Pitching/Flipping quetions

[YeahSure]

I'm fishing a tourney this weekend and got a new jig rod coming in the mail and was wondering how everyone is rigging their baits? I caught a bunch of fish today in about 4-8 foot of water crashing cranks into pole timber but I was limited to only one rod at the time, and im thinking if I flip those laydowns and things I might be able to get that big bite. I'll prob be throwing a craw or beaver bait.. What would you do? Are you throwing it on a small jig, or rigging them texas? Is so what size weight and hook and are you pegging or not and what type of line would you recommend? Appreciate any help

edit: wrong section mods please move 

[bassnleo]

If you're looking for the "big bite" I would fish a jig with either a craw or beaver trailer.

A texas rig beaver will also get you bites.

So, it's really up to you on how/what you prefer to fish or what bait you have confidence in.

If it were me, I'd fish the jig

[YeahSure]

I really want to know how someone would go about flipping a beaver style bait, what size weight and hook would you be using?

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

it really depends on the grass u are fishing how thick is it? what weight do you think you need to be able to punch it and keep bottom contact once it reaches the bottom. I would use about a 3 ought wide gap hook and i pretty much always peg my bait when flipping and pitching grass becuase its easier for the bait to slide in and out of the grass. on average I use about a a 1/4 to 1/2 for moderate flipping. When summer comes and that vegatation is matted mabye about a 3/4 ounce weight

[fishfordollars]

Heck, if you're catching fish I see no need to make a change. It's been tough everywhere this year so enjoy what you got.

[Beastie Bass]

I agree, if you are catching fish why change? I do flip beaver baits, I use 15 pound flouro and a 3/0 wide gap usually with a 1/4oz pegged for skinny water or 1/2 for deeper. I have found myself using these where I used to flip a big tube. Reaction Innovation Sweet Beaver is one of the best!

[Catt]

Information given

Location: some where in Virginia

7-Day Forecast: gradual warming trend with day time temps in mid-50's into the upper 60's with over night lows staying constant in the mid-30's

Seasonal Pattern: pre-spawn

Current Pattern: "I caught a bunch of fish today in about 4-8 foot of water crashing cranks into pole timber"

Based of the information given I would stay within the general depth range and venture slightly shallow. I would stay with the unknown cranks first followed by spinner baits and lastly jigs or T-rigs.

What I would like to know

Type of structure

Water temps

Water clarity

Other available cover

Type of crank bait

Predominate bait species

[bassnleo]

I really want to know how someone would go about flipping a beaver style bait, what size weight and hook would you be using?

I use a Reaction Innovations BMF 4/0 hook, tungsten weights. Weight size varies according to thickness of cover, type of cover, activity level of the fish, etc..

Could use as little as 1/4 oz, as much as 1 oz.

An important thing to add, I use a snell knot with the above hook. When tied properly, the knot rotates the hook point up on the hook set.

Some of the guys asked why change if your catching fish. I'm with you......If I were catching fish on a crank or moving bait, I'd also be looking for another back-up pattern or something that would produce a larger bite. If I recall correctly, the top finishers at the 2009 Classic were kinda doing the same thing, catching fish on moving baits early then moving to a flippin pattern for larger bites.

[YeahSure]

Information given

Location: some where in Virginia

7-Day Forecast: gradual warming trend with day time temps in mid-50's into the upper 60's with over night lows staying constant in the mid-30's

Seasonal Pattern: pre-spawn

Current Pattern: "I caught a bunch of fish today in about 4-8 foot of water crashing cranks into pole timber"

Based of the information given I would stay within the general depth range and venture slightly shallow. I would stay with the unknown cranks first followed by spinner baits and lastly jigs or T-rigs.

What I would like to know

Type of structure

Water temps

Water clarity

Other available cover

Type of crank bait

Predominate bait species

Type of structure : Lots and Lots of pole timber along the shoreline and some in the middle of the creek channel.

Water temps: 56 where we were at, 54 at bottom of lake.

Water clarity: About 2-3 ft visibility, maybe less. Its more stained-muddy where we were fishing at.

Other cover there isn't too much a bunch of laydowns and pole timber around where we caught them yesterday.

Caught them on a shallow running LC, and the predominate species of baitfish i'm not too sure, but we have gizzard shad supposedly and tons of bluegill and stuff along those lines.

Im also fishing on a 650 acre reservoir.

[Joe D]

Witt what you are describing I would either use a 3/8 oz jig (blk/blue) is my favorite this time of year, with a blue or green pumpkin chigger craw. If you want a smaller presentation 1/4oz tungsten rigged with bobber stoppers, 3/0 BMF hook, beaver or chigger craw. For me I like a slow fall this time of year but I would still make my first pass or two through your good arears with the crankbait, if your catching fish. With the warm tempatures this week look for some fish to be venturing shallower.

Joe

[Joe D]

Also if you are catching fish on a "shallow running LC" over 8 ft of water, they may be suspended next to the pole timber. If that is the case  a slow falling bait could be very important.

Joe

[247bassin]

I am fairly new to this site, but in your situation I would do as many people have already recommended.  I would use the cranks for the first few passes.  After I caught everything I could with the cranks I would go back and fish it with a clean up bait.  I would go with a chigger craw on a straight shank hook.  I am cheap so the hooks I use are the BPS XPS hooks.  I like the 4/0 for the chigger craws.  This time of year, I would want something falling a little but slower, so I would go with a 1/4 oz. lead weight.  I might even go back with a light jig and a twin tail grub trailer after I fished the chigger craw.  I would say with the cranks producing, I would fish them and go to another spot, go back later and fish the texas rigged chigger craw after they have time to settle down.

Good luck in the tournament and hopes this helps.