Major League Fishing Pro Fletcher Shryock, in collaboration with Bass University, presents a member-exclusive seminar that offers an in-depth exploration of one of the most effective bass fishing techniques: advanced flipping and pitching. This seminar is designed to help anglers become more efficient and consistently catch fish, even in challenging conditions.

Fletcher shares his comprehensive approach to flipping and pitching, detailing how he tackles various types of heavy cover, including matted grass, bushes, lay downs, and docks. He delves into the critical importance of stealthy boat positioning and quiet lure presentations to avoid spooking increasingly pressured fish, a key factor he's observed since COVID. Learn how to identify prime fish hiding spots within the densest cover and master pinpoint accuracy to trigger immediate reaction bites, rather than waiting for fish to travel to your lure.

He emphasizes the importance of a proper hookset, distinguishing between a 'pull set' and a 'slack line crack' to maximize landing ratios, especially when fish bite and swim towards you. Key equipment insights include the benefits of a braid to fluorocarbon leader for better hookup ratios and proper drag setup for total control.

Bait selection is also essentia. Learn Fletcher's likely suprising top bait choice for flipping and pitching, what advantages is provides as well as why Fletcher's modification provides better hook-up ratios. He also discusses other go-to baits, such as beaver-style creature baits for punching heavy mats, prioritizing efficiency and hook-up ratio even in the thickest cover. The seminar additionally covers the importance of allowing baits to fall on a slack line to maximize their erratic, reaction-triggering movement.

Improve your flipping & pitching to become dominant in shallow water grass and heavy cover with this seminar from BPT Pro Fletcher Shryock, gaining valuable knowledge on selecting baits, reading cover visually and adapting to bass behavior.

Fletcher Shryock's Advanced Flipping & Pitching Class Chapters

• 0:15: Fletcher Shryock's Flipping Overview
  Gain foundational insights into Major League Fishing Pro Fletcher Shryock's proven approach to flipping and pitching, a technique he has refined over years of competitive fishing, from local tournaments in Ohio to the professional tours. This introductory segment reveals why flipping and pitching became his most reliable method for consistently catching fish and how he adapted it from targeting smaller Ohio bass to the diverse heavy cover found across the country. Understand his philosophy that there's no "silver bullet" to success, but rather mastering a multitude of "little things" consistently that make all the difference. Learn his core motivation for dedicating himself to this technique, even relocating to Guntersville to immerse himself in heavy cover grass.
• 11:30: Heavy Cover Grass Fishing
  Dive into Fletcher's expert strategies for visually dissecting heavy cover, specifically focusing on grass mats. This chapter challenges conventional wisdom, teaching you to identify seemingly impenetrable areas that are actually hollow canopies or "fish houses" beneath the surface. Discover the critical importance of pinpoint bait accuracy, emphasizing the need to place your lure directly into the "gnarliest part of the cover" or the "fish's house" to trigger an immediate reaction bite. Fletcher uses insights from forward-facing sonar not to find fish, but as a "fact-checker" to explain why this direct, surprise presentation is so effective in prompting strikes, rather than waiting for fish to travel to your lure.
• 14:45: Flipping Approach
  Uncover the secrets to stealthy and effective boat positioning and lure presentation, which Fletcher identifies as paramount for catching increasingly pressured fish since COVID. Learn how to leverage natural elements like wind to your advantage for discreet approaches to targets. This section details how to meticulously work a laydown, starting from the closest heavy cover and progressing inward, and unveils the "flip over the branch" technique that surprises bass by delivering the bait right into their comfort zone. Master the art of minimizing boat and lure splash to avoid alerting wary fish.
• 24:00: Hookset & Slack Lining
  Optimize your hookset with Fletcher's detailed breakdown of this crucial moment. Understand why proper footing (forward or neutral) is essential for executing a powerful "pull set" that loads the rod and effectively penetrates the hook, especially when extracting fish from heavy cover. Discover why 80% of bites occur on the fall and why fish often eat baits backwards. Learn the best hookset style to convert more strikes to landed fish. Plus, get insights into the benefits of a braid to fluorocarbon leader for better hookup ratios and improved line management. Also, understand how to maximize your bait's natural, erratic "hunting" or "darting" action, which is key to triggering reaction bites.
• 41:30: Bait Selection
  Explore Fletcher's philosophy on optimal bait selection for flipping and pitching, prioritizing efficiency and hookup ratio above all else. Learn why he favors baits that exhibit a natural "darting" or "hunting" action on a slack line, over those with excessive "action". Uncover a never-before-shared tip for an often-overlooked bait to enhance its natural darting action and boost the hookup percentage. This chapter also covers the strategic placement of your hook, ensuring it's in the very back of the bait to minimize plastic interference and maximize your landing rates, especially when using creature baits for punching heavy mats.

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