Good points and I thank everyone for their comments. I'll keep practicing.

[Brian Needham]

when I frst started pitching I was lucky because I hold my rod in my left hand and crank with right hand.so I dont have to switch hands......Denny Brauer says he owes much success to being left handed, lol.

by your vid I would say this:

1. practice to a bucket at different distances

2.you seem to be "Throwing" it some......dont do that, make a nice fluid motion and prehaps raise your "rod wrist" higher

3. loosen all cast controls as mush as possible

4. let the bait fall out of your hand as much as possible. IE let the rod drag the bait out of your hand, I actaully held the bait in an open palm when I first learned.

5. understand you are practicing on land and it seems real high in the air...........when you are on a boat it wont, or at least you will be able to correct "release point" quickly on the water. I always practice standing on about a 1 foot tall stool or similar.

6. practice everyday for 2 weeks and it will be second nature in no time........I always used to do this everytime I had an extra 5 mintues I would make 10-20 pitches. and I need to start back , LOL

7. you wll be amazed when you het the hang of it how you can use your rod tip to "steer" the bait mid air.....LOTS OF PRACTICE needed here.

GOOD LUCK, you will be slipping jigs in the water without ripple in no time flat.

[Kenneth Lee Owen]

Thanks Brian for those tips. I'll definitely put those into practice. On a side note, I've noticed that a lot of the people in videos are using medium heavy, 7ft or longer poles for this type of technique, especially when dealing with heavy cover. I didn't know much about rods and reels when I purchased the two I have now, which are abu garcia black max rod and reel combos. The rods are only 6'6" mediums which sounds to me that they lack the backbone to really get good hook sets when dealing with the heavy cover and they definitely can't hold the line strengths that I need. It also seems that people are saying the longer poles make pitching easier. I happened to be in walmart earlier (i know, not the best place to get specialty gear but I'm broke) and I found a fairly inexpensive rod (Berkley Lighting Rod) which was a 7' medium heavy for only $40. Question is, would this be a decent rod to start off with for this type of fishing? I would be more than likely placing one of the black max reels on it for now until I could afford a third reel.

[Nitrofreak]

When I started I had it all wrong when I got to the boat, Brian hit the nail on the head in my opinion but the vids are awsome advice as well.

I did a couple of things that I still do today just to keep practicing.

1 I stand on the seating area of a picnic table, I used to step forward just like you did in the vid, all that did was raise my trajectory and rock the boat at the same time.

It looks like much farther than any 10 feet, and it is, if you count how many times you crank that handle, you need to work different distances if you wish to get proficient at pitching and flipping, not all of your pitching is going to be long distance and your flipping will definatly not be.

2) As far as targets are concerned I started with a 5 gal bucket as suggested, but I then moved to other targets, pcv pipe, and worked my way smaller to coffee cups, one rod one reel is dedicated to my pitching, I use a longer rod to get the maximum pendulum motion I can get without having to move much at all.

Practice as much as you wish to in your yard it does help a good bit, but nothing beats being on your boat, work it as much as you can when you get the chance to be out there.

Good luck and be safe !!!

[WRB]

Ken,

You really need at least a 7'6" medium/hvy pitching rod, the reel is OK with 50-65 lb superbraid. You can get by with 20-25 lb mono, but 30 lb superbraid is difficult to handle with your fingers when pitching.

Your current tackle is too short and too slow of an action to pitch accurately and accuracy with low trajectury is why you pitch in the first place.

The problem with buying a rod from EBay etc, is the shipping cost are $35+ , you would be better saving your money and watching for a good deal locally.

Another option is to learn the roll,or loop cast, depending on what the cast is called in your area. The cast is basically making the lure do a 360 loop with a wrist motion, keeping the lure near the water surface and controlling a soft accurate landing. With a little practice you can hit a 6" target at 25-30' consistantly and use the same tackle you have. Hank Parker uses this casting motion a lot, I am not sure where a vedio is, but someone should be able to add a link.

I do a lot of horizontal jigging, see the post, and sometimes make loop casts when the situation requires it and use my standard jig tackle, not a pitching or flipping heavy rod. Just another technique you may want to add, it comes in handy at times.

Tom

[merc1997]

kenneth

i watched the video that you put up, and here are some things that i feel will help. the first thing that i noticed is you need to loosen your spool tension. it is way too tight. the next thing that i noticed is your follow through. when you raise your rod tip way up as you are doing. it will tend to make your bait go up in the air just as it is doing. your release point is not too far off, but you need to learn how to roll your wrist more. the roll and snap of your wrist is where you generate your power. i had a very bad wrist injury back in 2004. the joint in my wrist was crushed, and i do not have normal flex in it anymore. it took me over 5 years of very hard work to get enough strength in that wrist to compensate for the lost range of motion to be able to pitch adequately again. just keep practicing. here are a couple more tips. start out with something like a 1/2 oz. jig with a trailer on it. the heavier weight will help you get some length in your pitch. put out targets at various distances. remember to follow through at your target, keep the rood tip low. practice tom's roll cast too. it is also very effecient and accurate. would you do me a favor, and post another video after you have been practicing some so i can see how you are doing?? i will promise you that your practice will pay off.

bo

[Brian Needham]

also, IDK how much equpment really plays. Reason I say that I think your 66 med will be fine. Are you going to be pitching 1/2 jigs with a big trailer into a tree top with that set up? NO you wont, but you can pitch 1/4 oz with worms, tubes, lots of stuff to stumps, shoreline trees, docks ect.

I "pitch" a spinnerbait alot of times myself on a 3 power rod(dobyns 733) and I know lots of guys who use a 66 med for spinnerbaits. I have also "hauled" 4 pounders off a cypress tree base with that same rod.

learn the WAY to do it and when you have extra cash pick up a rod that will allow you to pitch heavier baits to heavier cover.

just my opinion.

[K_Mac]

Kenneth I will add my thoughts, worth exactly what they cost... At one time I thought I was pretty good at pitching. I now fish regularly with a guy who is a master, and now know I am not that good...I have learned a thing or two watching him pitch silently into impossible spots though. Holding the rod a bit to the side will give you the ability to move more fluidly. The "roll and snap of your wrist" as alpha jig says, is really where the magic happens. Lowering your tip a bit more, then raising it a little while rolling and snapping your wrist will generate speed, producing distance. Following through and lowering the tip as your bait touches down will help give you more quiet entries into the water, and greater accuracy. Done right the bait never gets over a foot or so above the water. This is not easy to do and takes a lot of practice. I recommend laying a five gallon bucket on its side and trying to pitch silently into it. One reason Dave purchased a new Nitro was the deck is very close to the top of the rail, allowing him to keep the bait lower as it leaves the boat.

As far as rod selection is concerned, as with most things regarding fishing tackle, it often comes down to personal preference. I Use a 7' M-XF most of the time. When pitching under trees, docks, and other things that will drive you to distraction and cause you to improve your backlash removal skills, I use a 6'6" M-F. In heavy cover a 7' MH-F rated to one ounce is my choice. If I had Redlinerobert's money I would have an NRX 803 and 854 JWR, and a GLX 895 FPR. Dave has the GLX versions of these rods, including the new flipping stick, and in his hands they are worth a million bucks. My stuff is not nearly as high-end but I manage to get lucky from time to time. Use what you have, and add what you can afford. It's all good. Good luck.

[Kenneth Lee Owen]

Thanks again everyone to the many tips. You have been most helpful and I will get right on adding these tips to my practice. Alpha Jig I will post another video like you asked after I've had some practice. Again everyone, thanks very much.