With all due respect, facts are not debatable. opinions are.

It is a fact that flipping and pitching, while sharing similarities, are two different presentations. It is an opinion when it comes to what is the "correct," or best way to perform them.

Please believe me when I say I mean no disrespect. It's simply that there are many things in this world, past and present, that have been improved upon compared to how they were taught, or how they were first learned. I am sure that Gary Loomis learned how to build a rod blank from somebody that was quite prominent when it came to building rod blanks, But I have no doubts that he improved upon that process.

Initially I was going to post a couple of links to Youtube videos featuring Gary Klein, and Dee Thomas. Both speaking to who they learned the technique of flipping, from. Gary Klein credits Dee Thomas, but Dee Thomas credits two other men, I can't remember their names, but he said he learned what later evolved into the flipping technique, from them. I had no idea that a "prominent tournament director", they showed a picture of Ray Scott, but didn't actually name him, but evidently Mr Thomas and others were using 12' long rods and using a technique that crappie fisherman had been using. Anyhow, this prominent tournament director came to Dee Thomas and asked what a good maximum allowable rod length would be, because these other anglers were getting their pants beat off by Dee and others that were using these 12' long rods.

Mr Thomas chose the length of 7'6" which was B.A.S.S's rod length restriction until not all that long ago. In the video Mr Thomas goes on to explain that he came up with pulling line off the reel and the flipping technique, because he could no longer reach the distances he could reach with the 12' rod. It's a pretty cool video and was taken in the boat with Mr Thomas fishing as he spoke.

I don't know if we're allowed to post Youtube videos here, but if we are and anyone is interested in seeing either of the videos, I'll gladly post the links.

Anyhow ..... love the conversation. And I was really going to try to make it to the Expo this coming year. More to pick up a few blanks and what not, and to also meet some of the members here, but I would definitely enjoy the above mentioned seminar.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 07/29/2021 10:31PM by David Baylor.