Pitching and Flipping

[chromedog]

I have read and watched a lot on this technique but for some reason or another, I am not getting it right.  When I do it, I seem to get the bait to go only about 3-5 feet away from me and then it falls back towards me and ends up being 1 ft away from me.  Am I supposed to loosen the Spool Tension knob all the way?  Loosen the magnetic brake?  How do I get it to go where I want it and go to the bottom?

[fatmanslim247]

Personally, I like my reel super lose, some don't.  What you need to do is get a heavy 1/2 ounce jig or weight or w/e and practice.  Thats the only way to master it.  I got alot of practice when I was younger helping kids doing casting kids events.  Make a target and start to throw.

[J Francho]

For flipping, spool tension makes no difference, since the reel is engaged already.

For pitching, I like the spool free, and no brakes.

[DINK WHISPERER]

Those two techniques are the one i use about 90% of the time to catch fish. Like stated above, when learning it is best to use a heavier weight. I loosen my spool but not so loose that it will backlash. You need to use the lures weight and momentum to your advantage. If you start out by throwing it hard and than slow down you will most likely get a bad back lash. Practice a lot and than practice some more. Also, look on You Tube, there are some great videos on there that show step by step.

[chromedog]

Thanx, I figured the spool tension had something to do with pitching.  I got the whole thing down with pulling the line and the actual pitching, but when it lands, it would start coming right back to me as no line was coming off the spool to allow it to go further down.  SO it would end up right back to me.  It was hitting the spot I wanted but it sure didn't stay there.  I wanna go back out tonight and try again as I did it for a while yesterday and did manage to get a dink and a nice 5lber when the bite was tough.  I was using a pegged 1/4 weight, bead with a beaver, is that too light to try learn with?

[snapshotmd]

I used to use a spinning rod to pitch only but figured out how to do it with a baitcaster.

I find if I hold the lure with the opposite hand to wind up the rod a little it will cast further.

I also found out that I have better thumb control if I palm the reel.  This is only for pitching.  Normally I'd have my index finger around the rod trigger.

You also need to "tune" your reel with what you're throwing.  After that put your bc into freespool and start pitching.

[Hot Rod]

I've sort of discovered a set up trick for pitchin' the lighter weights like the 1/4 oz/ beaver combo you spoke of or even down to 1/16 oz

For fine tunning, I use the tension control knob to control/set up the tension for the start of the pitch and the magnetic control for the end of the pitch on the entry.  

I set both controls as loose as I can, but if I still get a bit of an overrun on the entry despite the use of the "thumb break" I'll go one more micro click on the magnetic.  Of course you have to have a reel that ofers micro magnetic adjustments.

Similarly if I'm getting some overrun at the start of the pitch I'll make the smallest adjustment on my tension knob, tightening it ever so slightly and testing it until I get it perfect.

It is awsome when you get it right.  I now can pitch light rigs, keepingit close to the water during the pitch for silent entry, with great accuracy and distance.   The fine tuning doesn't matter as much for heavier rigs with heavier line, but for the smaller stuff the difference is amazing.

[Hot Rod]

I almost forgot, with the lighter weights it is better to have a rod with a lighter action tip to it for pitching.  You can't pitch the light baits as well with a broom stick.  Though you still want something with a stout backbone for setting the hook.

I have a BPS 7'6' M Pro Finesse that I use for this ap.  I was afraid that it would be to whimpy to pull em' out of cover but I haven't had any problems. It has a good backbone and great tip action.  I load it with 12 or 15# Pline floroclear.

[dmac14]

After the bait hits the water I usually release my thumb and lift my rod up which gives the bait line, and then it falls vertically down rather than like a pendulum.

[HookMaster]

Flipp'n and pitch'n takes practice and the right reel/rod setup.  When I wasn't fishing I would practive my flip'n and pitch'n in my back yard.  I took some dixie cups and filled them with play sand and used them for target.  Give this a try and I promise you your technique will improve.