Flipping & Pitching
Presentation technique
Flipping and pitching are short, accurate underhand casts that drop a jig or Texas rig quietly into heavy cover — bushes, laydowns, docks and grass. It is the close-quarters way to reach big bass that live where you can't make a normal cast.
Why: Put it in their living room.
Evidence: Verified knowledge from Bryan Cotter, 26+ years guiding all 16 Central Texas lakes.
Related: Creature Bait · Flipping Jig · All bass techniques
Verified Answered by Bryan Cotter, Texas Hawgs guide · Updated Jul 12, 2026
A precise, low-trajectory presentation (flipping a fixed length of line, or pitching from the reel) that places a bait into tight cover with little splash.
Flipping & Pitching at a glance
- Category
- Presentation
- Skill level
- ●●●○○
- Bryan's confidence
- ●●●●●
- Target depth
- 1-8 ft
Best for: Largemouth Bass
Gear
- Rod
- 7'6" H (fast)
- Reel
- Baitcast 7.3:1
- Line
- braid — 50-65 lb braid or 20 lb fluoro
- Hook
- 3/0-5/0 flipping hook
- Weight
- tungsten bullet — 3/8-1 oz
How to fish the Flipping & Pitching
- Let out a rod-length of line (flip) or hold the bait and free the spool (pitch).
- Swing the bait low and quietly to the edge of cover.
- Let it fall on a controlled line, watching for a tick.
- If no bite, gently shake it, then move to the next target.
- Reel down and set hard, then get the fish coming.
Retrieve: Drop into cover, short shakes, then pick up and hit the next target — a fast, efficient way to fish a lot of spots.
Where it shines
Cover: wood, grass, docks; structure: laydowns, bushes, docks, grass; clarity: stained, muddy, clear.
When to use it
Best conditions: Rising Water Level, Post-Frontal / Bluebird, Cloud Cover
When Bryan reaches for it: When bass are locked in shallow cover, especially when the lake comes up and floods fresh bushes.
Lakes where it works
Lake Austin · Lake LBJ · Inks Lake · Lake Falcon · Canyon Lake
Lures to throw
Creature Bait, Flipping Jig, Craw / Craw Trailer.
Common mistakes
- Too much splash spooking fish
- Not using heavy enough gear to pull them out
- Setting the hook late in heavy cover
Pro tips
- Peg the weight so it punches through cleanly
- Braid gives the backbone to get big fish out of the thick stuff
Keep exploring
All bass fishing techniques · Punching Heavy Cover · Texas Rig · All bass lures · Central Texas bass fishing guide
Want to learn the Flipping & Pitching on the water? I'll put it in your hands on a guided trip. See rates and book or call 512-762-0190.