Flipping Soft Plastic Baits for Summer Bass

Flipping soft plastic baits is a great way to catch summer bass in heavy cover. This technique involves quietly pitching or flipping a soft plastic bait into thick vegetation, such as lily pads, bushes, or laydowns. The bait is then worked slowly and methodically, with the angler imparting subtle shakes and twitches to create a lifelike presentation.

Here are some tips on how to flip soft plastic baits for summer bass:

Use a heavy-duty rod and reel combo. You'll need a rod with a lot of backbone to power through the thick cover, and a reel with a large line capacity to handle the weight of the bait and the heavy braided line you'll be using.

Use soft plastic baits designed for flipping. There are many different soft plastic baits that are specifically designed for flipping, such as craws, stick worms, and creature baits. These baits are made from durable materials that can withstand the abuse of being pitched and flipped into heavy cover.

Use the right weight. The weight of your bait will depend on the depth of the water and the thickness of the cover. In general, you'll want to use a heavier weight for deeper water and thicker cover but always use the lightest weight possible.

Make a good presentation. When flipping a soft plastic bait, it's important to make a good presentation. This means pitching or flipping the bait into the cover with enough force to get it through the vegetation, but not so much force that you make a lot of noise and tear it up. You should also impart subtle shakes and twitches to the bait to create a lifelike presentation.

Here are some of the best soft plastic baits for flipping summer bass:

Gary Yamamoto Senko

Zoom Brush Hog

Strike King Rage Craw

Berkley PowerBait General

Berkley Pit Boss

These are just a few of the many great soft plastic baits that can be used for flipping summer bass. Experiment with different baits and find what works best for you. 

Bassmaster Elite Series pro Hunter Shryock relies on flipping and pitching soft plastic baits to generate bites throughout the year. Take a few minutes and watch the following video where Hunter explains his approach to flipping for summer bass…