Pitching advice

[Sharkicane]

Hey all,

 

I have been practicing pitching quite a bit recently I’m getting better but still a long way to go. I want to find out exactly what I need to do to make the bait enter with little to no splash. I’m fishing from the bank so that might be a factor I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve tried several things but I can’t seem to get it to land softly consistently. 

 

What am I doing wrong or maybe not doing at all? 

[EGbassing]

2 hours ago, Sharkicane said:

Hey all,

 

I have been practicing pitching quite a bit recently I’m getting better but still a long way to go. I want to find out exactly what I need to do to make the bait enter with little to no splash. I’m fishing from the bank so that might be a factor I’m not sure. I feel like I’ve tried several things but I can’t seem to get it to land softly consistently. 

 

What am I doing wrong or maybe not doing at all? 

If you lift the rod tip up too high/quickly at the end of the pitch, it causes it to go a lot higher, resulting in a bigger splash. Try keeping the bait around 3 inches off the surface throughout the pitch and it shouldn't splash too loudly. Good luck!

[rtwvumtneer6]

Assuming you are using a baitcaster, your thumb is your friend.  Try to pitch beyond your target and use your thumb to slow the lures momentum.  For me, I often apply too much pressure and the abrupt stop causes the lure to crash into the water.  You want to slow it down for a soft, gentle entry.  I worked on that a lot this will get using patches where the snow had melted for my target.

[Catt]

I don't follow the quite approach, sometimes I wanna raise a little commotion!

 

 

[scaleface]

I  think pitching from bank is difficult .Its a lot easier on a raised platform . I have to use  a shorter line , right elbow higher and  kind of shoot it out there   when pitching from bank or the bottom of a jon boat .

[Bluebasser86]

Don't get too hung up about a quiet entry into the water. It may look pretty, but like Catt pointed out, sometimes a little splash gets their attention especially around overhanging bushes or trees where prey is likely to fall into the water. 

[BassNJake]

As mentioned a little splash can often get their curiosity.

I'll pitch/skip a buzz toad under branches/docks a lot to imitate fleeing bait/food and spark their interest.

 

One thing I have found when pitching is I can control something a little heavier which reduces the splash.

My best pitches are what I would describe as a line drive a few inches off the water and thumbing the spool sets it into the water.

 

My worst pitches are often with lighter weights and are more like a rainbow.

They start low, rise some and then are on a downward arc towards the water usually creating a larger splash.

This usually occurs when I'm a little too far to pitch but too close to land a soft cast.

[greentrout]

11 hours ago, scaleface said:

I  think pitching from bank is difficult .Its a lot easier on a raised platform . I have to use  a shorter line , right elbow higher and  kind of shoot it out there   when pitching from bank or the bottom of a jon boat .

Agreed...I use a shorter 6' rod with spinning gear...easier for me...good fishing... 

 

"A man's got to know his limitations".

 

Harry Callahan -- Dirty Harry

[DINK WHISPERER]

I never worry about making a splash or not. Only focus on accuracy and the fall.

[Troy85]

14 hours ago, DINK WHISPERER said:

I never worry about making a splash or not. Only focus on accuracy and the fall.

I second this.  I think accuracy is more important than entry.  As far as the fall, nothing is better than when you see the fall suddenly stop...... 

[Quarry Man]

keep the bait parallel and close to the water for as long as possible

[BassThumb]

Trying for too long of a distance will make it difficult to reduce splash, although I'm not so sure thats a bad thing, like others have said.

[FishDewd]

On 5/31/2018 at 11:39 AM, LTBAndrew said:

Make sure you loosen your tension all the way and practice using just your thumb pressure. Sometimes you get that bigger splash because there is resistance on the line beyond just your thumb. Like others have said though, some splash can be good. I used to think the quiet entry was best, until I started skipping baits. I skip even in areas where it is not needed now and I have bass catch the bait like a center fielder before it even stops sometimes  

Maybe this is what I'm doing wrong. I tend to leave spool tension the same as it was when casting. I can never get any distance on a pitch and they usually go left or right. Maybe this would help so I could more shoot it out there. Shark and I both fish areas from the bank that are heavy in trees and brush so it'd be essential to learn how to pitch well.

[scaleface]

When I pitch with casting gear I use a minimum 5/16th ounce bullet weight .

[Glaucus]

I know guys who sneak up to the water like they're hunting wabbits, wash every bit of scent off of them that they can, and focus on super quiet entry....

 

Never noticed a difference in catch rate or quality. Opportunistic ambush predators with pea brains are gonna eat regardless. Don't get too caught up on that stuff. It ain't deer hunting.

[islandbass]

On 5/30/2018 at 7:39 PM, Catt said:

I don't follow the quite approach, sometimes I wanna raise a little commotion!

 

 

Exactly. I think the stealth approach has its merit. But I also think that making a splash can spook them, it can also ATTRACT them. I’ve seen it personally. 

It’s a two way street and 50-50 chance to spook or attract in a normal setting. That’s just me and I’m sticking to it. Btw, I’m also a bank angler so the ability to minimize entry splash isn’t harder just because  we are on the shore. Good advice was already given that I can’t add to. 

[Catt]

1 hour ago, islandbass said:

Exactly. I think the stealth approach has its merit. But I also think that making a splash can spook them, it can also ATTRACT them. I’ve seen it personally. 

It’s a two way street and 50-50 chance to spook or attract in a normal setting. That’s just me and I’m sticking to it. Btw, I’m also a bank angler so the ability to minimize entry splash isn’t harder just because  we are on the shore. Good advice was already given that I can’t add to. 

 

I bank fish quite a bit!

 

This 11 lb 3 oz was caught where the canal made a hard 90° turn, I pitched all the way up on the opposite bank. I didn't slither it in, I flipped it hard into water, watched the swirl as she turned & swam to it!

 

 

[LCG]

I agree with the advice of loose spool tension and thumbing the line. Also focus on being smooth and not trying to cast underhand, pitching is for 10-30ft, underhand casting is more forceful and higher for more distance. Slow, smooth, and loose. 

[WRB]

If you don't want the jig to crash into the water just control the entry using you thumb, you should be in control where and how the lure hits the water inlieu of falling uncontrolled.

Tom