So I'm on the gulf coast of Florida. In curious when you all start flipping and pitching?

Not at all sure what you're asking....  What time of day?  Or, year?  Or location?

 

There isn't a wrong time to subtly drop a bait into cover....especially if there might be a fish there. 

I'm sorry blanked out and should have specified. I'm more interested in what times of the year it is productive and what times of the day

EVERY time out I end up singing or humming this: 

 

But for some reason it comes out as "Flippin into darkness"....lol

Haha awesome

It has more to do with how close or far your targets are than any time of year. I generally pitch more than I flip.

Very true. Why do you flip less?

Any time there is cover around to flip or pitch to.  You're in Florida so I would say that's almost all year.  If there's cover you can pitch a bait into it. 

Down here, I've noticed many times " flippin" and "punching " are synonymous.

If you're asking when the flippin bite turns on- punching grass mats- then my answer is almost all year, with dead summer and dead winter being the most productive.

Very true. Why do you flip less?

You do know the difference between flipping and pitching?  Flipping is a more suttle up close action of pulling a set amount of line out and in a pedulum swinging motion dipping your bait into cover.  Not much reeling going on unless you have a fish.  Then pulling it back out by hand and dipping it into the next bit of cover.  Pitching lets you "pitch" a bait say 10-30ft away from you with a light hopefully splashless entry and work spots without getting right on top of them.  It's kind of an inbetween action where you're not flipping baits, but your not trying to cast far, kind of the middle of the road working targets and water within say that 10 to 30 ft range and work that water.

I flip less because it's not as useful to me as a pitch. A flip is usually a follow cast to a close spot I missed.

In the summer, flipping to me is parking my boat in massive hydrilla fields & going to work.. I always have a big cedar topwater bait rigged too.

When the drilla is more sparse I throw the topwater as well.. It's a good way to nail a extra fish or two..pads, pitching that stuff, plus, running a smaller crankbait ( billed or lipless) around edges, and especially where two types of vegetation come togeather.. Of course, having a stable platform on the water is paramount IMO

Bank fishing can also be productive, it has it's limitations for obvious reasons..hydrilla can be so thick & seem daunting, but it opens up beautifully underwater.. The thicker the top Mat, the heavier weight you need to penetrate, always, always use the lightest weight possible, you just want to break thru the top. ( heavier than needed weight, serves to bury your bait in the muck) & that is not the deal for catching.. It's pure reaction strike, bait falls in front of fish and bam! It's fast & furious & slow & grueling!

In South FL, you can pitch or flip all year round if you wanted to. I find myself pitching baits more during the winter or summer. When its cold or hot the fish seem to be relating under the cover of vegetation to seek warmth or stay cool. 

As I approach cover I cast to the outer edge, then as I get closer I pitch a little farther into the cover, then I flip into the heart as get closer yet, & if its matted grass I punch it.

I prefer casting when possible because the further from the fish the less chance of spooking them. I rarely flip, pitching I can do from a further distance and be very accurate.Some places have to pitched or flipped. If I screw up the boat positioning and the wind blows me in ,  I'll pitch then . I dont like hitting the trolling motor switch close to the cover .   I pitch some on just about every outing . 

Awesome thanks a lot for all the replys everyone. I guess in my area I will be doing more pitching and punching. Now to see if I can do it from my canoe lol

It's the most effective when you fine yourself in a situation where you need present a bait in a very quietly to a precise location. You can find yourself in that situation at anytime of year or day.

I think people do find themselves flipping & Pitching more in winter and summer when the bass are a bit more Latharic. Also people will pitch more when the bass are relating tight to cover. And people pitch a lot when the fish are on the beds in the spring.

I think lure selection is more conditioned to time of day or year, especially time of year.

I'm pretty sure there's so much grass in Florida that they sell snoopy flipping rods down there for kids to learn on.

Haha well put

When the bass start being active + shallow.

Thanks for all the help everyone it's really apprexiated

Bassinlou nailed it. Down here heat or cold fronts they hunker down and hold tight. Some days the only way to catch them is put it right on there dinner table because they are t moving.

Awesome so with summer pretty much here I gotta start trying this. How productive can it be in heavy hydrilla fields?

Awesome so with summer pretty much here I gotta start trying this. How productive can it be in heavy hydrilla fields?

Hydrilla fields will be an excellent place to start. You may have to use 1oz or more of weight to punch through some areas though. Make sure your gear is up to the task. Catching and landing a pig in thick hydrilla requires your fair share of effort.

Hydrilla fields will be an excellent place to start. You may have to use 1oz or more of weight to punch through some areas though. Make sure your gear is up to the task. Catching and landing a pig in thick hydrilla requires your fair share of effort.

I picked up some flipping hooks, and some 1-1 1/2 ounce tungsten weights. My 7'3" MH will do for now. Just gotta see how it gos in a canoe lol

I picked up some flipping hooks, and some 1-1 1/2 ounce tungsten weights. My 7'3" MH will do for now. Just gotta see how it gos in a canoe lol

 

Best of luck Joe!!