(Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 2-part story.)

Back in the early part of the last decade, flipping and pitching were the dominant techniques on tour. Anglers made their living on targets and if you weren't flipping, you weren't getting paid.

Times change and flipping has faded considerably as a top-finishing technique,

to the point now where it's barely above swimbaits and finesse-fishing. Sure, the majority of the field might be flipping, but when it comes to wins and Top 5s, flipping can't touch cranking.

The trend is well represented in the marketplace and cranks have been the focus of tackle development the past few years. From the return of low-geared/high-torque reels and glass rods, to the flat-body renaissance, cranking's in vogue.

The Data

Each year, BassFan analyzes Top-5 data from each FLW Tour and Bassmaster Elite Series regular-season event, plus the Forrest Wood Cup and Bassmaster Classic. The tables below summarize that data.

Table 1: Best Techniques By Type illustrates in percentage form how often a particular pattern factored into a tour victory (win) or 2nd- through 5th-place finish (show). For example, flipping/pitching was a factor in 10.3% of the wins last year and 12.7% of the 2nd through 5ths. All told, flipping/pitching was a factor in 12.2% of all Top 5s (win and place considered together).

Table 2: Best Techniques By Month illustrates which techniques were used during the months of competition for all Top 5s. For example, flipping/pitching was a factor in 22.2% of the Top 5s in March, but only 6.7% of the Top 5s in April (a month when swimbaiting and sight-fishing dominated).



A Few Observations

> Flipping/pitching might have been better represented this year if not for the cancellation of the FLW Tour opener at the Red River.

> Overall, crankbaits were a factor in about 1 of every 4 Top 5s.

> The schedules last year were Ozark and Tennessee River heavy – a primary reason that deep jigs (drag tube/jig) matched flipping/pitching in effectiveness.

> Interesting that finesse factored much more in wins than shows.

> Swimbait effectiveness soared last year – from 2.3% in 2009 to 8.2% in 2010 (not too far from flipping/pitching). That was helped by the Elite Series western swing, but also by clear(er) water in the Ozarks and at Smith Mt.

> Spinnerbaits simply didn't matter last year and buzzbaits were a complete no-show. Topwaters like propbaits instead saw more use in and around the bluegill spawn. Also interesting is that soft-jerkbaits, including Senkos, barely registered.

Notable

> How about it BassFans? Did you see similar trends in the circuits you fish? Click here to let us know.

> To read about the winningest patterns from the 2009 season, click here.

> Part 2 of this story will summarize each winning pattern from 2010.

– End Of Part 1 (of 2) –