Mike L

It’ll be taking a nose dive if I had one flying above me anywhere!! Mike

In most of the team tournaments I’ve been in this is done all the time. In draw tournaments, and if the boater is any good the co angler almost has no chance if they’re within flipping range. In a Southern Open, my boater knew it. He felt so bad he sat periodically to give me a chance. It almost worked out. Mike

A “flipping hook” is referred to as a heavy wire hook with a built in plastic “keeper” on the shank to help keep it in place. You can use a flipping hook anywhere anytime but it’s not necessarily needed in light to moderate cover. Mike

Absolutely!! Almost every person I know flips and pitches depending on conditions. Besides sight fishing, flipping is my absolute favorite way to fish. I’ll look for places to flip a punch weight before any other technique year round. Mike

Pitching is when you want to hit an area maybe 20-30 ft from you. You use a rod with enough back bone in relation to the cover. You hold the lure in your off hand and with an upward motion of the rod you let go and stop the reel with your thumb. I use between 16# and 20# flouro. A high speed reel is best. Flipping is when you want to hit a target twice the length of your rod. You peel off enough line that’s the length of the rod plus an arms length stretched out to you side. Engage the reel. As you flip the rod up, you bring the line in your off hand to the rod. This is a pin point, up close and personal presentation. I use either 65# braid or 20# flouro, depending on cover. The overall strength of the rod and drag of the reel must be in relation to the cover. A higher speed reel is better. Punching is just what it sounds like. You are using the strongest equipment you have with the heaviest weight needed to “punch” through a thick mat of vegetation. You can either pitch or flip. Weights can start at approx 3/4 oz to 2oz whatever is needed to get through. I use 80# braid exclusively on a reel with the strongest drag and highest speed. (This one of my absolute favorite ways to fish) Hope this helps Mike

Yes it was!! Mike

When I first started to use the Palomar, everything I read said to always leave a small piece. It stuck with me and still do it, but don’t really think it’s necessary with the 4 carrier original Power Pro I only use. Maybe on the slicker coated or 8 carrier braid it’s needed but I wouldn’t know. I cut flouro as short as I can. Mike

Excellent video! A lot of great information for especially anglers who have never or who are wanting to learn how to bed fish. Every time this subject comes up, emotions get high. I hope this helps folks who have a problem with it understand a bass’s behavior more. It Has nothing to do with ethics. Sometimes an anglers preconceived notions are the difference in being successful or not. One of the best segment you had was talking about presentation and location. So glad you did. In my opinion those are the 2, above all others that will determine success or not. We’ve talked many times about reading water and understanding how a fish relates to structure, the same nuances must be learned when bed fishing also. Those only come with experience and understanding how and why it relates to a bass’s reaction to it. Well Done Mike

I know you asked for one but I don’t... Drop, Shake, Wack or Ned. I have all the baits and tackle somewhere, but I never felt the need. Mike

90% of what I own are Shimano. The others are a BPS Pro Qualifier and JM Signature. Both of those are excellent and use them every outing. Anything new tho will be a Curado or Chronarch. Mike

I live near the Tarpon Capital of the World”...Boca Grande Florida. Right now the emphasis has been in Charlotte Harbor as the water temp continues to rise. Tarpon have started their migration from the Peace and Myakka River into Charlotte Harbor. You may find some way up the rivers in mostly brackish water. The Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers which leads into Okeechobee, has been known to have more than a few this time of the year but it won’t last long. As the water temp in Charlotte Harbor continue to go up, Tarpon begin feeding on schools of thread fin herring. That’s where the “fresh water”action will be until they head through the pass into open water. Mike

Sorry, I’ve never used one Mike

Fenwick Techna AV. Best fishing rod ever made. They stopped production a few years back. Do yourself a favor and find one. You can thank me later. Mike

There are a few things I haven’t tried but don’t really care. Im to the point now in fishing and in other areas that the “It works why change” attitude pretty much sums it up. I’m past the experimental stage. I’ve put too much time and money into getting me where I’m at now. Mike

There’s a time and place for everything. As @OkobojiEagle mentioned In clear shallow waters a silent entry is important, in some cases almost paramount. And as @TOXIC mentioned there are times a loud splash is what’s needed. Those 2 are the extremes. In my opinion, fir the casual or even an avid tournament angler, a silent or as close to it as possible, entry is one of the best ways to increase your odds of getting bit. It takes practice to do it consistently as is learning how to skip. The principles are the same. The only difference is in the last foot of entry. When skipping I’m aiming fir a specific area not necessarily a particular spot 6” in diameter so a loud entry will draw them in. However, say when flipping that 6” area can be too large. When target shooting in a hole I want absolute silence on every offering. Both are really not hard to do if you put in the time. Mike

Whew! Well at least you know she still Loves You!! Mike

Ditto Mike

That’s how it was designed and intended to be used. The flange on the tail is what gives it the action similar to a speed worm. It only moves when it’s moving through the water. There are slits on both sides to help to line it up. Rig it tip down when swimming. Tip up when dropping vertical. Mike

I do so also but only when in areas of a solid grass flat ticking the tops of it. For some reason in areas where the grass has openings, I’ve found a straight vertical fall through the holes with a nose weight, is more productive vs a horizontal fall with a keel weight. Don’t really know why. You would think it wouldn’t matter but for me it does. Mike

Always listen to the Dad! He’s right again. Mike

A 4/0 Skip Gap hook on 14# Sniper usually with a 3/16 unpegged weight. Mike

When swimming (which most everyone does) with the tail point rigged downward as designed, the piece just flapp’s away and doesn’t interfere with the flange which gives it the action. Just another look. However, when rigged point up for a vertical presentation it has a tendency to slap it. Check it out yourself Good Luck at the tournament Mike

It’s intended to be removed and most do, but after disconnecting I leave it on. I like the action with it. Mike

Thats the other problem! Mike

Mine is I don’t give a particular technique enough time before I change up. Is it the action?...Change the bug to a craw Maybe It’s the color?..No bites on Watermelon/Red, grab a grn/pumpkin Could it be the chatter bait?...Tie a spinner bait etc etc Mike