Pitching with Fluorocarbon

[B_Rose12]

I’ve been having a tough time getting adjusted to fluorocarbon. I love the line itself but can’t seem to get my reels dialed in to pitch it and sometimes even cast it. I can pitch and cast no problem with braid on my Lew’s Tournament Pro G. I have a Lew’s Speed Spool (7:5:1) with 12lb Seaguar InvizX on it that I was using on my Squarebill rod. But I just got a Lew’s Tournament MB (5:6:1) the other day to use as my cranking reel with 12lb InvizX on it as well.

 

So since getting the MB and putting it on my Squarebill Rod, I put my Speed Spool on my TP1 7ft MH/F rod. I can’t pitch nowhere near as well as I can with braid. What happens is I go to pitch it and typically it just kind of goes out and stops, making it end high and come down like a overhand cast almost. I have my brakes off and have the tension down to where it barely backlashes when it drops.

 

Also when I try to even cast with my Speed Spool, I have my tension set correctly but I have to turn my brakes about 3/4 of the way on, if not more, to get a smooth cast. So this definitely hinders my distance vs braid. With braid I can cast smooth with my brakes 1/4 of the way on, if not less.

 

Any tips or help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

Thanks guys...TIGHT LINES!

[CroakHunter]

More brakes, less tension.

Practice, practice, practice.

Kvd line and lure.

Possibly learn to tie the alberto or fg knot and run braid to fluoro.

Use a heavier weight to practice with than you would normally use to get a good long pitch.

Work on your mechanics and really focus on being smooth.

Follow through.

 

Hope some of these tips help

[B_Rose12]

Thanks for the reply man. I’ve been thinking about doing a braid to fluoro, since I won’t be using that reel for my crankbaits anymore. The only thing that makes me hesitate with that is that the Lew’s TP1 rod I use has micro guides and I figured a leader knot may not work out as good as a mainline, also would I have as much sensitivity with braid to fluoro as I would with straight fluoro?

 

I will definitely try more brakes and less tension next time out and I’ll try a bigger jig to see how that works, hopefully good so I can get my form down. And yeah definitely, my next TW order I’ll be sure to have some KVD line conditioner coming to me too.

 

Thx again man!

 

[CroakHunter]

1 hour ago, B_Rose12 said:

Thanks for the reply man. I’ve been thinking about doing a braid to fluoro, since I won’t be using that reel for my crankbaits anymore. The only thing that makes me hesitate with that is that the Lew’s TP1 rod I use has micro guides and I figured a leader knot may not work out as good as a mainline, also would I have as much sensitivity with braid to fluoro as I would with straight fluoro?

 

I will definitely try more brakes and less tension next time out and I’ll try a bigger jig to see how that works, hopefully good so I can get my form down. And yeah definitely, my next TW order I’ll be sure to have some KVD line conditioner coming to me too.

 

Thx again man!

 

I use a 7'3 tp1 to pitch with and I use and fg knot or alberto just fine. Really only need about a 5ft leader at most and it won't even touch the guides. Sensitivity will probably be better because braid is the most sensitive line. Good luck on trying the tips. 

[B_Rose12]

40 minutes ago, CroakHunter said:

I use a 7'3 tp1 to pitch with and I use and fg knot or alberto just fine. Really only need about a 5ft leader at most and it won't even touch the guides. Sensitivity will probably be better because braid is the most sensitive line. Good luck on trying the tips. 

Do you happen to have the Pitching TP1? TP173H? 7’3 Heavy/Fast? I’ve been looking into getting a distinct pitching rod. Even with Lew’s higher end rods I keep coming back to the 7’3 H/F. I just didn’t know how good of a rod it is, I haven’t been able to find one to hold prior to buying. I know the 7’0 MH/F I have seems to be a pretty stout rod for a MH.

 

But yeah, I will absolutely try putting on a leader tomorrow. Thanks for bringing that up, I didn’t even think about with me pitching it that I’ll have at least 5-6ft of line out to pitch it so it’ll never even make it close to the guides. Not to mention, here in Delaware where I live, the deepest pond/small lake I’ve fished is 10ft and that’s out in the middle, so a leader would work perfect for my situation. 

 

Thanks CroakHunter!

[CroakHunter]

2 hours ago, B_Rose12 said:

Do you happen to have the Pitching TP1? TP173H? 7’3 Heavy/Fast? I’ve been looking into getting a distinct pitching rod. Even with Lew’s higher end rods I keep coming back to the 7’3 H/F. I just didn’t know how good of a rod it is, I haven’t been able to find one to hold prior to buying. I know the 7’0 MH/F I have seems to be a pretty stout rod for a MH.

 

But yeah, I will absolutely try putting on a leader tomorrow. Thanks for bringing that up, I didn’t even think about with me pitching it that I’ll have at least 5-6ft of line out to pitch it so it’ll never even make it close to the guides. Not to mention, here in Delaware where I live, the deepest pond/small lake I’ve fished is 10ft and that’s out in the middle, so a leader would work perfect for my situation. 

 

Thanks CroakHunter!

Yes that's the rod I have. And like you stated they are stout rods. It's a beast of a stick. Love it. I would use it as a frog rod but prefer a 7' for that

[B_Rose12]

1 hour ago, CroakHunter said:

Yes that's the rod I have. And like you stated they are stout rods. It's a beast of a stick. Love it. I would use it as a frog rod but prefer a 7' for that

I figured it’d be a tank. I actually had the third eye on my TP1 break 2 weeks ago. I purchased the rod back in Jan-Feb and of course didn’t keep the receipt. So I called Lew’s Speed Service, they never even asked me when I bought it. I just had to cut out the section that shows the model number and action and the rest of that info, mail it to them with a $20 money order and they’re gonna send me a brand new one. I’ve been a Lew’s fan since I bought the Tourney Pro G about a year and a half ago, bought a bunch of other rods and reels from em, first time I ever had an issue. With this experience, Lew’s is all I’ll ever own. 

I did purchase the Custom Speed Stick made for Squarebills, it’s a 6’9 MH/MF. It’s unbelievably nice, light, and sensitive. Contemplating the Magnum Pitching model or the TP1 Pitching...if only I could get my hands on either one lol

[Mike L]

Well...My opinion is it's all in your thumb anyway, it shouldn't matter what reel you use for pitching. 

I have at least 2 brakes on every reel I have and 1 has 3, but when pitching I just loosen the cast control knob to get a free fall and then tighten back up if I decide to cast with it. 

 

The size, style or manufacturer doesn't matter. 

 

 

 

Mike

[B_Rose12]

55 minutes ago, Mike L said:

Well...My opinion is it's all in your thumb anyway, it shouldn't matter what reel you use for pitching. 

I have at least 2 brakes on every reel I have and 1 has 3, but when pitching I just loosen the cast control knob to get a free fall and then tighten back up if I decide to cast with it. 

 

The size, style or manufacturer doesn't matter. 

 

 

 

Mike

I don’t necessarily think it’s the reel, unless it’s just in my head....or in this case my thumb lol. But I’m thinking it’s different with fluoro, for me anyway. I’ve picked up other reels that weren’t mine and pitched fine with them, with braid on of course. And yes there are some instances when I pitch with my braided baitcaster and I’ll turn up the brakes just so I can pitch it a heck of a lot further. But if I’m just pitching 5-10yds I prefer to have my brakes completely off and my tension a good bit loose, never had a problem.

 

I can’t pitch with fluoro to save my life. It either overruns or it won’t react to my technique like the braid does. I dunno, I guess I’ll just try a heavier jig and see if I can work my way back down to my go-to 3/8oz.

[stubinater]

Best thing about pitching is you can just go stand in the yard and practice lol putin a little more time with that set up and it might all come together for ya. I still go out in the yard and pitch at objects when I get bored 

[LonnieP]

I've found Invizx to be one of the worst casting fc lines I've ever tried. I put some on my chronarch ci4 one time and it would backlash every other cast and I trashed it as soon as I got home from the lake. Try p-line tactical or sunline assassin, much better handling fc lines. 

[Team9nine]

Best advice above - practice, practice, practice. Fluoro is a little stiffer and heavier than braid, so your technique needs to be a little better, but orherwise...nothing different. I was on the water yesterday launching #6 Shad Raps on fluoro (InvizX) with a baitcaster yesterday, so pitching anything close to a standard weight jig/worm presentation should be no problem. 

[B_Rose12]

1 hour ago, stubinater said:

Best thing about pitching is you can just go stand in the yard and practice lol putin a little more time with that set up and it might all come together for ya. I still go out in the yard and pitch at objects when I get bored 

That’s what I’m thinking I need to do too. I’d say my thumb needs a little more adjustment.

 

1 hour ago, LonnieP said:

I've found Invizx to be one of the worst casting fc lines I've ever tried. I put some on my chronarch ci4 one time and it would backlash every other cast and I trashed it as soon as I got home from the lake. Try p-line tactical or sunline assassin, much better handling fc lines. 

I had sunline assassin on a Lew’s carbon Fire Combo towards the end of last year, if memory serves me correct it was 12lb. I liked the castability of the line but it seemed to me the memory wasn’t to my liking. I fished with it a ton and after a month, no more then two, it had line twist like crazy. And I never had a bad birds nest, maybe just a little over run here and there. But coulda been a bad batch, I never go off of the first time trying something different. I probably will get some assassin once this InvizX gets bad line twist from me experimentally pitching lol.

 

1 hour ago, Team9nine said:

Best advice above - practice, practice, practice. Fluoro is a little stiffer and heavier than braid, so your technique needs to be a little better, but orherwise...nothing different. I was on the water yesterday launching #6 Shad Raps on fluoro (InvizX) with a baitcaster yesterday, so pitching anything close to a standard weight jig/worm presentation should be no problem. 

I’m starting to think that’s a big part of the problem is not having my thumb trained to fluoro. I have no problem casting good aerodynamic lures with fluoro....crankbaits, Jerkbaits, stuff like that. Just gonna have to keep at it I guess!

 

 

Thanks for your replies guys

[LonnieP]

I must have misread your first post since you say you can cast certain lures with fc. Like everyone else suggested just keep practicing. Fc takes time to get used to. 

[OnthePotomac]

I buy 15lb Invizx by the 1000 spools and have it on several reels for a variety of techniques.  Maybe it is because I am used to it, but I really like it.  With regard to pitching, I have found it is not the line type used, but a matter of setting up your reel correctly, lure weight and practice.  No doubt heavier lures are easier to pitch than lighter lures.