Which presentation do you prefer when flipping each of the following types of cover? Also, which hook do you prefer when flipping a soft plastic: EWG or Straight Shanked Flipping Hook? 

 

Laydown: Soft Plastic EWG

 

Stumps: Jig

 

Weeds: Soft Plastic EWG

 

Mats: Soft Plastics Flipping

 

Lilly Pads: Soft Plastics Flipping

Laydown: both

Stumps: both

Weeds: both

Mats: both

Lily Pads: both

 

Regarding hook style; straight shank round bend up to the thickness of a Senko then an EWG

Laydown: Both. Jigs in cooler and/or dirtier water

 

Stumps: Both. Same as above.

 

Weeds: Prefer Jigs, but if its too thick, I will use a t-rigged craw/creature.

 

Mats:  T-rigged plastics all the way.

 

Lilly Pads: Same as mats.

 

And I'll add one more..............

 

Docks: Both. Prefer jigs, but in some clearer water, and heavy fishing pressure situations plastics get bit better.

 

As far as hooks used to rig my plastic baits for flipping/pitching/punching. I prefer a superline EWG for just about everything except when using 3/4 oz. and up tungsten sinkers. Then I go to a big straight shank flipping hook.  The bigger sinker will often pop a fishes mouth open on a hookset, and I want the extra bite of the straight shank hook when using the bigger weights. It's not a problem with sinkers smaller than 3/4 oz....and I have never had  any of these mystery issues so many people seem to have of hooking up, and keeping fish pegged with EWG hooks.

 

 

A trend I have caught in the replies that I have never thought of before is soft plastics in clearer water and jigs in dirtier water. 

5 hours ago, ww2farmer said:

 

 

As far as hooks used to rig my plastic baits for flipping/pitching/punching. I prefer a superline EWG for just about everything except when using 3/4 oz. and up tungsten sinkers. Then I go to a big straight shank flipping hook.  The bigger sinker will often pop a fishes mouth open on a hookset, and I want the extra bite of the straight shank hook when using the bigger weights. It's not a problem with sinkers smaller than 3/4 oz....and I have never had  any of these mystery issues so many people seem to have of hooking up, and keeping fish pegged with EWG hooks.

 

 

 

 

 

 I have had better luck using a EWG Hook as opposed to a heavy duty flipping hook. I think that sort of hook is only really needed like you said when throwing the heaviest of rigs in the heaviest of grass. I'd say 80% of the time a regular size 4 EWG worm hook is all that is needed. 

Do any of you use owner type screw lock hooks?

Wood- jig 

Everything else- Texas rig 

2 hours ago, thinkingredneck said:

Do any of you use owner type screw lock hooks?

all the time. not when punching mats.then jungle hooks,or trokar.

7 hours ago, Dtrombly said:

Wood- jig 

Everything else- Texas rig 

Pretty much this, rocks I will also go with a jig but vegetation of any kind gets the nod for the t-rig. 

 

That being said don't limit your choice to just cover type. Think sink rates too. Using a 1/2oz jig with a craw trailer will give you a slower sink rate than that same trailer with a 1/2 oz flipping weight. Some days that fast fall of a 1/2oz t-rig can get better reaction bites than a slower fall of a 1/2 oz jig with a flairing skirt with the same trailer. And vice versa. 

 

T-rigging craws though, I like the mustad grip pin flippin' hooks. Sometimes I'll go with a gammy straight shank worm hook or EWG if I'm not fishing heavy cover though. 

I have a problem losing jigs in rip rap so when I'm around rocks I will use a t-rigged craw.  For everything else I use both and let the bass tell me which one they like better.

I’ll pick a jig in all those situations, unless the fish aren’t hitting one. That’s when I’ll hit the same spots with a smaller profile craw like a baby or slim PacaCraw. I’ll go with as light a weight as I can get away with.  I feel that adjusting the fall rate and overall profile is more important than the bait (jig or craw).