Pitchin'

[Chaz Hickcox]

So I am finally getting the hang of this flippin thing. I was prefishing for a tournament today and had a heck of a lot of bites. In the past I had caught a fish or two on jigs and pitching t-rigs, but nothing I could call a pattern or that would give me confidence. Well today, after about 5hrs of work it until I die mindset with a brush hawg I brought four fish on the boat in a 10 min period that I think I have it down (when prefishing I don't fill up the boat, I find a pattern I can replicate more than once then go home as to not have the fish grow weary of my presentation).

Now my question is to those veterans of flipping and pitching - When you get those really jerky strikes that feel very weak, but there's definitely something taking your bait, is that a bass? Those that I caught today took the hawg and darn near swallowed them immediately. It seems to me those other hits could have been bream or white perch, but I'm not sure. Also, the brush hawg, what hook is better? I initally texposed the point on a straight shank worm hook, but I kept having a lot of strikes that would chew up the worm, but never set the hook. Then I took a 4/0 Red Gammy EWG and skin hooked the point. With that rig I landed four (And the Hawg lasted for four fish). Was that a hook issue, or a size of fish biting issue? Then, what's a good way to keep backlash out of the reel while still having enough give to allow you to flip more than five feet? Thanks.

[YNCBASSMAN]

what size weight?  what size line?  when flipping and pitching, i turn my magnets as high as they will go and keep the spool tension pretty loose.  it allows for distance but keeps the overruns at a minimum.  when using brush hogs i put them on a shaky head, it helps them stand up once they are through the grass.

[K_Mac]

I pitch a full size brushhog frequently later in the season. A 4/0 or 5/0 EWG is what I use. I think that you are probably right about the little pecking bites. Bluegill are very ambitious, and will try to eat baits bigger than they are.

Pitching is what your talking about when it comes to reel adjustment/backlashing.  I usually have the spool tension fairly loose with not much braking, and use a lot of thumb. In flipping the reel only comes into play after the hookset.

[Catt]

Some of the lightest strikes will be your biggest bass

With a Baby Brush Hog I us a 2/0 straight shank round bend hook & a 4/0 with the Brush Hog

"Then, what's a good way to keep backlash out of the reel while still having enough give to allow you to flip more than five feet?"

A well educated thumb!

[Chaz Hickcox]

Some of the lightest strikes will be your biggest bass

With a Baby Brush Hog I us a 2/0 straight shank round bend hook & a 4/0 with the Brush Hog

"Then, what's a good way to keep backlash out of the reel while still having enough give to allow you to flip more than five feet?"

A well educated thumb!

Well my thumb learned that today.  Finally figured out that part.  Also, pitching, flipping, same concept just one goes further.  You're right though, I should have named this properly.   For the water temp and the fact it's being churned up by a lot of strong wind today we didn't have any light hits.  Everything that got hit got engulfed.  Unfortunately there were a bunch that got around some knees and threw the hooks though.  No pecking hits today.  Seemed to still do better with a red Gammy EWG 4/0 (full size brush hawg though).  Thanks for the input everyone.

[Chaz Hickcox]

what size weight?  what size line? when flipping and pitching, i turn my magnets as high as they will go and keep the spool tension pretty loose. it allows for distance but keeps the overruns at a minimum. when using brush hogs i put them on a shaky head, it helps them stand up once they are through the grass.

3/8oz, 15lb trilene flouro

[The Bassinator]

I was fishing a jig the other day in a clear rocky lake and I only got one hit where i could feel the tap tap. I hooked him but he got off less then five feet away from me  :'(  I think most times the machine gun hits or the times when you feel the taps but you set the hook only to have the lure come flying at you are bluegills. They just cant resist bitin the tails of baits.

[ChazfromVA]

i would defintiely go with the 4/0 EWG... but suicide where are you fishing at? looks like your not far from me..

[river-rat]

Couldn't agree with Catt more. I use the same riggings. As for the backlashing - I turn off all the magnets and rely strictly on my thumb.

[Hammer 4]

The biggest fish I got on brush hogs usually just inhale the bait it seem like, could hardly feel anything except, what felt like a very slight bump on my line, rather than the bait..When in doubt, set that hook..

[phoneman]

The biggest fish I got on brush hogs usually just inhale the bait it seem like, could hardly feel anything except, what felt like a very slight bump on my line, rather than the bait..When in doubt, set that hook..

x2

[phoneman]

set it like you hate it