Pitching

[Laurentino]

I'm struggling with learning to become competent at pitching. I understand the concept and have watched some guys doing it effectively but I'm still having problems getting the timing down. So... I have a couple of questions.

1. What type of gear is the easiest to use for pitching? I have a bunch of possible combo's from very light on up to flipping and swimbait type tackle.

2. How far is good enough? Assuming decent accuracy and not too many backlashes, how far do I need to be able to "pitch" the bait?

Thanks in advance for your help!

[jdw174]

I use my worm/jigging rod for pitching a lure....something with a bit of tip action.  I prefer rods of 7' in length, although I've done it with 6'6" rods and even 6' at times.  I pitch small crankbaits and spinnerbaits as well as soft plastics and jigs.  If you don't like BC tackle, you can pitch quite well with spinning gear although you need to practice feathering the lure into the water.  The key is to have the lure land very softly.

[Lightninrod]

You can pitch with just about any tackle but I prefer a medium to heavy, 6-7.5' rod and a baitcaster .

I taught myself to do it.  I practiced in my yard, pitching 1/2 oz jigs under hedges and bushes.  Just keep after it and distance and accuracy(most important!) will come. 8-)

Dan

[Sam]

Denny says in his book, Denny' Brauer's JigFishing Secrets:

Pitching - Best method to get your plastics or jigs into a tight place.  It is a soft-entry, sneak-up-on-em approach.

Presentation - Line-in-hand or limited distance technique where the amount of line is fixed.  The reel is engaged and you are working the same amount of line with each cast.  You control the distance between yourself and the target with your boat.  Keep distance the same, like 15 feet from shore along the entire bank.

Rod Control - If right handed, keep rod in left hand.  If left handed, keep rod in right hand. Peel off the line with the free hand.  As bait enters water switch hands so you have rod in proper hook setting position. (I am right handed and keep reel in right hand and use left hand to control the bait)

How to Flip -

1.  Let out the amount of line needed to reach the target. With the hand not holding the rod, grasp the line and pull back about half the length of the rod. (Or whatever length is comfortable for you)

2.  Swing the flipping lure back under the rod by lowering then quickly raising the rod tip.

3.  When the worm or jig starts forward raise the rod tip and move the rod hand forward to increase the lure speed.  At the end of the swing give a gentle flip to the rod.

4.  As the jig or worm approaches the target, allow the line to slip through your fingers but do not let go of the line completely.  Stop the worm, brush hog, lizzard, creature bait or jig, etc. just over the water surface. (Both hands by reel.  Right hand holding reel and left hand holding line until I switch line into right hand. Or just let go of the line and put line coming off baitcaster between your fingers to feel for a hit)

5. Let fall and be ready to set the hook on the fall.

6. Repeat along the bank as you fish or by throwing to the target multiple times.

Bad Habits - Hanging onto the line with two or three foot of slack in it after the lure hits the water; not having the hand that you are letting the line slide through go immediately back to the reel as soon as possible where you can have the line running through your fingers to feel a strike; making a flip too long; not having your rod tip high so you can lower the rod tip slightly faster then the speed the lure is falling so lure falls straight down; not turning off your electronics when flipping or pitching; and not sneaking up on the fish.

Equipment - Baitcaster.  7 foot medium heavy rod.  10 plus test line depending on structure you are fishing.  Plastic or jig of your choice. Hook and weight of your choice but I am using more and more of the weedless hooks, especially for flipping and pitching.  Hook plastics Texas rigged to make weedless.

Tactics for Longer Range - Use an underhand method to swing the bait in place.  Keep the bait low to the water so it makes a nice soft entry and doesn't scare the fish.

Turn reel to the inside facing down.  Pitch underhanded as follows:

1.  Let out enough line to grasp the lure.

2.  Lower the rod tip, swing arm back to pull lure back behind you holding lure in your hand.

3.  Snap rod tip upward, release lure and release reel allowing line to play outward.

Also try the loop pitch:

1.  Allow about two (2) feet of line out.  Drop rod tip, then immediately snap tip up to swing line upward.

2.  Allow line to travel in a fast loop around rod tip.

3.  As lure straightens in front of rod tip, relase line from reel.

Hookset for Pitching - Rod tip fairly high as want lure to fall on a slack line.  Just a bit of slack, not a lot.  Drop rod tip to follow lure and keep just a few inches of slack.  Watch line at all times.  Drop rod tip so you have a little more slack to develope rod speed. Then come back, straight up, hard, one time.  Keep the line tight; start reeling; and move fish out of the cover.

Get Denny's book and you can read all about pitching and flipping.

Good luck.

[Catt]

That pretty much covers it there Sammy boy; I've got the video simply love watching a master at work.  

[Sam]

Video!

There is a video?

And I read the book.

Darn. Wish I knew there was a video!

Thanks.

[bassmaster8100]

As far as the equipment goes I prefer a baitcaster and a 7 1/2 ft heavy action rod for pitching