I pitch with extra slack line held back in my hand. More of a combined
pitching and flipping technique since I don't actually hold the bait. It
was very easy for me to figure out how to do this since it is just a variant
of fishing a cane pole with more line than the length of the pole. My very
first fishing pole was a 3 section cane pole and I could easily work eight
to ten feet more line than the length of the pole when I was a little guy.

Pitching where you hold and throw or pitch the bait with the line spinning
off the spool escapes.

I can cast side arm with some accuracy so if I need the extra distance I
will often switch to casting instead of pitching and then I'll strip line
off the reel by hand as soon as my bait hits the water to try and get that
vertical drop.

When I have tried to pitch off the reel I either get a back lash or I can't
get any more distance than flipping.

What is the basic trick I am missing?

Bob La Londe
www.YumaBassMan.com