Pitch casting help

[tps reports]

Hey everyone,

I'm just starting out and have been practicing this for a week or so.

Three questions;

1. I'm pitching to about 24' to 28'.  Is there a "normal" pitching distance?

2. What would a really long pitch be before you'd just make a roll cast, for instance.

3. At the end of the cast, where is your rod tip supposed to be pointing? Mine is about 11 o'clock...which I suspect is too high.

Thanks for all info,

Ben.

[Rich Tehan]

1. You can pitch to what ever you feel comfortable.  I make some really long pitches sometimes, just to keep up my pitching pace, because 2. I don't like roll casting with my jig pitching rod.  Different sized rods, weight of lure, reel/line type and size, all are factors in how far you can pitch. 3. At the end of a pitch, I believe I hold the rod at about 10 o'clock but I'll quickly drop the rod to let the bait fall on slack line.

[SDoolittle]

I don't know if there is a "normal distance" for pitching, but if you are accurate at 28', then you're doing alright. A fisherman putting a lure on target is really no different than a baseball pitcher using different pitches to  hit the catcher in the glove consistantly. Or an archer arrowing targets from various distances with no sights on his bow. In time, with enough practice you will have the skill and confidence to pitch your lure into tight spots without even thinking about it. You will also know your limits. Keep practicing and you will notice your accuracy improving and your confidence growing. Good luck!

[fatmanslim247]

I pitch probably 75 percent of the time i fish, I can pitch quite a ways, accurately.  I pitch just b/c if I am out of the back of the boat, fishing a tx, roll casting out of the back sucks... and you tend to get some mean looks when u bounce something off the outboard.  I practice, anytime I pick up a rod, i pitch around. Pretty much whatever you feel comfortable with is normal.

[ChrisAW]

Like the others said, pitching jigs is more about accuracy than distance, and its also meant to make a silent entry as to not spook any bass near whatever you want to cast to.

I might be able to pitch up to 50 feet, but I'm only accurate within 2 feet maybe. Not to mention trying to pitch that far is not a whole lot different than casting, and its not a very silent entry.

On the other hand, I can pick a target and get right next to it or in it if its within 25 feet of me. Thats more along the lines of what pitching is meant for. Its also a good thing to practice pitching into something, like maybe a 5 gallon bucket, when its on it's side. This is something you might use to get underneath dock sections, boat house doors, or low hanging tree branches.

[tps reports]

Thanks everyone.

Just wanted to make sure I was in the ballpark at this stage of the game.

[backpain...]

With a pitch in my opinion trajectory and entry is more important than distance. You need to keep the bait low to the water for the entire cast. It is critical to 1) get the silent entry or 2) get the bait to skip under branches docks etc.

As far as rod tip, mine changes depending on the pitch. If I am skipping the bait deep under something or deep into cover my tip goes up higher to allow line to peel off of the spool and  keep more velocity on the bait. If it is a silent entry I am going for, I normally stop the tip shorter and feather the spool.

[tps reports]

Another direct answer.

It's like Christmas.... ;D

Thanks all.