New Western Technique Controlled Structure Fishing sure to sweep the country

By Terry Battisti – Bass Fishing Archives

This is the first installment of a series of articles, highlighting the technique we now know as Flippin’, and the pioneers who brought it to bass fishing! Check back every Thursday for more insight into how we got here as a sport and industry.

May 19, 1974

Paso Robles, CA – A new technique, coined “Controlled Structure Fishing,” has been introduced and it’s been met with mixed reviews. The technique’s given the duo of Dee Thomas and Frank Hauck a trip to the winners’ circle in five out of the last seven events. Why has it been met with mixed reviews? Some may say it’s jealousy, others say it’s a banned form of tule dippin’. Whatever you say it is, it’s been mighty successful for Thomas and Hauck, and even though they had to adjust their equipment for the latest Western Bass Fishing Association’s event on Lake Nacimiento, they were able to pull off another win even after chopping 4-1/2 feet off their preferred Lew’s Hawger rods and flipping their boat halfway through the first day of the event.

BFA Headquarters – In the late spring, early summer of 1974, Thomas’ form of fishing had yet to reach outside the West. But in the West, it was creating a lot of conversation and discontent amongst anglers competing against him and his tournament partner. Most anglers that own a Flippin’ Stick know Thomas was the originator of the technique but few have heard or read about its origins. Below is an article, possibly the first article, ever written about Dee and his new method in which to target bass. The funny thing about it is Dee didn’t call it Flippin’ back then. His name for it was “Controlled Structure Fishing.”

Click Here to Enlarge the Article

If we’ve piqued your interest and you’d like to read ahead, check out the rest of the story at Bass Fishing Archives with the links below:

FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART ONE

FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART TWO

FLIPPIN’: A CONCEPT. NOT JUST A TECHNIQUE – PART THREE