Pitching With Spinning Rig?

[Silas]

I have lots of baitcasters and love them all!  But I have not learned to pitch, and with all the cover I fish on the bayou, I need to start.

 

  While trying to learn to pitch on the baitcaster, I just didn't do well with the "flipping" of the wrist to get the bait out low.  And it seemed with all of the great reels I have (Pixy, Alpha, Steez) it should go well.  But it doesn't.  I'm a little up in age and seems my wrist has a hard time doing that motion.

 

Therefore, I was thinking that Pitching with a Spinning outfit should be way easier.  But I really have NO idea.

 

So I want to know for you guys who DO pitch with a spinning outfit, how goes it with you for that particular purpose?

 

I'll be fishing mostly in a small bayou with lighter baits....nothing over 1/2 oz, and water from 2-12 feet most often.

 

I already have a 15 year old white pearl Stradic 1000FE and an old Spirex 2000.   But I want ONE really good spinning outfit and I've just about decided to splurge and get a Shimano Twinpower C3000.  After looking at all the stats, that's the one I want.  I'll probably set it up with a Dobyns Champion rod.

 

I'll be using it for jerkbaits, worms, cranks, of course.....but I REALLY want to know if I can PITCH WELL with it.

 

Thanks in advance for your comments.  Sometimes old dogs CAN learn a few new tricks!! LOL!

[BradGuenette]

This guy amazes me everytime I watch the video.

[OkeechobeeAngler]

I like using a spinning set up for pitching/flipping ponds while bank fishing. Do it pretty similar to he above video. Go for it, you'll like it. 

[papajoe222]

I too, have been unable to master pitching with a baitcaster because of the way you need to hold the rod.  I have a bum shoulder and any task that involves extending my arm out at shoulder level results in the task not being completed.  I'm getting back into using spinning gear more and more and have tried pitching with my elbow against my side. The resulting cast didn't meet with my expectations as the lure traveled in a slight arc and even with feathering the spool, it wasn't as accurate.

[Silas]

Wow!  What a great video!  Looks pretty easy!  Guess you  have to practice the "feathering."  sort of like the "educated thumb" on baitcasters.

 

Wonder why he pitches with his LEFT hand and switches?  Seems like if the reel handle is on the left, you could just pitch with the RIGHT and keep the rod in that hand instead of switching.

[fadetoblack21]

Wow!  What a great video!  Looks pretty easy!  Guess you  have to practice the "feathering."  sort of like the "educated thumb" on baitcasters.

 

Wonder why he pitches with his LEFT hand and switches?  Seems like if the reel handle is on the left, you could just pitch with the RIGHT and keep the rod in that hand instead of switching.

 

I learned how to pitch with a spinning reel and found it quite easy compared to learning on my new baitcaster. Guess it's just a matter of practice.

 

As for your question I'm gonna answer with another question. Why do so many people with a baitcaster cast with their right and then switch the rod to their left to reel with their right hand? It's a matter of whats comfortable for the user.

[HeavyDluxe]

I pitch holding the bait in my left hand (reel handle side) and catch the line under the pointer finger of my right/rod hand (just like I would for casting).  Flipping is the same, except I just use my left hand to manage the extra line...  I just watched a baitcasting video and played around with different attempts to copy what I saw until something was accurate and comfortable.  

 

If I position my hands well on the rod, I can also do a little line feathering at entry with my rod hand.  Not nearly so elegant in that department as thumbing a baitcaster, but good enough for my applications.

[Darren.]

Silas, there's no reason you can't pitch with the gear you have. I pitch with Stradic 1000FI reels all the time. Can be done with great success.

[SirSnookalot]

I just flick it backhanded.

[Silas]

Silas, there's no reason you can't pitch with the gear you have. I pitch with Stradic 1000FI reels all the time. Can be done with great success.

 

You have a good point Darren!   I really don't NEED another reel.  I guess I just really WANT a GREAT spinning reel at this point.  I love my Stradic 1000FE....ultra smooth.  But I want to keep it on a finesse rod and use it for crappie and 3" wacky worms.  And, of course, to LOAN to my brother and brother in law, who neither brings ANYTHING when we go fishing.  I really don't mind, buy they tend to tear up equipment right and left!!

    What rod are you pitching with the Stradic1000?

I went to a little local rod/reel store this morning and he had some old discontinued Challenger spinning rods....selling them at $39 each.  Said they were originally about $130.  Company shut down and he had lots of them.  Looking at the 6'9" Medium/Heavy for the Twinpower C3000.  Pretty cheap.....but I'll keep looking.

    Feeling better now that I know that SOME people pitch with spin outfits.  The guy at the rod/reel shop says he does it sometimes but is not very accurate.  Apparently I have to learn to "feather" the line. 

[flyfisher]

I pitch with spinning gear all the time and it is plenty accurate.  Everyone says you are more accurate with baitcasters but i disagree, they are both equally accurate once you learn how to use both.  The key is featheringhte line with either your off hand or a finger on your pitching hand.  I use both methods and both work to slow the bait down enough to limit splashing upon entry.  Also the quality of hte reel won't make to much of a difference when pitching but it is important to have a balanced set up based on how you hold the rod.

[Teal]

I just flick it backhanded.

I do that alot also when im using spinning gear.

[Darren.]

You have a good point Darren!   I really don't NEED another reel.  I guess I just really WANT a GREAT spinning reel at this point.  I love my Stradic 1000FE....ultra smooth.  But I want to keep it on a finesse rod and use it for crappie and 3" wacky worms.  And, of course, to LOAN to my brother and brother in law, who neither brings ANYTHING when we go fishing.  I really don't mind, buy they tend to tear up equipment right and left!!

    What rod are you pitching with the Stradic1000?

I went to a little local rod/reel store this morning and he had some old discontinued Challenger spinning rods....selling them at $39 each.  Said they were originally about $130.  Company shut down and he had lots of them.  Looking at the 6'9" Medium/Heavy for the Twinpower C3000.  Pretty cheap.....but I'll keep looking.

    Feeling better now that I know that SOME people pitch with spin outfits.  The guy at the rod/reel shop says he does it sometimes but is not very accurate.  Apparently I have to learn to "feather" the line. 

I'm using Shimano Compre rods (previous gen), and awaiting (today) delivery of an Avid 6'3" MLXF rod. The longest spinning rods I have are 6'3".

For $39, those rods sound great. Question is, how'd they feel in your hand?

Yeah, feathering the line, or palming the spool/feather line works just fine. As a kayak fisherman, I really have no accuracy issues with the spinning rods. I tend to pitch in fairly close quarters, no probs.

[Flukeman]

I have a friend who only uses spinning rods and has qualified for 15 state teams. He finished top 3 in 3 bassmaster events, winning a boat in one. So you could definitely pitch with a spinning rod. I think the set up you are looking at will work out fine.

[HeavyDluxe]

I'm a n00b, admittedly, but...  The more I look at the advances in modern lines and modern spinning reels, the more I am convinced that you can really use spinning setups for just about everything nowadays.  

 

There's shortcomings there, but the same is true of baitcasting reels.  It really comes down to what feels best to you (in general) and what specific tactics you might use more than others.  With practice, you can pull off just about anything.

[K_Mac]

When pitching with a spinning combo I use basically the same motion as I do when using a baitcaster. I have better control holding the bait in my left (rather than the line) and using a backhand snap of my wrist.  With a spinning reel I usually use the index finger on my right hand to feather the line as it touches down, much the same as my thumb on a baitcaster. I do sometimes the use my left hand to do the same. I was once better with my spinning rigs than baitcasters. The last couple of years that has reversed  but with practice either one works very well.

 

As far as tackle needed is concerned it really depends on what you prefer. For the techniques you mention, I would go with a 6'6"-7' M/XF rod rated in the 1/4-1/2 oz range. 

[Silas]

I'm feeling more and more confident now!  I like the idea of the "back flick" and also I've done the "feathering" with dropping my index finger on the lip of the spool to slow it down.  And I see, that I can now use my handle hand to get even more control.

 

    I went back and looked at the Challengers and put a Stradic 2500 on it at the shop and absolutely hated the top of the all metal reel seat with all of the threads under my casting hand rubbing.  So, that ones out. Maybe that's why they didn't sell well in the first place.

 

   Saw a Veritas that I liked pretty well.  Will keep a lookout for some good buys. 

 

Ordered the Twinpower a couple of days ago from Japan and I'm sure it will be a couple of weeks.

 

Will be sort of a new "adventure" for me.  I LOVE baitcasting and will never give it up.  But, I need to pitch because there is a lot of laydowns and cover along the banks that casting cant reach.  I think the 6'6" -7' M  in the 1/4-1/2 range should be fine too. 

[SirSnookalot]

When I saw that video the other day I tried it along with my normal back flick.  I don't believe I was using the most conducive set up, the species dicating my gear, 7'6 10/20 mh with a 4000 reel.  Using both methods I put my lure in roughly the same same spot just about every time and the lure entering the water with the same angle and splash.  I found the back flip to be a tad easier but probably because I'm just used to doing it that way.