If casting is the heartbeat of fishing, flipping and pitching are its precision tools. These close-range techniques are all about accuracy, stealth, and getting your bait exactly where the big fish hide under docks, near brush piles, and in heavy cover where a normal cast just won’t cut it.

Flipping and pitching might look similar, but they’re distinct skills that every serious bass angler should master. Done right, they turn impossible spots into hot zones. Done wrong, they leave you snagged in branches or spooking fish before you even get close.

Why Flipping and Pitching Matter

Bass, especially the big ones, love cover. They hang tight to structures like logs, reeds, stumps, anywhere food is abundant and predators can’t see them. Traditional casting often scares them off. Flipping and pitching solve that problem by quietly dropping your bait right in front of their nose.

Think of it as precision surgery compared to the broad strokes of casting.

Flipping: The Short Game

Flipping keeps things quiet and controlled, perfect for shallow water with heavy cover.

How to Flip:

1. Let out about 8–10 feet of line and hold it in your free hand.

2. Point the rod tip toward your target, with a short length of line hanging.

3. Swing the bait forward in a pendulum motion, using your free hand to feed line as the lure moves.

4. Keep the rod high to guide the lure gently into the strike zone.

Pro Tip: Flipping is about precision, not distance. Keep movements smooth and controlled.

Common Mistakes:

• Dropping bait too hard on the water scares fish instantly.

• Using too much line so keep it short and manageable.

Pitching: The Quiet Long Shot

Pitching is the big brother of flipping, a similar motion, but allows you to cover more water quietly.

How to Pitch:

1. Hold your bait in one hand with 2–3 feet of line hanging.

2. Lower the rod tip, swing it upward while releasing the bait forward.

3. The bait should glide softly into the target zone.

Why it works: Pitching gives you range, 20 to 30 feet while keeping noise low. Perfect for working a series of targets without repositioning your boat.

Gear That Helps You Flip and Pitch

• Rod: A 7–7.5 foot medium-heavy to heavy rod with fast action for control.

• Reel: A smooth baitcasting reel for accuracy.

• Line: 20–30 lb braided line for strength in heavy cover.

• Lures: Jigs, Texas-rigged plastics, or creature baits, anything that mimics crawfish or small baitfish.

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When to Use Flipping vs. Pitching

• Flipping: Best for ultra-close, heavy cover when fish are spooky and tight to structure.

• Pitching: Best when you need a bit more distance but still want a quiet presentation.

Advanced Tips to Nail It

1. Control the Splash – Your bait should enter the water as quietly as a feather. Practice until you can barely hear it.

2. Work the Angles – Don’t just flip or pitch head-on; hit targets from the side to mimic natural prey movement.

3. Stay Stealthy – Keep boat noise and shadow movement to a minimum.

4. Quick Hooksets – Fish near cover strike fast and retreat. Be ready.

Practice Drill

Take a bucket and place it at different distances in your backyard. Try to flip and pitch lures into it quietly. Once you can consistently “hit the bucket” without a splash, you’re ready for the real thing.

Flipping and pitching aren’t flashy, but they’re deadly effective. These close-range techniques allow you to put your lure right where the bass live, in places casual anglers never reach.

Master them, and you’ll turn every log, stump, and dock into an opportunity for your next personal best.

And remember, the right gear makes all the difference:
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