All About Flippin' And/or Pitchin'

[Derek Garner]

Hey i recently started flipping and pitching with both spinning and casting gear. I usually use my casting equipment for heavier cover. I'm only 16 and my parents aren't millionaires so im not using the best of gear, but for my casting gear i use a Abu Garcia Silver Max on a 7'0" MH fast action Abu Garcia Vendetta rod. Like i said... not the best but for a very small budget, i do like the setup. My spinning gear consists of a Okuma reel, not sure what model, and a 7'0" MH fast action rod i bought a long time ago at a run down bait shop. Its actually a GREAT rod for flipping though. I'm looking to buy a Quantum PT accurist, and im not sure what rod. I also want to talk about what im throwing too. When im pitching heavy cover, I like to use heavier tungsten weights, up to 1 oz. when punching extreme cover. I usually pitch larger soft plastics, and creature baits texas rigged, although i occasionally use jigs. With spinning gear i like to texas rig with anything from 1/32 oz. to 3/8 oz. i mostly use curl tail worms and some creature baits, not a big fan of beavers though. My three favorite creature baits are 1. Gene Larue Biffle Bug   2. Zoom Brush Hog   3. Strike King Rage Tail Craw , some worms l often use are 1. 4" or 6" Original Culprit Worm   2. Trigger X Swimming Worm   3. Zoom G-Tail Worm. I fish PA and sometimes OH, the lakes here are really pressured, so i like to use small(er) plastics, lighter line, or new stuff, like creature baits. I've recently started spooling both my flipping and pitching reels with Berkley Trilene 8lb. XT clear/blue, which only comes in pony spools unfortunately, because i like it alot, its a smaller diameter, and its AMAZINGLY strong, i like clear/blue to help with line visibility. Well after sharing my gear i hope this forum can grow in popularity, and more people will share what they use and make recommendations for a 16 year old trying to maybe go pro someday, i haven't fished any tourneys yet but may fish one this year, and i hope to get into a club next year. Thank you for your time if you've read this long intro, and i ask that you spread the word and hopefully I can get some tips, and suggestions. Thanks agian!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Derek Garner

 

 

 

 

Please feel free to post ANY tips, suggestions, new products, etc. about flipping and pitching

[shawnmc]

Great start so far, my first tip would be to up your line size. Especially since you say you like to flip heavy cover. The gear you have now is just fine, focus now on finding and catching them.

[ChiCityBasser]

I agree that you have a great start and also that you may want to up your line size on your gear. I would also try the flea market on this forum as well as Dick's,Cabelas,BPS and some of the other retailors and look for sale items or clearance items as a way to upgrade your gear on a budget. I use a Dicks F&S Tec Spec 7' MH/F spinning rod with a Quantum Kinetic reel with 15# braid( I use this setup for lighter cover and brush). I also have a 7'3" Custom baitcast setup MH/F with a Quantum Accurist 7.0:1(Gray Model) with 15# braid(This is also a lighter cover setup). My heavy cover setups have either 50 or 65# braid on Quantum Accurist reels.

[Derek Garner]

thanks for the tips guys, il check out the flea market thing, in terms of the line, ive wanted to try braid but haven't yet because im not sure if it has as much feeling as mono, and visibility matters, i judge alot of bites on feeling not just seeing. Do they have the same(ish) feeling and what about visibility?

[roadwarrior]

Braid has much greater sensitivity and very little stretch. Visibility may or may not be an issue,

it really depends on the water clarity and the technique you employee. I am using braid as a 

main line with a fluorocarbon leader for bottom contact presentations.

 

 

 

  

[Derek Garner]

il probably give braid a try on my casting reel, any recommendations on a good braid that is high vis?

[roadwarrior]

I'm using both Tuf-Line and Kanzen.

[ChiCityBasser]

I use Power Pro, Spiderwire and Cabelas brand braids

[Derek Garner]

Thanks for all the help everyone, more tips and suggestions are always welcome

[MarkH024]

I use braid for punching/pitching. 40# Sufix 832 serves me well. I have been using some of Siebert Outdoors tungsten punch skirts (highly recommend them) this season with an array of Rage products as well as some Havoc baits.  When I'm in super thick mats I'll just go with the tungsten weight and a nice compact bait with a flipping hook. So much fun to hook into bass under big weed mats! 

[Derek Garner]

i was going to try the punching rig, i bought some punch skirts and rigged them up but, my rod is only MH , is that okay for punching?

[MarkH024]

i was going to try the punching rig, i bought some punch skirts and rigged them up but, my rod is only MH , is that okay for punching?

Yes. I use a MH rod however I do find in some situations a Heavy rod would be better suited.  You can get by just stick to around 1oz weight with the MH. if you plan to go heavier I'd consider a Heavy rod.

 

One other piece of advice, snell your flipping hooks. You will have a much better hook up ratio.

[Derek Garner]

thanks, i was using a 1/2 oz. weight, but i wasnt fishing very heavy cover, i will defiantly start snelling my flipping hooks.

 

MORE TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS (new baits and tackle) ARE ALWAYS WELCOMED THANKFULLY