Flipping & Pitching Fishing on Pat Mayse Lake
Pat Mayse Lake · Texas · South Central
This U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir offers diverse cover, ranging from dense submerged timber in its upper reaches to creek channels and brush piles throughout. The lake's stained-to-clear water often supports robust populations of largemouth bass, with an emphasis on cover-oriented tactics and offshore structure.
Flipping uses a shortened line for pendulum-style presentations within 15 feet. Pitching covers 15–40 feet with an underhand cast. Both deliver baits silently into docks, laydowns, and grass edges. Big bass in heavy cover are the target — this is where giants live.
Flipping & Pitching Setup for Pat Mayse Lake
| Rod | 7'3"–7'6" heavy or extra-heavy casting rod, fast action |
| Reel | 7.1:1–8.1:1 baitcaster |
| Line | 50–65 lb braid or 20–25 lb fluorocarbon |
| Weight | 3/8–1 oz pegged tungsten, matched to cover density |
| Hook | 4/0–5/0 straight shank flipping hook |
Seasonal Tactics on Pat Mayse Lake
Lake: Largemouth bass push shallow for spawning, concentrating around flooded bushes, isolated timber, and hydrilla edges in 2-8 feet of water.
Flipping & Pitching: Pitch to buck brush and flooded timber during pre-spawn. Jig or crawfish-colored creature bait.
Lake: Fish transition to deeper offshore hydrilla beds, creek channel swings, and standing timber, often holding in 12-25 feet, relating to thermocline edges.
Flipping & Pitching: Punch through grass mats with 1–1.5 oz weights. Fish the shade under mats where big bass hide from heat.
Lake: As water temperatures cool, bass become more active, following schooling shad into creek arms and along points, feeding aggressively in 5-15 feet.
Flipping & Pitching: Target dock ends and remaining grass. Fish move shallower as water cools.
Lake: Bass relate tightly to deep structure, such as standing timber, creek channel bends, and brush piles in 20-40 feet, often suspending near forage or hugging bottom.
Flipping & Pitching: Slow flip to deep docks and boat lifts. Swim the bait down slowly on the fall.
Best Conditions
Thick grass mats, laydowns, dock pilings, boat houses, flooded bushes; murky water; spawn and post-spawn; summer shade
Watch the line, not the water. Set the hook the instant the line twitches or moves sideways — bass in cover bite and spit fast.
More Techniques for Pat Mayse Lake
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