At Home Platform For Lure Skipping Practice

[Big Stick Joe]

Hey guys,

 

   So a buddy filled me in on this idea of making a deck to stand on to practice skipping since i'm terrible at it. I was wondering if anyone has any blueprints? I was thinking 4x4 legs maybe 1 foot high with some plywood or something as a deck maybe 3 feet by 3 feet. I don't want anything too big. I was also thinking of making a "boat dock". Something to simulate that i can skip under. 

 

Has anyone does something like this before? Any input or comments/suggestion would be great. Thanks guys.

 

Joe

[SudburyBasser]

It's a sad commentary on my life that I was thinking of this very thing earlier today.

[gripnrip]

Flip a 5 gallon bucket upside down and your good to go.  If you don't weigh much, you could use an old milk crate. 

[The Rooster]

Your neighbors are going to think you're crazy.

For a deck I'd just use 7/16 OSB since it's cheap, and form a frame from 2x6 as joists. Make it 4' square. Easier to cut, just crosscut the sheet in half. Three 2x6x8's would be enough to form the band and add two joists in the middle on 12" centers to prevent sagging. You can add legs in the corners if you need it higher. 2x4 would work. You can use the remaining half of the OSB to make your skip dock.

My question is how will you learn to skip by skipping in the dirt? That's different from water.

[wnybassman]

Flood the basement with a foot of water.   Might as well practice on the real surface.

[slonezp]

It's a sad commentary on my life that I was thinking of this very thing earlier today.

If your ice is anything like mine, it should be thawed out just in time for next winter

[Grizzn N Bassin]

Flood the basement with a foot of water.   Might as well practice on the real surface.

X2

[Big Stick Joe]

@The Rooster. Thanks for the tip. I will place this in my driveway and skip into my garage. I just want to get the motion down. I was talking to my wife, suggested pallets. idk though. I'm 200 lbs, might be too big for a 5 gallon bucket. Plus, I don't have a basement to flood lmao!

[SudburyBasser]

If your ice is anything like mine, it should be thawed out just in time for next winter

 

Yesterday at work a co-worker and I were of the opinion that the ice on one of our main lakes was likely thick enough to support the weight of a tank. We were only half joking.

[camovan]

You might be over thinking it.  If you just crack the garage door open about 6" and stand back 15-20' and roll cast right at that opening it will give you the motion.  Once you can consistently hit the pavement directly below the door with a low trajectory then do it harder and harder.  Honestly, you could probably stand in the garage and cast out, would be a little warmer...

[tatertester]

I've tried flippin and pitchin , but can't get it right . I wind up with backlashes or the lure falls about 5 feet from my feet..........

[gripnrip]

On 3/1/2014 at 6:36 PM, tatertester said:

I've tried flippin and pitchin , but can't get it right . I wind up with backlashes or the lure falls about 5 feet from my feet..........

Pull up one of Glenn's latest videos.  He does an excellent job of the techniques. 

[Big Stick Joe]

d**n Camovan, that is a great idea. I had not thought of that. I still want to stand on something though. I figure it will give me more room for me to work the rod and not hit the tip of the ground or whatnot. 

[The Rooster]

@The Rooster. Thanks for the tip. I will place this in my driveway and skip into my garage. I just want to get the motion down. I was talking to my wife, suggested pallets. idk though. I'm 200 lbs, might be too big for a 5 gallon bucket. Plus, I don't have a basement to flood lmao!

Pallets are an awesome idea but I'd still add some ply or OSB to the top of the one you'll stand on. As for a dock, no better suggestion anywhere. They're likely to be free. Prop them up on some old paint cans, bricks, blocks, firewood logs, anything about a foot or more high to make the dock for skipping below. Even just buy a 2x4 for $4 and cut it up and screw it to the pallet to make legs any height you'd want up to about 2 feet (so you get 4 legs from one board).

[buckeye_bass66]

I've tried flippin and pitchin , but can't get it right . I wind up with backlashes or the lure falls about 5 feet from my feet..........

Tatertester, when I started flipping I would stand on my truck bed and have 3 paint trays with water in them place 5, 10 and 15 feet away from me. Keep practicing and you'll get it. Do that everyday until you can hit the mark every cast

[WIGuide]

I really think you can do without the platform to stand on. If you're smashing your rod tip into the ground then you probably aren't doing it right or you need a shorter rod. Also, if you're doing this you'll be wacking the side of the boat with it too. Save yourself some money and just stand on the ground. As for a target you could use just about anything. I think I'd probably go with the pallet idea someone had on here with 2x4 legs. You could make it dual purpose too by flipping it over and trying to pitch and flip between the slats. 

[tatertester]

Checked out a few videos, and I'm going to try the practice recommended....Thanks for the ideas.

[Teal]

I stand facing the side of my boat and practice pitch skipping under the trailer. You can also practice pitching but make your line just above the lure hit the bottom of the rail (facial board of simulated dock) the momentum will cause a new pendulum ans sling the bait further under.

[Teal]

Forgot how good that video was

[BuckMaxx]

I use a pogostick to simulate skipping in 3 foot rollers.

[gripnrip]

That video helped me a ton last year.  I never was any good at getting anything under a dock or boat slip.  I didn't realize why until I watched the above video.  I was looking at the dock a lot with no confidence in getting the bait where I wanted.  So when I focusing on where I wanted the bait, like Gerald said, more often times than not that's where it went.  I now have some confidence in skipping.

[Big Stick Joe]

Pallets are an awesome idea but I'd still add some ply or OSB to the top of the one you'll stand on. As for a dock, no better suggestion anywhere. They're likely to be free. Prop them up on some old paint cans, bricks, blocks, firewood logs, anything about a foot or more high to make the dock for skipping below. Even just buy a 2x4 for $4 and cut it up and screw it to the pallet to make legs any height you'd want up to about 2 feet (so you get 4 legs from one board).

 

I think this is what i'm going to do. Stand on this and crack the garage door open and practice.

[Big Stick Joe]

I really think you can do without the platform to stand on. If you're smashing your rod tip into the ground then you probably aren't doing it right or you need a shorter rod. Also, if you're doing this you'll be wacking the side of the boat with it too. Save yourself some money and just stand on the ground. As for a target you could use just about anything. I think I'd probably go with the pallet idea someone had on here with 2x4 legs. You could make it dual purpose too by flipping it over and trying to pitch and flip between the slats. 

This is a good idea as well. Hell, you could even take a a piece of the pallet off, turn it on its side and practice skipping into it. I like all the ideas coming from this post.

[Sam]

Your idea has merit. However the one problem I see is the material you will need to hit with your bait to have it skip like the bait is being thrown on water.

 

With a "platform" you can throw downward to mimic skipping but if you are throwing your bait on the ground, rocks, grass, asphalt, cement, etc. you will tear up any lure you use and your skips may not be the same as on water.

 

If possible can you visit a local pond and stand on the bank and practice your skipping? That may be the best way to hone your skipping skills.

 

You can purchase a "dummy" lure to put on your line for practicing. I have one I got at an old Bassmasters Classic and have no idea if they are sold by BPS or Cabala's.

[Big Stick Joe]

Your idea has merit. However the one problem I see is the material you will need to hit with your bait to have it skip like the bait is being thrown on water.

 

With a "platform" you can throw downward to mimic skipping but if you are throwing your bait on the ground, rocks, grass, asphalt, cement, etc. you will tear up any lure you use and your skips may not be the same as on water.

 

If possible can you visit a local pond and stand on the bank and practice your skipping? That may be the best way to hone your skipping skills.

 

You can purchase a "dummy" lure to put on your line for practicing. I have one I got at an old Bassmasters Classic and have no idea if they are sold by BPS or Cabala's.

 

Hey Sam. I'm not worried about a lure. I have an old 1/4oz jig this is beat to hell with no hook. I guess you can say its my practicing lure. As for practicing. The whole reason why I am doing this is I want to get the motion down so when I finally go out on a boat, it will not be my first time trying and start with no confidents and talk myself out of doing it. As for lure performance, I am well aware of there being a differences in cement and water, if I have the motion down; I can fine tune things when I get out on the water,

 

Today I practiced in the garage just standing on the ground skipping under my garage door. After about 10 cast, I think I may have a fundamental concept down. I was aiming on a low trajectory for a spot in front of the door. I was using 65lbs braid. Now my question is, is there a difference between braid and fluorocarbon line?

 

Thanks

Joe