Skipping Set Up

[masterbass]

This year I want work on skipping docks and over hangs.  I was practicing skipping and my results have been inconsistent.  I have a few questions for you skipping experts.  What is the easiest lure to skip?  What combo do you use?  Do you prefer centrifugal or mag breaks?  How do you set up your spool tension and breaks because I've heard loose tension and tightened tension?  What length rod is best?  Do you have any tips on technique?  Thanks.

 

Also, I'm talking about using a bait caster.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

Man, skipping with a baitcaster is pretty tough for me. About the only thing I can consistently skip without backlashing is a 4.5oz 8" Hudd

 

Is there any reason you're opposed to using a spinning rod? I love to skip 5" flukes on a 7' LTB "Tube" rod, Revo Premier 20 and 8lb fluoro. Good luck man.

[MickD]

Good luck on the BC skipping.  Unless you are a masochist, just go with spin and enjoy yourself without backlashes.  I have seen it done, but I'll bet only a very small percentage of BC fishermen can do it.

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I see skipping and light weight casting as "force-feeding" baitcasting tackle and more trouble than it's worth when you can just pick up another tool to make the job easier. That said, playing with the tackle is a big part of fishing for a lot of us. I've seen and heard conflicting opinions on the best setup and technique for caster-skipping. It will probably boil down to trial and error to see what works for you. 

[Darren.]

I've wanted to lean skipping with a bait caster

and have taught myself how, but have found

for me that it isn't the best tool for the job, tho

it can be done, and I do it when necessary.

Rod load, weight of bait, etc., are important

factors. Not to mention braking, and so on.

Obvious stuff...

[Montanaro]

I like using bc for skipping, especially swimjigs. Need a rod that loads up and to dial up tension and brakes and slowly back off to where you nearly backlash. It's all practice, need to develop muscle memory and technique and have faith in your gear. If you are afraid of back lashing you'll stop your lure before the skip.

[Ozark_Basser]

I skip, pitch skip, and backhand skip with a baitcaster. If you have a bait that skips well, its all about your rod tip and your release point. I skip with a 7MH TFO Signature Series. This rod has a super soft tip, almost feels like a crankbait rod.

The lighter the weight of the better, but with a baitcaster, you're probably gonna want to not go lower than 1/4 oz. I pretty much just skip arky head jigs and paddle tails. The trailer does matter on your jig. Chunk trailers with long flappy claws don't skip as well as twin tail trailers or beavers. I usually have a 1/2 oz arky jig with a beaver trailer tied on. I wouldn't try to learn with 1/2 oz though. 1/4-3/8 are good starting points. The head design matters as well. Arkies skip the best. Footballs skip all right. Swim jig heads and brush heads take some practice. Paddletails skip really well, but it tends to wear them out a lot quicker. The screw that goes in there nose tears out while skipping. I always use a 3/16 oz keel weighted hook for paddle tails.

As far as the technique, its just a roll cast with a lower delivery, it's all in the wrist. I keep my settings loose. On a Curado I, I have the mechanical break almost turned off, two brakes in use, and set to 3-4 or the dial. I use the same setting for casting.

Big flat braided line would help you skip better than 8 lb fluoro. I skip with round braid like smackdown or fx2 and a fluoro leader.

Once you get your release point down, it's no big deal. I skip even when I don't need to sometimes just because it's a softer presentation. I almost always skip to laydowns just because it looks more natural and when you skip to a laydown, it gets you as close as possible to the cover.