(Editor's note: The following is the latest installment in a series of fishing tips presented by The Bass University. Check back each Friday for a new tip.)
You might think that Bobby Lane and his brothers were born with flipping sticks in their hands, but they weren’t. Their father and grandfather certainly fished a lot, but they focused on topwaters and casting a worm, leaving the younger generation to learn the flipping technique on their own. That became imperative when they started seeing other Florida locals bringing monster bags to the scales.
Now all three Lane brothers make a living largely with a flipping stick in their hands and punching heavy cover. Bobby has caught fish up to 11 pounds doing it and said that the technique provides any angler with a “chance for a fish of a lifetime.” He stressed, however, that perhaps more than most techniques, having the proper equipment is often the thin line between success and heartbreak.
He starts with an Abu Garcia Revo SX baitcasting reel with a 7.3:1 gear ratio. It has a big handle and the high-speed retrieve and 20 pounds of drag allow him to catch up with and control even the meanest, fastest bass. While some anglers like a 7’6” rod and others like an 8-footer, Lane’s favorite is an Abu-Garcia Veracity in a 7’9” length. “It’s super, super stout, but it does have just a little bit of play in the tip.” Of course, he spools it up with 65-pound Spiderwire Ultracast.
Lane pays attention to all sorts of little details at the other end of the line, too. He uses oversized bobber-stoppers that won’t move or break, and it’s important that they’re black to match his weights. Those weights – most often in 1 1/2-ounce size – come from Flat Out Tungsten and he believes that they’re better than the competition because they “don’t peel or chip” and have a flawless insert. Finally, he ties on a Trokar flipping hook, either 4/0 or 5/0 depending on the size of his bait. He likes them because not only are they super sharp, but also because they have a perfectly sized and shaped bait keeper, and also the eye is welded shut so the knot won’t slip out. He typically rigs his creature baits with the keeper about a quarter-inch from the tip. It’s important that the bait and weight be rigged straight, which not only maximizes bites by making the lure fall properly, but also increases the chances of solid hookups.
Unlike some other pros, who exclusively use a snell knot when they flip, Lane said that the “one and only knot” he uses when going deep into the mats is a double Palomar. He doesn’t like it with fluorocarbon or monofilament, but said that with braid it’s virtually foolproof. He cuts his line with Cuda scissors, which not only stay sharp seemingly in perpetuity, but also make clean cuts with no frayed, ragged edges to make the ends look unnatural.
Whether you fish true Florida grass mats, northern sawdust mats or California cattails, if you haven’t mastered punching mats – and doing it with the right equipment – you’re leaving fish behind.
If you want to learn some of the other keys to Lane’s flipping system, including his favorite baits and colors in Berkley’s new MaxScent lineup, check out his full video, available only by subscribing to The Bass University TV.
