When you were young, proof of worthiness may have included writing in the snow or casting further than your friends. But today, worthiness on the water is much more sophisticated. So dust off your baitcaster, pick a target and see what you've got!

Your main goal when using the flipping technique is to have your lure land quietly with little splash. You want the bass to first see the lure before the line ever comes into view. Your lure should move low to the water, and with your great finesse, land with quiet but deadly grace.

Be close to your target. Allow your lure to dangle in front of you. Lower the tip of the rod and then raise it, causing the lure to start a swing action. When the lure is on a backswing, lower the tip once more, point it directly at your target and let it go. With practice, you can manipulate your flipping technique with ease, guiding the lure into the water vertically - again, lure first, with line trailing behind.

Pitching is executed with an underhand motion, again bringing the lure to the target horizontally and low to the water, then entering the water vertically. Cast your bait past your target and then pull the line in enough to hit your target, lowering the tip of the rod so the lure enters the water vertically and smoothly.

Begin with the lure hanging as low as your rod is long. Lower the tip of your rod and cast with an underhand motion, letting the lure go as you pop the rod up. Remember to have the bait as close to the water as you can get. Once the lure is past your target, pull it back a bit and with practice, your bait will come down vertically with a quiet and quite satisfying finesse. Boo Ya!!

Now it is time to put away your (very cool) baitcaster and bring out your spinning reel.

Remember skipping stones over the water when you were a child? You can use the same technique with your lure to reach under docks and other bass loving structures. Hold your rod parallel to the water's surface. Swing it forward, quickly snapping the rod to a stop in half-swing. This will allow your bait to skip over the water's surface. Let your lure hit in front of the strike zone, skip over it and land behind.