Flippin/pitchin

[kellenMO]

Hey guys, I fish some lakes where boat docks are pretty much the only cover that the bass have and it requires a lot of flipping and pitching. However, these casting techniques seem to always give me backlash. And trying to skip a bait under a dock turns out even worse. I am great at normal overhead and sidearm casting, but pitching and skipping always gives me trouble. So I was wondering if you guys had any tips on flipping/pitching/skipping. Is there a special way to tune your reel or what?

Thanks a lot

[BASSclary]

For pitching Very low spool tension with higher than normal brakes works well for me. Just remember to to feather the spool

Flipping doesn't involve the spool being disengaged if i remember correctly. It's hard to explain. Im pretty sure your just having trouble with pitching.

Skipping is definately not easy with casting gear. I'm still trying to master it. Im using the same settings as when I pitch, but i'm a little lighter with the feathering. What helps me right now is to make sure I time my release so the bait fly's parallel with the water and skipps on it, rather than an early release where it just slams the water.

[s13john]

practice practice practice. free spool easy on the breaks.. try to keep a low trajectory and lift the rod then set it down. best way i can explain it

[BassThumb]

There are a few lakes around me that pretty much only have docks for cover, and as expected, there are bass all over them.

I use a 7' MH/F spinning rod for skipping those docks, with braided line and a heavy fluorocarbon leader. If you ever come across a MH power spinning rod with a stiff butt section, It'd be worth considering for skipping soft plastics like weightless worms, flukes, and Senkos. These are surefire baits for pulling bass from underneath those docks, and a stiff spinning rod is a much better tool for skipping than a baitcasting setup.

For pitching, I use zero spool tension and very little brakes, and I lightly drag my finger on the spool during the entire pitch. That's what works best for me. If I have too much tension or brakes, I have a hard time keeping the bait close to the water during the pitch, which is key for a soft entry.

[clayton86]

I just watched a episode of the bass pros and KVD talked bout this. He says to loosen the spool tension all the way and turn the mag brakes to 100%. He claims he doesn't get any lashs if he feathers it every so slightly.

I watched that and practiced that yesterday well waiting for my inlaws BBQ I use a Abu revo sx and 76mhf veritas spooled with 17lb vanish. I had a worm with a 1/4oz weight and did what kvd said to the T and I can say it worked flawlessly I didn't have a single over run practicing in the yard using dandalions as targets. Just practice practice practice bigest part I found is knowing how much power to use in the lift so to speak. I either a foot to shy or a foot to far but I practiced till I thought my arm was gonna fall off and am good now ill set it in a shot glass every time.

[backwater4]

I've seen people use spinning rods like someone else mentioned. Maybe try this until you get the baitcaster down.

[dwtaylor]

I would definitely loosen the spool control knob all the way and turn the brake system as need be. I have been learning to skip cast with a baitcaster and have found that a loose spool with full mag brake works best. My accuracy isn't there yet, but I try several casts every time I go out and I have been seeing improvement. I typically use a 7'6" mh veritas, revo sx left hand, and 50lb spiderwire stealth ultracast. Also, tubes and frogs skip wonderfully.

[ww2farmer]

I skip light weight things like weightless flukes and senkos, shakey heads, light t-rigs, small jigs, with a spinning rod. I pitch, flip and skip, bigger stuff with a bait caster. It took a few years of practice, and some stuff just don't skip well on casting gear. Jigs and frogs work best, for me, and t-rigs do too, if the weight is pegged. Spinnerbaits and/or crankbaits? Forget it, I still can't get them to skip worth a nickle.

[silvercliff_46]

Any guy that can skip with bait casting stuff is my hero.

I don't have any docks on the 1200 acre flowage I fish. Heck there aren't any houses on it. I do a lot of skipping under over hanging trees. I use stout spinning rods with super braid line. I have a 7ft+ Lacrosse flippin' stick to flip & pitch with. I just watched a segment by KVD that helped me. Someone else said it too, loosen your spool drag increase your brake drag. It helped me.