The following is a list of equipment that I normally use to flip with:

1. 7' 6" Heavy Action Flipping Stick
   
2. A reel with a thumbbar and a flipping switch loaded with 30 # test braided superline.
3. On the business end of the line:
   • Gamakatsu Flipping hook
   • Gambler Crawdaddy
   • Gambler Paddletail Worm
   • Gambler Paddletail Lizard
   • Gambler Flapping Shad
   • Ditto Bug
   • Gambler Florida Sinker (between 3/8 and 1 oz depending on the thickness of the mat)
   • B*A*N*G Fish Attractant
   • Glass rattles

1. Let out approx. 8' of line, if that is enough to hit bottom leave the reel engauged, if the water is deeper keep your thumb on the thumb bar (make sure your flipping switch is turned to flipping. I also like to turn my reel sideways, so my knuckles are pointed up.
   
2. With your other hand grab hold of the line between the reel and first guide and take up about half of the slack.
   
3. Swing the bait toward your target (a hole in the grass mat, etc.) and let the line slide through your thumb and finger, try to have your lure enter the water as quietly as possible.
   
4. Let the lure fall to the bottom, if you don't get bit before hitting the bottom, pick your lure up off the bottom and shake it a few times, them let it rest on the bottom again, if still you haven't been bit grab the line again and slowly bring the lure up, stopping about a foot before you reach the top and shake the lure a couple more times, then finally lift the lure out of the water, then pick another hole in the grass and repeat the process. (Your next hole may only be 4 - 6" from the last hole but believe me sometimes the fish will not move an inch to get your bait, so you have to take it to them.
   
5. This method is good for flipping right next to the boat out to about 8-10 feet away from the boat.

You have three "C's" to remember when flipping, learn them well and you will be rewarded with a fourth "C"(Catching fish).

• Control - Learn to be in total control of your line, lure and rod. You must become accurate with your flips, your lure must enter the water quietly. Know what your line and lure are doing at all times.
• Consistency - You must be able to hit your target at all times. Practice, Practice, Practice and when you finish practicing, practice some more. Ideally you should practice from your boat, it doesn't have to be on the water, you need to get the feel of flipping from where you normally would be fishing from.
• Concentration - Every time you have your lure in the water concentrate on the line and lure, you must know what they are doing at all times. A strike can come at anytime, it could come as the classic tap... tap... tap, a slam and run, the lure may just stops falling and you know that it hasn't reached the bottom yet, a jump or twitch on your line, the line starts to move off in a different direction than it should be going or just a heavy feeling on your line. Don't be afraid to set the hook and look like a fool when you step up on air, as I stated before it takes Practice. You will catch a lot of fish flipping and you will normally catch bigger fish and then who is going to look like the fool ... Not you, you be flipping.