Pitching a Jig

[hjerk24]

Have been working on pitching a jig (this is my goal for this season- throw it more and catch some fish on it).  How far would you say that you will pitch a jig at the farthest?  Just curious.  I am working in the garage and outside, and would say I may be at 30' at the farthest.  Just curious.  If you have a target (say a hole in a mat, or the edge of a dock)  How far will you place the boat away from the target?  Any replies will be helpful.

THX!

[Mobydick]

I can pitch a jig up to 45 or 50 feet, but I rarely pitch over 25 while im fishing. I played around a bit and found my distance that I can comfortably and precisely pitch at, which happens to be 25 foot. So play around a bit and find the distance that you are comfortable at, and place your boat appoximately that far from your target. Practice a lot before you go out too. I practice a few days a week for about 2 hours each.

Have fun and good luck!

                                                                       Ian

[Sam]

20-feet or less for me.

Get close to target and flip or pitch jig SOFTLY into the water.

You could go over 30-feet if you want but you will be sacrificing accuracy.  

[5bass]

I try to stay as far away as I can and still be accurate, especially in shallower water. I dont ever get to fish any mats but if I did, I wouldn't be AS concerned about spooking fish because mats are so thick. And being closer in, I'd probably be flippin'.

30' is a pretty good distance. There will be a point though, when you have to put so much into it that your accuracy will fade.

[J Francho]

I'm accurate and quiet up to about 20 feet.  I use a pitch cast for trout fishing in winter, and I can pitch the long float rig pretty far, though its more of a sidearm, sweep cast, probably around 50 feet. Sometimes I pitch simply for a low trajectory, but not the quiet entry, like throwing jigs under docks.  These  casts would be pretty far if there wasn't anything in the way because its a fairly forceful cast. The jig goes under the dock, and the line often times hits the front edge of the dock.

[NaterD]

I also plan on getting more comfortable with this... what do you guys use for a Jig around docks / in mats?

[J Francho]

For docks and timber, I like Arkie style jigs.  For mats, a good pointy head grass jig is the way to go.

[kbkindle]

depend on where the break is on the bottom  some parts of my lake drop off at 10' away from bank and other places 20'  i want to be far enough away so i can let the jig follow the bottom when bringing it back to boat

[revoman]

I think it would matter how heavy a jig you are pitching.

[westpalmfrogpunk]

i say twenty five to thrirty is pitching other wise a smooth roll cast may be more accurate and can be just as queit enterring the water if done propperly. I use this alot fishing spinner baits and jigs. use a low trajectory cast and just as the lure enters the water lift up on the rod and ease it into the water. goes in quiet and the blades start turning as soon as it enters. with jig after entry I give it slack and let it free fall on semi slack line and watch for any movement.

[Blake R.]

I can pitch pretty accurately out to about 30 feet. Past that, roll cast. Or, if I need to get it under a bush or a low dock, I'll skip the bait.

[Redhed]

how do you roll cast with a baitcaster or spin rod? i fly fish as well and i assume its not the same roll cast (using the water for tension).

[Catt]

Since no one addressed your question here's the answer

When fishing matted vegetation the key is to keep your flips, pitches, or cast as vertical as possible so you can bring your bass through less vegetation. If your are trying to flip, pitch, or cast at 25-50' in matted vegetation the odds of landing a bass is greatly reduced because your having to pull through to much grass.

An extra heavy rod of at least 7', braided line and a jig of ¾ oz with a stout hook are essential to fishing matted vegetation. I rarely pitch or cast in matted vegetation relying more on flipping with an added twist, instead of flipping with a fixed amount of line I'll leave my reel in free spool stripping line as the jig touches down. This insures as vertical fall while insuring the jig reaches bottom which is key are matted vegetation.

While there are many anglers who are great at fishing matted vegetation I know of three who are masters Tommy Martin, Joe Thomas, and Terry Oldham; all three have videos available to the public.