TackleTour

What is the difference between flipping and pitching?

I've done some research and honestly can't tell much of a difference. Anybody care to share their $.02?

flipping pulling out line with non rod hand and sending bait out, bringing it back in by pulling line again with free hand. Pitching is sending lure out with an underhand pitch and reeling it back in.

BucketHunter wrote:flipping pulling out line with non rod hand and sending bait out, bringing it back in by pulling line again with free hand. Pitching is sending lure out with an underhand pitch and reeling it back in.

pretty much the story!

basskeeter1 wrote:

BucketHunter wrote:flipping pulling out line with non rod hand and sending bait out, bringing it back in by pulling line again with free hand. Pitching is sending lure out with an underhand pitch and reeling it back in.

pretty much the story!

Your right about that. You have to try both ways and what ever you like to use then stick with it. I say those pros can flip/pitch all day and do a good job at it. God bless them. Its hard for me to do that all day long. :-)

BucketHunter wrote:flipping pulling out line with non rod hand and sending bait out, bringing it back in by pulling line again with free hand. Pitching is sending lure out with an underhand pitch and reeling it back in.

Correct. Also flipping is "something I cannot do without feeling awkward."

The term is often used interchangeably describing pitching. I don't see or hear of many people old school flipping anymore, though people still do it. I understand how it might be more quiet and accurate...I just never got the hang of it, or at least never liked it enough to practice it much.

I like old school flipping for situations where the number of presentations you make increase your odds and ultimate accuracy or stealth is not of the utmost importance. Drifting flats and dunking pockets and puffs come to mind. There is much time wasted in pitching out and reeling back, and it can be fatiguing.
I find flouro is a must in this situation, as the braid will eat up your fingers pretty quick pulling it across your hand all day.

I define flippin as a very short range technique. Used when your boat is butted against cover and you are basically swinging and dropping your bait into a hole in the cover or into the center of clumps. It is pretty much a vertical technique.

In my shallow water lakes I usually measure the amount of line I need to hit bottom after presenting the bait and that's the amount of line I work with. Usually around 8-9 feet of line beyond the rod tip. Lock the reel, shorten the line by pulling the line away from the reel and first guide with one one hand while swinging the bait out and releasing the line target.

I really hate this technique but it's one of the few that works when you have fish in the center of clumps of arrow-heads or under hyacinth mats or in clumps of spadderdock.

I love fishing cover like that. Pulling fish out of that muck is very rewarding!

me too. Love fishing those heavy covers.

WoodT wrote:The term is often used interchangeably describing pitching.

Very true. I rarely see anyone these days actually flipping.

I love pitching. I do it all the time. One of the easiest ways to get a bait under overhangs and present it very stealthy from a distance.

I'm always pitching, never got the hang of flipping either.

chevy5099 wrote:

basskeeter1 wrote:

BucketHunter wrote:flipping pulling out line with non rod hand and sending bait out, bringing it back in by pulling line again with free hand. Pitching is sending lure out with an underhand pitch and reeling it back in.

pretty much the story!

Your right about that. You have to try both ways and what ever you like to use then stick with it. I say those pros can flip/pitch all day and do a good job at it. God bless them. Its hard for me to do that all day long. :-)

agreed! I prefer a little more action when fishing.. yet again i am very hyperactive so i like to stay moving!!

I haven't flip for the past 3 seasons and just mainly pitch. Flipping is for very specific situations only and even then, i try to get away with pitching. Perhaps it is because you spend so much money on fishing gear that you want it to do something, whereas flipping it is all rod length. Hell you can do it with a broom and no reel attached.

A pitch is just an underhand cast, usually to a nearby target. I've pitched with just about every piece of gear I've ever owned with one bait or another.

A flip is when you use slack line to shoot your bait into a very specific nearby spot and often use a nearly vertical presentation. Flipping is always done with heavy gear, I'd use the same thing I use for punching. Ideally I am bringing a fish from his hiding spot all the way to the surface just with the hook set to prevent him from wrapping me around a tree/whatever structure.