Pitch casting my goal for "08"

[keithdog]

This year I really am wanting to learn to use the pitch cast technique. I've dabbled with it in the past but don't seem to be able to get the hang of it. My casts are always much shorter than I am looking for. Usually 10-15 feet at most. I've watch guys use this casting technique with much greater casting distances than I get. When I swing the rod foreward I feel the lure as it starts to pull line from the reel and it just plops in front of me. Sooo, I thought I would ask you guys for any tips you might have using this casting technique. Such as the casting technique itself, and how I should set the cast controls on my reel.

[JB]

I've always held the bait in one hand and lower the rod tip, raise it to 12 o clock and let go of the bait, then feather the lure's entry by thumbing the spool. After ya get going pitch after pitch, you get into the mode of just swinging the lure with out holding it on the pitch. 15-30 feet is about as far as I want to sling a lure if I'm in the boat. The trick to a easy entry is to bring the rod tip up slightly as its about to enter the water. Once you get the hang of the technique, start shooting that lure under over hanging trees onto the water.

[pig n jig]

Keith, you need to learn to pitch, while almost freespooling the reel. Your Cabelas prodigy reel would be a good choice.Set the magnet to its max setting and then slowly loosen the spool tension knob a little bit at a time as your pitchin to increase the distance. I like to get the lure under motion doing a underhand pitch as JB mentioned.As soon as the lure reaches its destination, or is about to land on the surface.Thumb the spool to stop the forward motion of the lure and slightly raise your rod tip.Practicing this will allow you to put the lure where you want to and the entry of the lure will be very quiet, no splash to spook the fish.I hope this helps. P N J

[keithdog]

WOW, talk about a night and day difference. I used my Prodigy reel on my Pro Qualifier rod. Set the reel as you suggested p&j and made a few pratice attempts. Using the casting movements you and JB explained, I am pitching that practice plug all the way into the street! About 25 to 30 feet. Man am I jazzed, lol. I think what my problem has been all along is I never adjusted my reels casting setting to near freespool like you suggested p&j. THAT made a huge difference. Thanks a bunch guys.

[3dkicker]

Just make sure you don't change techniques before you adjust your settings or
Get a dental pick just in case!

[zooker]

Originally Posted by 3dkicker

Just make sure you don't change techniques before you adjust your settings or
Get a dental pick just in case!

or hit anything during the cast-been there- to be honest keith i would pick up a video at bass pro. probly the best one i have seen for this type thing..
van dam's "pitching to heavy hitters" he don't try to sell you alot of crap just tells you what he is doing with what bait. and how he cast it..

mind you i can pitch well but suck at flippin.

zooker

[pig n jig]

I think I should have read the responses first before posting. JB already said everything I had said. Sorry, JB. P N J

[keithdog]

I'll check that out next time I'm at BPS zook. Thanks for the tip

[JB]

not so pnj, you picked right up on me forgetting to say about the almost free spooling tension setting, good pt to bring up~
Keith, as others have said, make sure you adjust that setting each and every time you tie on. I keep a citica reel free spooled and only use it for flipping and pitching, but when i put the dif weights on, you REALLY have to be carefull to put more tension on the line drop or you'll get a biggie sized birds nest.
25-30 ft is great! and long enough that you dont need any further out. Now try targets that are 5-15 ft out and learn to finesse the lure in. Getting the techinque of pitching long distances is fine, but when you ease up to some spot that needs just a 10 ft pitch, its nice to be able to adjust the ol backswing and feather a bit more with the thumb on the spool for easy entry.
Glad we could help ya and good luck!

[islandbass]

Congrats! Pretty soon you'll be pitchin' without grabbing the bait with your free hand (after the first pitch).

[Bob Smith]

Great stuff! JB, you have nailed it, Bubba!
Be careful and be mindful of shoulder, elbow and wrists (especially if you have carpel tunnel syndrome). It's like learning to serve a tennis ball, if you do it wrong your body will tell you REAL QUICK! Like serving a tennis ball, you get back out there and make adjustments in the technique till it no longer hurts! As JB pointed out that Tension adjustment for every weight lure is a tempermental, but what makes you feel really stupid is to pick up the rod when you see something you know is out of your pitching range so you rare back and zing that sucker out there! The spools is like the Everready Bunny, it keeps going and going and going, until it is wadded up worse than your younguns first attempt with toilet paper!

[zooker]

Originally Posted by Bob Smith

but what makes you feel really stupid is to pick up the rod when you see something you know is out of your pitching range so you rare back and zing that sucker out there! The spools is like the Everready Bunny,

seein i use 3 differant reels to pitch with you are SO right.

zooker

[pig n jig]

What the hell happened to having boat control ?Boat control is as important to pitchin as being able to pitch a long distance. With boat control, you don't need to try to reach it, move until you are within a comfortable distance, within your pitching capability. P N J

[BigBassin144]

I can't pitch for crap. Probably because I need a heavier and longer rod. I'll have one next spring and can practice. I just have to talk my dad into finishing the Flippin' stick we are building for me. Honestly, with the time we've spent doing nothing, I think it wold have been cheaper (and not to mention a lot easier) to just buy a flippin' stik...

BB

[3dkicker]

One thing I learned and when I help people out is to make sure you use a heavy bait when first learning to pitch (as in 1/2oz or so). Makes things much easier to adjust the tension and magnetic/centrif. Good thumb control helps too.