Bass Flipping: How to Flip Cast for Largemouth Bass like a Pro

Bass fishing requires a high degree of accuracy in a fisherman’s cast, and thus many different styles of casting have been developed for most fishing situations. I have been fishing for nearly 10 years now, and I have been chasing largemouth bass all over the United States using a variety of tactics. Since much of bass fishing, especially largemouth bass fishing, takes place in dense cover, flipping is one method of casting that helps bass fishermen penetrate this thick cover. Flipping is a good way to do an accurate short range cast, allowing one to place their lure into spot not generally able to be reached by conventional fishing methods. Pitching is a similar method to flipping but both are often used by fishermen,

Flipping may look complicated to do, but it really is not too hard to get the hang of. To do it, first attach a practice casting lure to the end of the fishing line (or just a weight, but be careful either way). Find an open place, like a driveway or field to cast into (I’m assuming you don’t have access to a fishing pond just next to your house). Then, let out enough line so the lure is about 3 ft from the tip of your fishing rod. Grasp some of the line between the first line guide and the fishing reel with your left had, and pull it out to about one feet of line. Now, open the bail while keeping the fishing line held fast at the reel in your right hand. Finally, lower the rod tip, thereby swinging the lure back, towards you, the in one fast motion flip the lure in the direction of your target, releasing the line in your left hand, and then the line held at your reel in your right hand. That is the basic method for flipping in bass fishing, an accurate cast under conditions that force you to fish with short range casts.

Flipping takes a little while to get used to, and practicing it many times is the best method to get used to flipping. Keep practicing until you can throw out your lure and drop it right where you want it, several times in a row. If you are a south paw then keep in mind to just reverse the hand mentioned here for the parts of the flip cast. use the too. I generally use a spinning rod and reel combo for my bass fishing, and thus for my flipping, but flip casts may be made with a bait caster or even a push-button rod and reel. Try whatever you use out for this type of casting and find what you are comfortable with, even if it is not something you usually use to cast with. Remember to not flip too high, and end up getting your lure stuck in a bunch of trees or bushes, and to keep your line under control, tight as much as possible. Once you do get the hang of flipping down, take your new found casting skills out onto the lake or pond, an show your buddies ho bass fishing in tight cover is done. Tight lines, and fish on!