Flipping Techniques

[lmoore]

That's no good. And yes, and extra heavy rod should have enough backbone to stick the magical point of a Trokar. LOL

I'll have to keep an eye on fish I catch the season on Trokars and see if that occurs.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Couple of Quick sidenotes:

As with any lure or technique you have to experimant with retrieves and speeds. Keep changing it up. yes we all love the instant grab as soon as the bait sinks but I have found sometimes you have to pretty much deadstick it for a few seconds and maybe lightly jiggle it. Another thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is there are times when after pumping it once or twice you may want to try lifting it to the bottom of the mat and play with it there for a few seconds before lifting it out. These can be exciting strikes as you get a visual and the fish almost take it topwater. Though I get more of that type when flipping brush or thick cattail clumps. Just keep changing it up and almost always once you get a strike or two stick with that method.

As always a slight change in weight can make a difference of course depending on how thick the cover is. But if you can penetrate with less it is worth a shot at times. They may want more of a flutter or a heavy weight will get that violent reaction bite. If your really into it rig 2-3 rods with varying weights. Punching? you can pitch the bait basicly straight up in the air and then stop it with your thumb and make it cash down. if the mat is thick it really doesn't make that much commotion,it just kinda sucks it in. I mention that because just say you hit a spot where the weight your using doesn't quite seem to be enough,you can make it through sometimes by pitching it up in the air.

It can be a pain to flip where its windy but I like to definitely hit spots where the wind has been beating and especially if it is gathering large clumps of floating vegetation.

Many times in these situations if you catch one then pick the hell out of that area! A lot of times bass will congregate within a small key area based on wind current,or bottom composition,or where more than one type of cover or vegetation meets.I find that harder bottom areas if you can locate them are usually better than very silty muddy spots. If the bottom is all the same then well it doesn't matter.

Not sure what everyone elses opinions are but i have very often found that rattles can make a huge difference at times. Using a Paca craw? I like to stuff small pill shaped rattles inside them.

Not to get too technical but sometimes the action of the bait makes a difference too. A bait like a paca or a rage are pretty much my number one go to's around here but sometimes they may want something more subtle with a deadened action or more of a gliding effect. Brush hog,zoom critter craw,sweet beaver type,gambler b.b cricket. Experiment.

[1234567]

I went out again for three hours today and went to a different local canal. This canal is a little different as the weeds are thicker and I don't think it's managed at all. This canal definitely had mats that were like canopies over the lanes that bass travel through. Knowing this, I flipped right into the lanes in about 4 fow. I had 4 bites, hooked one that got off and caught one. I starting to really feel when that tick is alive and not just a weed or root, lol at least I think! I did vary pumping from top to bottom, letting it sit, jigging right below the mat and everything in between.

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Either way it sure sounds like fun to me!!! i'm kinda grounded so to speak on fishing these days!!

[gobig]

As with any lure or technique you have to experimant with retrieves and speeds. Keep changing it up. yes we all love the instant grab as soon as the bait sinks but I have found sometimes you have to pretty much deadstick it for a few seconds and maybe lightly jiggle it. Another thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is there are times when after pumping it once or twice you may want to try lifting it to the bottom of the mat and play with it there for a few seconds before lifting it out. These can be exciting strikes as you get a visual and the fish almost take it topwater. Though I get more of that type when flipping brush or thick cattail clumps. Just keep changing it up and almost always once you get a strike or two stick with that method.

I agree completely.

Punching? you can pitch the bait basicly straight up in the air and then stop it with your thumb and make it cash down. if the mat is thick it really doesn't make that much commotion,it just kinda sucks it in. I mention that because just say you hit a spot where the weight your using doesn't quite seem to be enough,you can make it through sometimes by pitching it up in the air.

This can work. Sometimes I think this kind of entry gets their attention. But I have also seen where this detours the bite. Picking areas in the mat and Learning how to work the bait down through the cover takes some practice but can make for a rewarding day. Some cover is so thick that you don't have to many options in weight. In these cases you can use the spool tensioner to slow the fall.

As far as hooks go I use the ones sold by paycheck baits. They are made by Gamakatsu and IMO far out perform an EWG.

[1234567]

I agree completely.

This can work. Sometimes I think this kind of entry gets their attention. But I have also seen where this detours the bite. Picking areas in the mat and Learning how to work the bait down through the cover takes some practice but can make for a rewarding day. Some cover is so thick that you don't have to many options in weight. In these cases you can use the spool tensioner to slow the fall.

As far as hooks go I use the ones sold by paycheck baits. They are made by Gamakatsu and IMO far out perform an EWG.

I noticed this today as well. I flipped some grass in 3 fow and kind of carelessly tossed it in there. After I took up the slack and engaged the reel I noticed a huge swirl that had came from below the grass and could see the wake heading out towards the middle. Needless to say, lesson learned and missed opportunity on a good fish.

[J Francho]

You can use a "power flip" grab the line and spin the bait. Let go at the right moment so the bait smacks through the cover. Works well for lighter jigs in cover where it's mostly surface clutter that is think, and open below.

[1234567]

JFrancho,

Not sure if you're kidding or serious? Maybe Glenn can make a vid!

I'm not sure what you mean by spinning the bait.

[J Francho]

Not kidding, I'll have to make a video of it.

[james 14]

I used this technique today to secure a win in a tournament on Lake Kissimmee. I had planned on punching some mats but never found any that I really liked. I hit a few with no success and then we decided to run to another part of the lake I figured would have fish staging to spawn. I had planned on trying a few other techniques but when we got there I found the exact type of mat I was looking for. We pulled in two fish in about an hour and then had to leave to weigh-in. One was a fat female. If we had been on that spot all day we would've slayed em but it turned out that wasn't necessary since the tough bite we had was much tougher for everyone else.

The mats were clear underneath...either hyacinth or floating debris...NOT topped out hydrilla

I didn't feel the bites at all. I set the hook and was surprised both times to hook into a fish. I pulled up and the lure was caught on something. Since the mats were clear underneath there was nothing for them to catch on except for a fish...SET THE HOOK!

1+ oz tungsten weights are almost a necessity.

Both fish hit on the fall...but that could be different on any given day. The first one actually hit after I pulled the bait up to bottom of the mat and let it fall again.

These were THICK mats. The first fish I ripped out and she just laid there on top of the mat without sinking in. Thicker mat = a better "blanket" = a LOT of fun getting a bait in and a fish OUT.

On a side note - 4 of the top 5 in the Everstart series on Lake O this weekend were punching mats. Tis the season. This is a specific new technique for me that I will be trying a LOT more in the future...especially in prespawn.