Flipping and pitching technique question

[pauldconyers]

Getting into flippin and pitching and while practicing the motion I had a thought/question. Everything I hear is that quick reaction bites are common and from the second it hits the water you better be ready with your hand on the reel.

 

Got me to thinking about perhaps getting a leg up on the situation. I am right handed and on my baitcaster I hold the rod with my left and the reel with my right. Most of the instructional videos I’ve seen show righties flipping with the rod in their right hand then always having to put it back into their left hand and put their right on the reel. This seems rather needless and slow.

 

To eliminate clumsiness (or even missing a fish that bites the moment it hits the water and I’m busy switching hands) since I am brand new to the technique and don’t have any “bad habits” to unlearn show I learn to pitch with the rod in my left hand and so the second it hits the water I am good to go and not trying to switch hands?

[Ktho]

Pitching to me it doesn’t matter, the reel is in free spool when the bait touches down or is just clicking over. There’s always gonna be the chance that the fish hits it instantly and there’s a little delay due to the inevitable slack in the line. Flipping the reel stays in gear and you have a fixed amount of line out for maximum control of the lure, if a fish hits you can swing right away and it’ll pick up any slack there may be. 

[mcipinkie]

You've got the right idea, just not carrying it forward enough.  I'm 72 years old and have pitched and flipped as long as I can remember.  Cast right hand, then change hands.  Then I saw Biffle on TV about 10 years ago.  He's the best I've ever seen.  Even better than Denny.  I started working with the rod in my left hand as my primary method.  Over the course of a season, it'll mean a fish or two, I believe.  But here's the carry forward.  It's important to learn to cast with either hand.  Sometimes you just can't get the angle right with one hand, but can the other.  Plus switching hands gives one hand a chance to rest.  To me another advantage is "wet hand, dry hand".  I try to keep my rod hand dry.

 

Not just pitching and flipping, learn to cast with either hand.  It'll bring rewards.

 

That said, it's still more important to put the bait in the right place, than the hand you cast with.  Watch Hank Parker.  I don't see how he ever catches a fish the way he holds the rod, but he casts in the right place.

[Catt]

It's nice to learn but not necessary!

 

If you think it puts me at a disadvantage, you'll only underestimate me once!

[papajoe222]

Then there are those, like myself, that are just so right hand dominate that they can't do anything left handed. I even tried LH reels........................NOT

[FishDewd]

I can reel left handed fine, and have gotten to where I may prefer it cause I am right hand dominant and find that I can make more precise movements with that hand controlling the rod. However, for now all I have are spinning reels in left hand, all my BC reels are right handed. I will likely invest in a left hand on my next BC reel. As far as flipping/pitching I stink at both techniques. I can't flip at all, and my pitches go anywhere but where I want them to. I watch videos of people just zinging them out there... I don't get it! Lol. Granted my rods are not meant for that either, they all tend to bend a bit on a pitch and my every day rods are no longer than 7'. Maybe that's a factor, idk.

[Mike L]

When flipping the reel is always engaged so it's a non factor. 

 

I can pitch with either hand but as @Catt said it certainly isn't necessary because it doesn't matter. 

I cast and reel right and never felt the need to switch and that includes when getting bit when it hits the water. 

 

If you do get bit that quick, just set the hook with your thumb locked on the spool. 

The split second it takes to switch hands at that point won't be an issue. 

 

Practice both ways and use what feels the most natural to you. 

 

 

 

Mike

[DINK WHISPERER]

I tried left handed reels many years ago specifically for the flipping/pitching technique. I now own all left handed reels. So much more natural to me. And yes I'm right hand dominant. 

[Graham]

I use right handed reels and I just flip with the rod in my left hand. I learned it that way so it feels natural for me and there’s no hand-off needed.

[Bluebasser86]

By the time my bait hits the water, I've already switched hands and I'm ready to set the hook with my thumb on the spool. I can pitch to open targets left handed, but I'm not threading the needle or skipping left handed. 

[Catt]

3 hours ago, Bluebasser86 said:

By the time my bait hits the water, I've already switched hands and I'm ready to set the hook with my thumb on the spool. I can pitch to open targets left handed, but I'm not threading the needle or skipping left handed. 

 

By the time my lure reaches 2-3" above the surface, my right thumb stops the reel from rotating & is now my drag. My left hand is already palming the reel waiting to set hook.

 

All this done before engaging the reel!

[Todd2]

I'm right handed and switched to LH reels about a decade ago...literally took me one full day of fishing to get used to it and I've never looked back. 

[Glenn]

I pitch/flip right handed and switch hands. Been doing it for 35+ years.  Never, ever, missed a fish because of it.  Never felt I was at a disadvantage, nor has it ever been a problem in any sense of the word.

 

There are no "bad habits". It boils down to personal preference. 

[junyer357]

I was taught by a much better fisherman than myself when i began flipping n pitching that i "am gonna suck at it for a while at first so learn left first and then right handed and it will be easier". He was correct. It helps to be able to do it with either hand i think. Mostly due to fishing so much with 2 people on the bow, i dont have to worry about being in their way or vice versa. 

[RHuff]

On 5/22/2018 at 5:36 PM, pauldconyers said:

Getting into flippin and pitching and while practicing the motion I had a thought/question. Everything I hear is that quick reaction bites are common and from the second it hits the water you better be ready with your hand on the reel.

 

Got me to thinking about perhaps getting a leg up on the situation. I am right handed and on my baitcaster I hold the rod with my left and the reel with my right. Most of the instructional videos I’ve seen show righties flipping with the rod in their right hand then always having to put it back into their left hand and put their right on the reel. This seems rather needless and slow.

 

To eliminate clumsiness (or even missing a fish that bites the moment it hits the water and I’m busy switching hands) since I am brand new to the technique and don’t have any “bad habits” to unlearn show I learn to pitch with the rod in my left hand and so the second it hits the water I am good to go and not trying to switch hands?

 

 

I am right handed as well. I cast with my right and immediately hand the rod to my left hand to start cranking the reel with my right hand. This winter during the big bass Pro spring sale I purchased a Carbonlite 2.0 7.6 Heavy Rod with Extra Fast Action for flipping. I paired it with a left handed Okuma 7:3:1. reel. I practiced all winter and spring flipping with my right hand and cranking the reel with my left, but only for flipping. I still cast and fish the same way except when I flip I do it backwards so that the rod is in my right hand the entire time. On two occasions since April 1st, I have landed nice bass flipping jigs into heavy weeds. They smacked it as soon as it hit the water. If I had of switched the rod into my other hand I would have lost both of those fish. For me, it has paid off. I think it would pay off for you too. 

[pauldconyers]

My question wasn't so much did I NEED to do it the way I asked about but being that I'm brand new to the technique would it be BENEFICIAL to learn this way because while not necessary it might be ideal?

[J Francho]

It's really a whatever works.  I have a few lefty reels on rods that I know I'll be pitching with.  But I can still pitch with a righty, with same style and results Catt and Glenn describe.  Do something, anything, and get comfortable with it enough that you forget about the cast, and concentrate on the bite.

[RHuff]

13 minutes ago, pauldconyers said:

My question wasn't so much did I NEED to do it the way I asked about but being that I'm brand new to the technique would it be BENEFICIAL to learn this way because while not necessary it might be ideal?

 

 At the end of my reply I said the switch has paid off for me and that it would likely pay off for you too. 

[Tennessee Boy]

I'm right handed.  I think switching hands is inefficient.  If you pitch with your right hand and then switch hands,  you are working the bait with your least coordinated hand.  Yes, many people do it and some have won the Bass Master Classic doing it.  It is still unnecessary and can be eliminated with a little effort.   The approach I take is to use my right hand for the activity that needs the most coordination.  So I have left handed reels on my flipping/pitching rods because precise casting/working the bait is more important than comfortable cranking when pitching.  I have right handed reels on my crank-bait and spinning rods because cranking is more important when I'm fishing a fast retrieve.  It took me maybe a month to get used to doing things this way and I had to buy some new reels.  I've been fishing this way for the last 30 years and I'm very glad I made the effort to take this approach.

[J Francho]

^^ Interesting points.  I'm sort of in the same mindset.  I'm not sure I'd consider my left hand the least coordinated, though I do play drums.  Maybe that has an effect.  I also have been fishing so long, all my casting habits are ingrained.  I do find a little more comfortable to fish contact baits with a lefty, but for moving baits I like a righty.  I have tried to teach myself to cast with my left hand on top, at the reel, but I just can't.  It bugs me because I can swing a bat, golf club, or hockey stick both handed.  Like I said earlier, figure out what works, even if someone tells you it's wrong or inefficient.  Making a cast is better than not making a cast.

[Catt]

I fail to see any advantage as in putting more fish in the boat!

 

Some act as through the "switch" takes more time, it doesn't!

 

The initial intent of my cast is to hit my target, the second intent is to place my reel in my left hand.

 

It's like handing off a baton in a relay race, smooth, precise, & quick.

 

Is it worth learning to do it without switching?

 

You answer that! ?

[Catt]

The only thing anyone says is it increases efficiency!

 

What does that even mean?

 

Efficiency: the state or quality of being efficient, or able to accomplish something with the least waste of time and effort; competency in performance. 

 

Myself & others see no wasted time or effort ?

[gobig]

On 5/22/2018 at 6:30 PM, mcipinkie said:

You've got the right idea, just not carrying it forward enough.  I'm 72 years old and have pitched and flipped as long as I can remember.  Cast right hand, then change hands.  Then I saw Biffle on TV about 10 years ago.  He's the best I've ever seen.  Even better than Denny.  I started working with the rod in my left hand as my primary method.  Over the course of a season, it'll mean a fish or two, I believe.  But here's the carry forward.  It's important to learn to cast with either hand.  Sometimes you just can't get the angle right with one hand, but can the other.  Plus switching hands gives one hand a chance to rest.  To me another advantage is "wet hand, dry hand".  I try to keep my rod hand dry.

 

Not just pitching and flipping, learn to cast with either hand.  It'll bring rewards.

 

That said, it's still more important to put the bait in the right place, than the hand you cast with.  Watch Hank Parker.  I don't see how he ever catches a fish the way he holds the rod, but he casts in the right place.

Best answer

[Turkey sandwich]

I see no disadvantage to being able to cast with both hands, but I don't think it's necessary.  I cast with my right hand and all of my reels are left hand retrieve.  I learned with left hand retrieve spinning gear and it's all that's ever felt comfortable for me.  If I were to change today, taking into account how hard it can be to accurately cast into tight places or do complicated stuff like skip, I feel like I'd only end up frustrated and spending more time clearing backlashes than sticking my bait where I want it.