(Don't know if this is the right place for this, but...)

I have been recently trying to learn how to pitch a bait and I can't seem to get it down. I've read some articles and such, but it still is a challenge for me. When I do the "wrist flick" and drop the bait, it only goes about 10-15 feet and back lashes.

Any tips on what I'm doing wrong? Any videos that give a good walk through on how to do this technique?

Thanks.  :-[

That sounds nice and normal! the only advice i can offer from what you have said is make sure you have the lure even with the reel and the tension loose and have good thumb control which comes with practice practice practice!!!

ww.monkeysee.com/play/1485-fishing-pitching-a-bait-casting-reel at around 1:40 he gives you the whole run down hopes this helps

KVD's pitching to heavy cover

It's probaly not much help but sometimes things like that just come to you. I tried for day having the same problems you are thinking i'll never be able to pitch. Next day i was hitting 2' targets about 20' out. Day after 1' targets etc. I'm no KVD but I think I'm decent enough for someone thats been pitching less than a month. I went thru the same thing with flipping. I'm sure you'll get it.  

Also a long rod helps (the one i use is 7'6") and so does elevating yourself. Stand on a chair or bucket. Hope this helps.

Don't try too hard. Release the spool and let out enough line to hold the bait in your opposite hand. Hold the spool with your thumb. With your thumb still holding the spool so no line can move, swing the bait in a pendulum motion and let it come back and catch the lure (use a 1/2 oz weight without hooks, LOL). Do this until you get a feel for the motion of the weight. Keep it as close to the ground as you can and gently release a little line by easing up on the thumb pressure on the spool. As you practice very short pitches, concentrate on controlling the distance by adjusting your thumb pressure to allow more line to play off the spool. Don't allow the spool to backlash. Maintain all the thumb pressure necessary to avoid backlash and only increase your distance when you are confident that you are in control of the spool. I hope this makes sense.

Ronnie

Avoid constantly picking backlashes by only putting 50 feet or so of 65 pound braid or heavier. Practice until you can pitch without the smaller backlashes and add more line as you get better

On the BPS website there was (I don't know if it is still there) a video tutorial on reel set up and mechanics.  

A few things I see people doing that backlash a lot...

they usually have too long of a rod, too much line out to start, rod not pointed down, usually swing both arms and usually don't pre-load the rod tip while holding the bait.  add an early thumb release to that and you have the ultimate superfecta of backlash.

The pitch is simply an underhanded cast.  When you cast normally, the rod's tip is loaded from the back cast, since you don't really have one in pitching you start by holding some tension on the bait (which you always hold by the bend of the hook)  bait hand should be ahead of reel hand slightly, maybe 1-3 inches.  (kind of even when the tip is loaded)

The heavy weight that Alpster suggested will help you feel the tip load up and you will see the importance of the tip working.

(use a 1/2 oz weight without hooks, LOL).

/quote]

No kidding, I learned that one quick.

And thanks for the help guys, I'm starting to get the hang of it, just need to practice, practice, practice.

Let me add some confusion to this issue.  I 100% disagree with most everyone about tension on the reel.  Instead of loose, I keep my tension very, very tight.  Since I am only trying to cast, pitch, flip, what ever a very short distance, I do not want to increase the chances of a reel over-run.  This works well for me, but is not the norm.  If using a heavy lure, casting a very short distance, why use loose tension.???  Perhaps things are different here in Lake Guntersville in AL, but my flip, pitch, etc may only be 10-15', loose tension, No Way!

Dr T

A well educated thump is the key to any bait casting technique