Pitching

[barrabait]

Ok it's my turn to ask a question or two.

I read SneakySnooks post on his best bass caught "pitching". What the heck is pitching? Is it possible to explain it to me or will I have to come over there and go fishin with one of you blokes to learn. I will be fishing on a lake in two weeks with Aussie Bass in it and Im keen to try out this pitching thing especially if it catches big bass.

Also are your lakes stocked with bass or do they breed naturally in the impoundments. Our bass need brackish/salt water to breed so the fish in the impoundments can not breed.

Thanks.

barrabait

[basspro48]

Pitching is a technique used when heavy cover and shallow water are present. You do it by holding the bait in your hand with the rod held next to you, now raise the rod up to about the top of your head with the rod tip pointing straight out. Now drop the bait out of your hand and dip the rod tip down, then when the bait is falling away from you flick the rod tip up to send the bait flying, with a quick flip of the wrist. This might take a little practice but once you've mastered it you will quickly find many situations that demand pitching.

Also are your lakes stocked with bass or do they breed naturally in the impoundments

 

Around here its a combination of both, the bas spawn naturally and the Game and Fish department takes surveys every year to see if stocking is needed.

[barrabait]

Thanks for the info Basspro48. I'll give pitching a go.

barrabait

[Jeff P.]

barrabait,

There are some excellent articles on this site that discuss pitching, and the related technique "flipping".  They can be found under the Fishing Articles link at the top of the page.  Here are a couple to get you started:

http://bassresource.com/fishing/pitching.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/flipping_pitching.html

http://bassresource.com/fishing/flipping_pitching_fishing.html

[Lightninrod]

Welcome to BR barrabait.

Pitching is my first or second favorite technique I use. Pitching can be done while sitting but it's done more easily while standing. Usually, you're targeting a specific piece of cover(stump, laydown, grass edge, etc.) that's just a few(10-30'?) feet away. The intent is to drop the bait(usually a jig, a small swimbait, or T-rigged soft-plastic) quietly into the water right next to the target and to get it to drop straight down.

Many times, the strike will come as the bait falls thru the water column so watch for the line to 'jump'; reel down and set the hook hard. Other times. the strike may come with the bait just laying still on the bottom and if it doesn't, just pop the bait up and forward a foot or so, let it sit again, etc. Strikes can be very 'soft' so a sensitive line like 100% flurocarbon is my choice.

I taught myself to pitch a few years ago after watching a Denny Brauer video(out of production now) over and over. I practised out in my yard by pitching a jig towards and under bushes along the side of my home. It's the most 'fun' way to catch Bass IMO.

That's a "pitched-jig" Bass in my avatar

Dan

[bassbuster29]

pitching is a great technique used for hitting key spots. this allows good accuracy and control over your bait. using this the lure enters the water not making much noise or splash... give this a try

[Cajun1977]

are there any videos out there to teach flipping and pitching?

[barrabait]

Thanks for the info everyone. Im keen to give it a go. I'll let yous know if i get the hang of it and catch a few fish. ;D

barrabait

[Lightninrod]

are there any videos out there to teach flipping and pitching?

I found this one.

Dan

[Jeff P.]

I have the KVD video "Pitching to Heavy Hitters" and I highly reccommend it.

[huskertko]

I have the KVD vid as well, and it is really good, but it doesn't really teach how to pitch.  It is very good at showing when, where and why to pitch but as far as the actually mechanical movements to pitching, it doesn't really emphasise them, IMO.

[Rattlinrogue]

Pitchin' is my favorite technique.It takes some practice to get it down without backlashing every other pitch.I worked on it for a month every day during the aftermath of Katrina when I had nothing else to do.It's a fun technique to go in after the bass when conditions aren't so good.Just practice,practice,practice and you'll eventually get it down.It's definitely is a technique that takes some skill to master.

[SneakySnook]

I mostly learned when I saw it on Bass Center last week. One of the host was showing how to pitch and flip. After that I tried it and just keep practicing and getting better at hitting my target. Good luck!