Cant Catch A Fish Flipping/Pitching

[senkoking]

I just start flipping/pitching and i cant catch a fish for the life of me. I am throwing jigs,tubes, and sweet beavers. Any tips?

[SoFlaBassAddict]

Well, it's either the location you're fishing.  Or if I had to guess (because I did it when I learned to flip and pitch), you probably have too much slack in the line when the bait hits the water.  You really need a controlled slack when the lure is falling so you can feel the fish hit it.

[pkelz]

First of all, what exactly is the problem? Are the fish hitting and missing or are they not hitting period? If you feel like you're missing fish, I'd recommend using higher quality hooks like Mustad Ultra Point or Gamakatsu and using low or no-stretch line like a heavy braid. Don't be afraid to set the hook hard with this heavy line. If the problem is that you're just flat out not getting any bites, start experimenting with a bunch of different lures and colors. In addition to that, try to find some of the heaviest cover you can access. Just remember: don't be afraid to lose some lures with this tactic!

[fishfordollars]

Probably location. lots of areas here that is the only way to get a lure to them.

[wisconsin heat]

if the water is clear, use a flouro leader, and downsize your lure and weight, like changing up from a big jig&craw on 50lb braid, to maybe a zoom critter craw or a RI smallie beaver with a 3/16-3/8 ounce weight, with a flouro leader--or just use flouro entirely...the pros do

[evrgladesbasser]

I just start flipping/pitching and i cant catch a fish for the life of me. I am throwing jigs,tubes, and sweet beavers. Any tips?

Whenever I try new lures/ techniques I fish in spots that I know hold fish. This way I am confident the fish are there and I just need to figure out how to catch them. Good luck and keep at it!

[tommy]

how quiet is your lure going in the water?

the lakes where i pitch, if it makes a splash, your dragging water.......

[senile1]

if the water is clear, use a flouro leader, and downsize your lure and weight, like changing up from a big jig&craw on 50lb braid, to maybe a zoom critter craw or a RI smallie beaver with a 3/16-3/8 ounce weight, with a flouro leader--or just use flouro entirely...the pros do

And if the water is very muddy make sure you are pitching right up next to the cover.  A few inches can be the difference in getting bit when the water is muddy and the fish will hang tight to cover.  I fished a very muddy lake Sunday.  The only bites I had occurred when pitching and flipping to tree trunks in 8 feet of water.  This means finding breaks and spaces between branches to get your lure up in there.  The bass that I caught were tempted by jigs placed right up against the tree. 

[NateFollmer]

if the water is clear, use a flouro leader, and downsize your lure and weight, like changing up from a big jig&craw on 50lb braid, to maybe a zoom critter craw or a RI smallie beaver with a 3/16-3/8 ounce weight, with a flouro leader--or just use flouro entirely...the pros do

And if the water is very muddy make sure you are pitching right up next to the cover. A few inches can be the difference in getting bit when the water is muddy and the fish will hang tight to cover. I fished a very muddy lake Sunday. The only bites I had occurred when pitching and flipping to tree trunks in 8 feet of water. This means finding breaks and spaces between branches to get your lure up in there. The bass that I caught were tempted by jigs placed right up against the tree.

Also, when you're pitching/flipping into cover like this (or beside docks or any vertical structure/cover, make sure you strip some line off to control the fall of the lure. If you don't do this, your lure is going to start coming back to you (pendulum back to you). If you pull some line off, or if it's a heavy enough lure just don't engage the reel, then you'll get a nice straight fall and more bites. 

[brushhoggin]

also distance is key. you dont wanna get too close to your target. hone your accuracy skills, i'm still workin on that one also

[MFBAB]

Try to find some water with a little stain to it and lots of visible cover like laydowns or flooded brush and just ease around and concentrate on dropping it in there quietly and accurately and always try to pay out a little line so it will fall straight down to the bottom.  You ought to be able to start catching some fish doing that and before long you will learn what bites feel like and get a lot of casting practice in the process.  I started like that a couple of years ago and now I always have a flipping rod rigged.  Just last w/end I was idling back to the boat dock and decided to fish a rip rap wall before taking out, about halfway down there were a couple of laydowns so I picked up the flipping rod and caught my 2 best bass of the w/end and got broke off by another within a 2-3 minute span, I hadn't even picked up that rod the whole w/end until then, lol.  Once you get started with it you'll like it

[FutureSoldier]

Flipping is pretty much all I do. I usually flip around thick cover and a little in front of where I am aiming for so I don't spook the fish. You might also want to set your cast control a little lower so your line can flow easier.

[senkoking]

Thank You for the help everyone

[pkelz]

Another good thing to remember if you're flipping heavy cover is to start from the outside of the cover and work your way in. That way, if you pull one out on the outside, you don't spook all the fish that may be holding closer to the heart of the cover.

[fishermantony]

I like to pitch into cover that you might be hesitant to pitch into, like fallen trees.  I like to feel my jig deflecting off branches.  I like when I feel the bait in contact with anything because I believe it will give the bait an erratic appearance that will appeal to the bass.