Flippin’ for bass

[juicebass]

Was wondering how “stealth” one needs to be when flipping. 

I’m newer to flipping and I don’t have the finesse that it takes to flip a jig or creature with out making a splash. 

 

I know people will say practice your flipping. So I will. But in the meantime I was just wondering if I’m wasting my time trying to flip for bass if I’m making a large splash or flipping it into the fish to aggressively? Will this spook them off? Will they still bite it? Or am I just scaring all the fish away...?

 

thanks!

[Hez]

Do not put too much thought into being stealthy when flipping.  Put more focus and thought into hitting your targets and being ready to set the hook. 

 

Down here we are trolling through slop with the trolling motor on high a lot of times and still get bit.  

 

The splash your lure makes could very well be confused for something falling out of the sky.  

[boostr]

Yep, what @Hezsaid. I've had plenty of bass whack my not so subtle entry into the water. Be more concerned about being stealthy when approaching the bank when your fishing from shore.

[sfpalatka]

Yes, splashing something causes reactionary strikes 

[Mike L]

3 hours ago, Hez said:

Do not put too much thought into being stealthy when flipping.  Put more focus and thought into hitting your targets and being ready to set the hook. 

 

Down here we are trolling through slop with the trolling motor on high a lot of times and still get bit.  

 

The splash your lure makes could very well be confused for something falling out of the sky.  

Well said!

 

 

 

 

Mike

[Bankbeater]

The only time I worry about being quiet is when I can see the bass and it can see me.

[juicebass]

Awesome guys thanks! Good to know!

[Mobasser]

One winter years ago I practiced flipping a 1/2 oz jig from 15ft into a small bucket in my garage. I havnt worried too much about being on target since then. I agree with what others have said. Be as stealthy as you can , but accuracy is the most important

[LionHeart]

You mean pitching?  Or actually flipping?

[Hez]

10 hours ago, LionHeart said:

You mean pitching?  Or actually flipping?

I am sure he means pitching.  They terms seem to be interchangeable nowadays.  

[LionHeart]

Juice, if you mean pitching, a quite entry is all about keeping your lure low and close to the water.  Its flight path should be mostly parallel with the surface of the water and that has everything to do with when you release.

 

It is all about the release.  It just takes practice.

[Catt]

Sound: lure hits the water causing surface disturbances & giving off vibrations through the water column.

 

Sight: fast moving creature just invaded the bass's personal space 

 

Bass use both sight & lateral lines to feed...give it to em!

[Tennessee Boy]

19 hours ago, juicebass said:

Was wondering how “stealth” one needs to be when flipping. 

I think it's just one more factor that you need to figure out.  Sometimes the splash might trigger a strike, other times it might spook a fish.  I tend to worry more about being quiet when the bass are under a lot pressure.  

 

I think flippin is the new pitching.  What are sold as flippin rods today would never work for what used to be known as flippin.  A old fashion Flippin rod was more like an ultra lite telephone pole than a heavy action fishing rod.

[Mobasser]

Yes, I meant to say pitching. At the time, I didn't have an actual flipping stick. I was using a stiff 6'6 long handle casting rod. Trying to learn an accurate close in delivery. Now, when I fish bigger waters, I don't see as many guys actually flipping, but see more pitching baits, from further away. I'm sure there are people still flipping with the original setup- it's a great way to fish very thick cover.The only other thing I may add is to look for those spots that are slightly different from the rest of a shoreline. Anything different in the form of cover along a bank that looks the same can hold fish. Like Catt says" give it to em". It works

[sfpalatka]

I fished Rodman Dam near Palatka Fl in which you have stumpfields and all kinds of different floating vegetation. I think learning to become versatile is a big part in becoming successful at flipping. Like it was said earlier, especially when dealing with high pressured lakes or rivers 

[Black Hawk Basser]

Tubes make for a pretty stealthy entry into the water when pitching.  I try to skip my baits, I think that gets some extra attention at times.

[Catt]

Just some random thoughts ?

 

Don't y'all find it odd that we want a "silent" entry into the water with lures with some kind of flapping appendage?

 

So we want vibrations on the way down but not on the surface?

 

So how do topwaters work?

 

[Mobasser]

Catt, you are right. I think when flipping, more bass are spooked by noisey boat handling then by the jigs or plastics landing on the water. I learned this the hard way in an aluminum flat john boat! Also , I think a lot of guys think flipping and pitching are the same, but I disagree. Some of the best " flippers" work in close sometimes 10 ft away. But, they move in quietly.Do you agree

14 minutes ago, Catt said:

Just some random thoughts ?

 

Don't y'all find it odd that we want a "silent" entry into the water with lures with some kind of flapping appendage?

 

So we want vibrations on the way down but not on the surface?

 

So how do topwaters work?

 

 

[Catt]

@Mobasser

 

First flipping & pitching go together & both are used when punching!

 

Sometimes boat positioning aint perfect so I'll pitch instead of flip.

 

And yes I have one rod that I  flip-n-pitch with 

 

On 7/12/2018 at 11:18 AM, Hez said:

Down here we are trolling through slop with the trolling motor on high a lot of times and still get bit.  

 

 

Down here if your trolling motor aint on high ya aint moving!

 

Some noise is unavoidable ?

Edited July 14, 2018 by Catt
Operator Error

[scaleface]

An 8 inch Jelly Worm slapping the surface   is a very natural sound and bass will often inhale it immediately .