-
- Species
- Whitetails
- Rut Reporters
- Deer Camp
- Big Game
- Small Game
- Birds
- Special Methods
- Bow Hunting
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Species
- Bass
- Trout
- More Freshwater
- Saltwater
- Catchbook
- Special Methods
- Fly Fishing
- Hook Shots
- Conservation
- Heroes of Conservation
- Hero for a Day
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
- Land for Sale
-
- Health & Fitness
- F&S Adventurer
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
-
- Rifles
- Shotguns
- 2nd Amendment
- SHOT Show
- Outdoor Skills
- Total Outdoorsman Challenge
Print
Email
Share
How To Pitch For Bass
Bass technique: Use soft underhand casts for largemouths in heavy cover
PITCHING IS AN underhand baitcasting skill that's perfect for delivering bass jigs or weighted creature baits in heavy cover. It's effective from 10 to about 50 feet. You can make a pitch while standing on a boat deck, and you can practice indoors with a hookless casting weight because extremes of force and distance aren't required.
Photo by Samuel A. Minick
The Setup
Heavy-cover fishing requires strong line—20- to 25-pound-test mono. Start with a 3/4- to 1-ounce lure in your left hand (for right-handed casters) about even with the reel. While keeping slight tension on the line with your left hand, put the reel in free-spool and press your right thumb against the spool to prevent any movement.
Photo by Samuel A. Minick
The Swing
Hold the rod at waist level, extended straight out in front of you. Your casting-arm elbow should be bent and relaxed. Let go of the lure to start a pendulum-like swing. As the lure swings, raise the rod upward and outward by about a foot. Release thumb pressure on the spool so the lure flies with a low trajectory. If it lands right in front of you, you released the spool too soon. A high-flying lure means you let go too late.
Photo by Samuel A. Minick
The Landing
As the lure reaches the target, thumb the spool to slow its flight and lower the rod slightly so the bait hits the water with a gentle blip. Above all, remember that you're swinging the lure to make this cast, not throwing it.
ADVERTISEMENT
More Freshwater
Where to Fish | When to Fish | How to Fish | What to Use | What to Wear | Tactics for Spring | Tactics for Summer | Tactics for Fall | Tactics for Winter | Cleaning & Cooking | Catfish | Walleye | Smallmouth | Salmon & Steelhead | Pike & Muskie | Crappie & Panfish | Rough Fish | Other
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Commented
Top Rated
More Freshwater
- whats some good things to catch catfish on?
- What bait/lure should I use in brackish water?
- How to win a Buck knife for a tip
- does the listerine bug repellant trick work or is it a wise tale ???
- Wild Chef's Best: Fish and Turkey Recipes
- stink bait at a cheap rate$
- Fishing Tip: Comb Your Flies Before You Cast
- The Greatest Lesson in Fishing Streamers
- Whip Walleye, Trout and Bass With These 4 Tailor-Made Rods
- House Goes After Trout Stream Protections--Again
More Freshwater
- Photo Contest: Name This Fish, Win a Pair of Costa Sunglasses
- House Goes After Trout Stream Protections--Again
- Tarpon May be Ideal Tenkara Fish
- How To Tie The Snozzberry Carp Fly
- Besides the all mighty worm, does anyone have any tips for different bait for catching bluegills in the summer?
- The Greatest Lesson in Fishing Streamers
- Anyone have any pointers for fishing for lake walleyes? What I have been doing doesn't seem to be working...
- how do you cook a fish on an open fire without a pan or skillet?
- The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos from April 2012
- How do you fish for gar do you bowfish or use a rod and reel
Message Boards
Sites We Like
ADVERTISEMENT
Today on Field & Stream
Loading...
Visit Our Sister Sites at Bonnier Corporation
| Enthusiast | Kiteboarding | QUAD | SKI | Skiing | Scuba Diving | Sport Diver | TransWorld Ride BMX | TransWorld Business | TransWorld Motocross | TransWorld SKATEboarding, | TransWorld SNOWboarding | TransWorld SURF | WakeBoarding | WaterSki | Warren Miller Entertainment | WindSurfing |
|---|---|
| Travel | Caribbean Travel & Life | Destination Weddings & Honeymoon | Islands | Meeting Traveler | Resorts & Great Hotels |
| Lifestyle & Shelter | Florida Travel & Life | Garden Design | Home Ft. Lauderdale | Home Miami |
| Luxury | SNOW | Spa |
| Marine | Boating Life | Cruising World | Fly Fishing in Salt Waters | Power Cruising | Marlin | Motor Boating | Sailing World | Salt Water Sportsman | Sport Fishing | Yachting | NewBoats.com | UsedBoats.com | YachtBroker.com |
| Outdoor | Field & Stream | Outdoor Life | SHOT Business |
| Parenting | Babytalk | Parenting |
| Science | Popular Science | Science Illustrated |
| Saveur | Saveur |
| Working Mother Media | Working Mother |
| Entertainment / Events | World Entertainment Services | World Sports & Marketing |
Fieldandstream.com is part of the Field & Stream Network, a division of Bonnier Corporation.
Copyright © 2012 Bonnier Corp. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited.
Comments (25)
Good article. Holding the bait is very important as you get a consistent release point which makes accuracy come a lot quicker. Kinda like a pitcher in baseball.
sounds like something that just takes practice
sounds complicated
a trick I use is that I don't hold the lure I hold the line just above the lure that way I don't get my scent all over the lure. takes a little bit more practice but once you get it down it is a lot more successful
Good article, I don't pitch a lure quite as much as I should for our lake. But I just need to make a habit of trying it more.
This works for just about all reel types, not just baitcasters.
Does anyone have any advice for the type of line to use with my baitcaster? I am new to the reel and and trying to find that happy medium between strength and smoothness of casting. Thanks for the suggestions...
This works real well with spinner baits to. Also a crankbait works good on big rock banks and just use the rod to pull back
I recently started practicing this technique. It's a little hard at first, then it get's really fun to see how accurate you can be.
great article. a useful technique for the dense covered places I fish.
make sure that when you use this technique that its all in the wrist for the best action and let the bait fall FREEly to the bottom, that is how soft plastics are designed to fall, if there is tension it will go away from where you pitched and your catch will be about 20% lower
bassmasterking kvd much
Diehard... I would use 40 or 50 lb braid on there.
just got to work at it. But does take practice.
The heavier the lure, the easier it is for me. When you master it, you can do it without holding the bait. I use this for weightless worms as well. Soft, quiet entry. Strike comes on the fall 75% of the time.
A longer rod helps with this, I use a 7' Medium heavy with a 3/4 ounce football head jig and a trailer bait on it. Makes it easy to cast it into thick cover, only difference is, I use 50# braid to cut through the vegitation more easily.
my mistake must be in the release.I'm forever missing my spot,guess it just takes more practice.
looks kind of hard
This is going to work great, no doubt! it looks so simple and its going to take practice to master it because it's art. I cant wait to get out there and use this set up!
Every time that I try this with a baitcaster, the lure swings out & then, it gets to its' furtherest point in its path but instead of the line feeding out, it pulls a little on the spool & the line fouls up into a big birds nest. What am I doing wrong? How much tension do you set on the reel?
Used this alot for casting up unde willows.
i do dis shiet wid a spinner real
That way of casting is way better then normal especialy near wood structure and docks............
is there a reason why i try to do this on my baitcaster...and it doesnt go very far...it just comes back.... im new to baitcaster...and still get birdnest... sometimes. good article though..
This is why I love F&S, I have been stuck with the same old techniques and gear I was taught as a kid. F&S not only teaches you the correct ways of doing things but makes me want to try them. Plus everyone shares their tips and tricks, making everyone a better sportsmen/women.
Post a Comment
Good article. Holding the bait is very important as you get a consistent release point which makes accuracy come a lot quicker. Kinda like a pitcher in baseball.
sounds like something that just takes practice
Good article, I don't pitch a lure quite as much as I should for our lake. But I just need to make a habit of trying it more.
This works for just about all reel types, not just baitcasters.
make sure that when you use this technique that its all in the wrist for the best action and let the bait fall FREEly to the bottom, that is how soft plastics are designed to fall, if there is tension it will go away from where you pitched and your catch will be about 20% lower
That way of casting is way better then normal especialy near wood structure and docks............
a trick I use is that I don't hold the lure I hold the line just above the lure that way I don't get my scent all over the lure. takes a little bit more practice but once you get it down it is a lot more successful
Does anyone have any advice for the type of line to use with my baitcaster? I am new to the reel and and trying to find that happy medium between strength and smoothness of casting. Thanks for the suggestions...
This works real well with spinner baits to. Also a crankbait works good on big rock banks and just use the rod to pull back
I recently started practicing this technique. It's a little hard at first, then it get's really fun to see how accurate you can be.
great article. a useful technique for the dense covered places I fish.
bassmasterking kvd much
Diehard... I would use 40 or 50 lb braid on there.
just got to work at it. But does take practice.
The heavier the lure, the easier it is for me. When you master it, you can do it without holding the bait. I use this for weightless worms as well. Soft, quiet entry. Strike comes on the fall 75% of the time.
A longer rod helps with this, I use a 7' Medium heavy with a 3/4 ounce football head jig and a trailer bait on it. Makes it easy to cast it into thick cover, only difference is, I use 50# braid to cut through the vegitation more easily.
my mistake must be in the release.I'm forever missing my spot,guess it just takes more practice.
looks kind of hard
This is going to work great, no doubt! it looks so simple and its going to take practice to master it because it's art. I cant wait to get out there and use this set up!
Every time that I try this with a baitcaster, the lure swings out & then, it gets to its' furtherest point in its path but instead of the line feeding out, it pulls a little on the spool & the line fouls up into a big birds nest. What am I doing wrong? How much tension do you set on the reel?
Used this alot for casting up unde willows.
is there a reason why i try to do this on my baitcaster...and it doesnt go very far...it just comes back.... im new to baitcaster...and still get birdnest... sometimes. good article though..
This is why I love F&S, I have been stuck with the same old techniques and gear I was taught as a kid. F&S not only teaches you the correct ways of doing things but makes me want to try them. Plus everyone shares their tips and tricks, making everyone a better sportsmen/women.
sounds complicated
i do dis shiet wid a spinner real
Post a Comment