i suck at pitchin' with my shimano curado 100, i need advice on what to do, does it only work well on reels with a flipin' switch or can it be done on a reel without one? i just backlash all the time, I have the brakes loose in order to do it and if I made them tighter i wouldn't be able to release line on the pitch... i'm stumped, does anyone have any good articles or videos or just some friendly advice to get me in the right direction?

KVD's  Pitching to Heavy Hitters DVD @BPS

Do what Woo Daves used to do and pitch with a spincaster  

You don't need a flippin switch, it just takes a lot of practice in the back yard.  That's how I learned.

But then again I'm no Gary Klien.

Do what Woo Daves used to do and pitch with a spincaster.

i do but I really want to learn with my baitcaster... any quick tips for me to try this evening since I can't have the DVD today

 I have the Citica 200D (great reel) and always used what I call "smaller" jigs, 1/4 and once in a great while 5/16. IMHO you can only loosen brakes to a certain point (for a small bait) and then no matter how well trained your thumb is their gonna happen. I went up to 3/8 and it made all the difference in the world. If you are using too small weight, maybe that's your problem...Hope this helps!

                                               As Ever,

                                                Skillet

I have a Shimano Chronarch that almost ended up in the drink for the same reasons.

I had the adjustment knob set but not the brakes.  I had all the brakes off.  When I put three on (every other one) it made all the difference and now I can actually do it pretty good (after much practice).

The reel mech also sent me a good article he wrote - try sending him a PM

Good Luck

I have a Shimano Chronarch that almost ended up in the drink for the same reasons.

I had the adjustment knob set but not the brakes. I had all the brakes off. When I put three on (every other one) it made all the difference and now I can actually do it pretty good (after much practice).

The reel mech also sent me a good article he wrote - try sending him a PM

Good Luck

is that his name on here just 'the reel mech' I searched and coudn't find anything by that name, thanks BTW for the tip, thanks to everyone so far...

Need more info theres a ton of littles that make bad. What line, rod, pitching distance,yard practice.

Garnet

Need more info theres a ton of littles that make bad. What line, rod, pitching distance,yard practice.

Garnet

BPS Extreme XPS 6'6 rod (i know i should use 7' for this) shimano curado 100 series reel, 20lb braided spiderwire, i guess 0 to ten yards, live on a lake so I''ll go home and try whatever i'm told tonight!

i had the same problem, I took alot of line off my spool that I was using to flip with, this made it so much better and the backlashes have almost stopped...

Windy days with braid is always a head ache for me, but I deal with that part.

20 lb braid is a little light for baitcaster learning. So take about 25-30 ft off and tape spool run it back on this stop the backlash way down your spool. Now adjust your baitcaster for this bait and ever time you change. Pitching is look at the target and pitch.

Garnet

I use the high speed 7:1 Curado 200. If you loosen the VBS all the way(push all 6 collars down). Then set the brake knob to where your lure falls freely from the tip of your rod to the water. Don't use your thumb to stop the spool when it hits the ground. From the free fall of your lure, only 1 to 3 loops should form on your spool. If its more loops or no loops, then adjust with the knob until it's right. Then pop up 2 or 3 collars on your VBS. From there, you can loosen or tighten the knob or VBS based on what works best for you. Keep in mind that with the switch of a new lure, you probably will have to re-adjust. Hope this helps!

20 lb braid is a little light for baitcaster learning. So take about 25-30 ft off and tape spool run it back on this stop the backlash way down your spool. Now adjust your baitcaster for this bait and ever time you change. Pitching is look at the target and pitch.

Garnet

Thanks for that! i'me actually not new to baitcasting itself just pitching with a baitcaster, i'm very comfortable with my line and will probably stick with the 20lb, i'm also having trouble with the actual pitch as for as delivery goes, can anyone offer advice on delivery...

I use the high speed 7:1 Curado 200. If you loosen the VBS all the way(push all 6 collars down). Then set the brake knob to where your lure falls freely from the tip of your rod to the water. Don't use your thumb to stop the spool when it hits the ground. From the free fall of your lure, only 1 to 3 loops should form on your spool. If its more loops or no loops, then adjust with the knob until it's right. Then pop up 2 or 3 collars on your VBS. From there, you can loosen or tighten the knob or VBS based on what works best for you. Keep in mind that with the switch of a new lure, you probably will have to re-adjust. Hope this helps!

I'm definately going to try this out thanks alot!

Go to a heavier jig to get the feel.

Garnet

**** reelmech ****

Turn all of that crap off and educate your thumb by feathering your spool. When I flip and pitch, I have everything practically free spool. You just practice and it will come to you, good luck.

Yea... um, ok. Anybody that has trouble pitchin or even casting a baitcaster... it just comes with practice. The more you fish (or practice in the yard/house) the better you'll become at pitching and casting. I agree with Garnet though, in the beginning... a heavier jig will help with the feel quite a bit.

I agree with the other guys here as well, the only way you will improve your technique is by practicing.  I bought a 1/4 oz plastic coverd practice weight, and do it every chance I get.  An educated thumb is your best allie.  

S.H.A.D-

When i first started teaching myself how to flip I filled up a 5 gallon bucket of water and tried to keep my jig from even making a ripple on the water when it went into the bucket. As far as delivery goes- everyone has their own style. My dad, who kind of showed me how, has a completely different look to the way that he flips. When i start, my hand that is holding my rod (my left hand) is even with my chest with a relaxed elbow, (its all in the wrist, for me) start with your bait in your other hand and point your rod tip and your target and use your wrist to bring your tip up and swing the bait forward. Don't keep your thumb on the spool but keep it right above it because in order to get the soft entry you'll need to gently slow down your jig with your thumb and lift your rod tip slightly to about 10:30 or 11 o'clock. Its a lot easier to teach in person but i hope that i might've helped you a little because this is my absolute favorite thing to do when i'm on the water and an awesome way to catch fish. Everyone here is right, practice is the main thing, when you get mad just keep practicing, you will get it. Once you can hit the 5 gallon bucket 10 out of 10 times take it down to a flower pot or something smaller to get better at your accuracy.

Chris

Great Question, thanks for asking and thanks for the replies.  I will go practice!!!

GO BIG RED

this is all VERY helpful... I guess I just don't have the feel for it yet but I'm confused on the release do I pull the lure/bait from my hand with tension from the rod? or do I sling the bait out there is a steady motion with my free hand while flickin' my wrist? I just can't get it down, and when I do what I think is right I don't get any distance or I backlash, I'm going to try the pointers given so far on backlash issues.  I guess that's what I meant by delivery adivce needed.

yes SHAD you do need to let the rod swing the bait out of your hand, what I do is when i get ready to move my bait towards my target i just kind of tilt my hand and let my lure start the swinging motion on its own and finish with the rod tip. The backlashing part is probably due to the way your reel is set up, because i like to flip 1/8oz. jigs and I don't have a problem with backlashes at all unless I'm the one that messes up. Just play around with it, you'll get the hang of it and then you'll never stop. ;D

In my experience when it comes to pitching with a baitcaster you need a MH to H rod from 6'6" to 7'6". This little exercise I learned from Denny Brauer at a seminar he spoke at.

First have the lure you will be pitching tied on and any trailer being used on as well. Now hold the rod chest high the rod parallel to the ground have the lure reeled up to the rod tip. Next depress the thumbar button what your looking for is for the lure to fall on a "controlled" fall. If the lure zips to the ground and you end up overrunning/backlashing you need to increase the brake some more. Likewise if the lure barely moves downwards you need to decrease the brake.

What you will find is that when you have your reel dialed in with the lure your using you will be able to depress the thumbar button have the lure fall to the ground without it backlashing and without using your thumb to slow it down. Now the reel will need to be recalibrated if you change weights or lures.

With the reel calibrated like this I pitch without too many problems. Granted if I skip the lure across the water and hit the bottom of a dock it will overrun. In most cases I pitch with the lure in one hand reel/rod in the other. I put a little tension in the rod and snap upwards and let the lure go at the same time.

thanks alot lPa1nl and gloomis!! I can picture it in my head,  I'll be practicing...