Flippin' And Pitchin' Applications

[Tuckahoe Joe]

I just bought a baitcaster and plan to learn flippin' and pitchin'.  But how do you decide which one to use in certain situations?  What dictates whether you flip or whether you pitch?

[tbone1993]

I would flip more been fishing since I had the perfect cast the first time.Its not a matter of one over the other but  rather a simpler approach. With a flip you have the distance figured out correctly and can slide a bait in very slow and slow. I normally flip after I make a pitch if I want to hit a stump multple times.  

[Sam]

Distance.

 

The distance from where you are and your target.

 

If close to a target and you want to cast fast you flip. This method is a soft-entry and sneak up on the fish method.  With the line in your hand and the length fixed you are working the same amount of line for each cast.  15-feet is the usual distance for flipping.  Try to keep reel's handle pointed up into the air if you have a left handed reel and you are right handed.

 

If you are farther away from the target and you want to cast slower or to targets under overhanging foilage you pitch. Your underhanded cast keeps the bait low to the water's surface so it makes a nice, soft entry. Your reel is turned to the inside facing down. You can get a longer cast if you snap upward releasing the line from the reel as needed. You can gain more momentum by grasping the lure in one hand and pulling it tight then releasing it in a slingshot fashion.

 

To cast even longer practice the "loop pitch" which is easier to cast if you have overhead foilage or structures around you.

 

I do more pitching and flipping with a spinning setup as it is easier and no worry about backlashes. Great way to present plastics.

 

Have fun!

[Fishes in trees]

Flipping and pitching are pretty simple.  Basically, you pitch when you are too far to flip and you flip when you are too close to pitch.  Me, I pitch most of the time, so I seldom flip.  The more stained to muddy your water is, the more opportunities to flip you've got.  JMO

[gobig]

Flipping and pitching are pretty simple.  Basically, you pitch when you are too far to flip and you flip when you are too close to pitch.  Me, I pitch most of the time, so I seldom flip.  The more stained to muddy your water is, the more opportunities to flip you've got.  JMO

 

 

Bingo!!!

[K_Mac]

Flipping and pitching are pretty simple.  Basically, you pitch when you are too far to flip and you flip when you are too close to pitch.  Me, I pitch most of the time, so I seldom flip.  The more stained to muddy your water is, the more opportunities to flip you've got.  JMO

 

^Yep, me too^ Where things get interesting is pitching into/under cover. Getting into the right spot without making a lot commotion is sometimes the only way to get bit. Pitching allows for much greater distance, but takes more practice to do it really well. It is worth the effort though. Good luck.

[greyleg33]

I seldom flip because off brush/branches. I pitch an awful lot. Takes practice but you can do amazing things with a jig.

[CPBassFishing]

I learned from the master.

[Teal]

Spend the majority of your time practicing pitchin. The video above is a good one.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Went out today and broke in the new rod.  Only caught a pickerel.  Not sure if that counts as breaking it in.  Anyway, I tried a little flipping and pitching a little but it felt kind of awkward.  Guess I just need to practice.  I'm gonna watch the video posted above later on tonight and go out again tomorrow.

[Mike L]

Joe

When i started to really get serious about it, which is a necessity down here, I too found it a little ackward also.

Thats natural as we're so tuned into chucking and winding, that now you're into pin point placement, it can mess with your mind a little.

 

Just practice as much as you can.

The key to whole thing is keeping the bait low so the entry into the water is as quiet as you can make it.

 

Good Luck, You'll get it.

 

 

Mike

 

 

 

,

[hooah212002]

Went out today and broke in the new rod.  Only caught a pickerel.  Not sure if that counts as breaking it in.  Anyway, I tried a little flipping and pitching a little but it felt kind of awkward.  Guess I just need to practice.  I'm gonna watch the video posted above later on tonight and go out again tomorrow.

 

I'm with ya there lol. I cannot seem to keep my bait low when either flipping or pitching. It ends up swinging around really high in the air which then causes major backlash.

[deep]

I don't know how to flip; but I do pitch an awful lot in certain reservoirs. The rod position and angle while pitching dictates the trajectory of the bait. Also, since I set up my reel (while pitching) with a rather low spool tension; I find thumbing the spool to be quite important. Proper thumbing also helps in a soft quiet entry into the water.

[flippin and pitchin]

There are hundreds of clips on tou Tube to demo the two presentations.  Flipping is a delivery where the reels only stores or retrieves the line.  Pitching is a cast using an underhand swing to create the lure's speed and trajectory and the spool is dissengaged. Keep the spool free or loose.

 

Start you pitchng practice using a 1/2 ounce jig. Start slow and set your target at 20 feet or so. When you understand and get the feel of the lure pulling lineand staying parallel to the surface, move to a 3/8th and then a 1/4.

 

repeat the deal with your target at 26 to 28 feet.  drop weight as you get the feel of how to generate lure speed, control the spool and keep the lure parallel to the surface. You learn and practice in the yard.  After you become confident, hit the watter and it will become secondnature to you.

 

Pitching is a delivery that will change the way you fish.

[CPBassFishing]

I'm with ya there lol. I cannot seem to keep my bait low when either flipping or pitching. It ends up swinging around really high in the air which then causes major backlash.

sounds like your spool tension is too tight. Loosen it to the point where you have a little side to side play in the spool, then tighten it until there is no more play. You have to control the spool with your thumb. You will get backlashes a few times because you won't know when to thumb it and how much pressure to apply, so your bait will hit the ground. Just keep practicing, you'll get it.

[Tuckahoe Joe]

Went out this morning.  Didn't get anything but I did see 2 bass on a bed.  The bed was right in the corner where the bank met the dam.  Would have been difficult to cast past/retrieve thru it so I figured it was a perfect opportunity to practice my flippin/pitchin.  Was getting some nice soft entries with flippin but the bass were real spooky.  They'd swim off together and then come back 30-45 seconds later.  Didn't do so well with pitchin.  The bait just isn't really going anywhere.  I think like CPBassFishing said, I need to loosen the spool a bit.  I'd probably do better with something a bit heavier too cuz right now I'm just flippin and pitchin t-rigs with a 3/16 oz weight

[BuckMaxx]

The best way to learn control is to pitch to a plastic coffee can. After awhile it gets boring. So lay it on its side then pitch to stand it up. Then drag it to tip it back over. That gives you the ultimate control of the bait. Repeat.