Can't, for the life of me, skip with baitcaster

[Tweek1106]

Seriously, no matter what I try, I just can't do it with an epic birds nest.

 

Not that I have top of the line equipment (Abu Garcia blackmax 1 or 2 not sure which) but it had failed me in any other situation in PA fishing. 

 

Any suggestions? Could it just be the equipment?

[gardnerjigman]

Most people can't skip because they are afraid of getting a birds nest, so they try to prevent it but in doing that, actually make it worse. 

Stay back off the dock, have your reel tuned loose, and choose the right bait. You need to make sure your bait stays low so it can "skip" rather than stop as soon as it hits. 

Put a senko on a screw lock hook and   t rig it. Easiest thing in the world to skip with. Practice practice practice. 

[BassThumb]

Another easy bait to skip is a frog with the legs trimmed almost completely off, so they're only 1/2" long. Without the legs, it'll be a walkin' fool and will skip like a dream. It's the only bait I'm 100% comfortable skipping with on a baitcaster. 

[SDoolittle]

2 hours ago, gardnerjigman said:

Most people can't skip because they are afraid of getting a birds nest, so they try to prevent it but in doing that, actually make it worse.

Nailed it! Loosen up that reel a bit. Tubes are another bait that are fairly easy to skip.

[new2BC4bass]

Welcome to the forum.  Glad to see another Pennsylvanian.  Skipping is something I want to try.  I suppose some reels might be better than others.  I've already documented my problems with the Daiwa Alphas SV105 (and I seem to be the only one with a problem with this reel), but think it might make a very good skipping reel once I get it straightened out.  Seems to have a lot of braking force which should help control the spool,

I assume you mean the Black Max hasn't failed you in any other fishing situation.  My only Black Max is the older 1600C round reels.  Now that you bring that name up, I'll have to give one a shot skipping since they do so well in every other situation.

[Karl Salm]

i skip with a shimano curado e7 15 lb floro and i only fill spool about half  i almost always use finesse jig with compact trailer i whizz that as hard as i can and barely graze spool with my thumb entire way then set hook feel in the fish 

[Lendiesel22]

Skipping is a fickle beast and practice is the only way to get it. Start with a senko or tube and work from there. Loosen up the reel and go at it. Dont try and skip it by being all cutesy. Visualize what the bait needs to do and fire it in there. 

[Wbeadlescomb]

I like a 3/8 round ball finesse jig

[flyfisher]

Just use a spinning rod instead, makes it a lot easier  

[TxHawgs]

I'm also in the process of learning, for me it's easier with the BC rod simply because of how I can hold it. I think something worth mentioning is everyone says to loosen up on the brakes and after watching this video and thinking about it and taking it to the water it has helped a lot to make sure they are NOT to loose. If that reel is too loose as soon as it touches the water the the slightest decline in speed and it's all downhill from there. Next everyone brings up the reel but the rod is just as important if not more. Any decent reel can be used it just needs set up right. On the other hand u can't just use any rod. I'm using a F not XF because u need to be able to load that tip up for a good slingshot effect. Matching rod power to bait weight, u want that bait at the upper end of the rods specs so it's easier to load the tip. And last like in the video keep the rod down close and parallel to the water. Good luck hope this helps. 

[Tim Kelly]

I'm pretty sure that what the reel is, and where the brake settings are is fairly irrelevant as they all work if you get the cast right. If the lure hits the water at too steep and angle or without enough momentum the lure isn't going to skip and the reel will probably backlash. Practicing getting the lure to hit the water at the right angle is key. Thicker mono or fluoro makes it easier to pick out the fluff ups too. Thinner braid is just awkward.

[Darren.]

I can moderately skip with a bait caster, but
to be honest, I'd just rather do so with my 
spinning setups. I was determined to learn
it because it is a cool thing to be able to do
with a BC.

And doing so with a BC is a badge of honor, as
it is a difficult thing to master. But if it doesn't
make your day more productive (i.e., digging
out professional overruns), then you may be 
better off doing what works best for the skill...

Spinning. Just my humble .02.

[Fishes in trees]

If I had an unlimited amount of time, I'd learn how to skip with a bait caster - but I don't.  When I get into a situation where I must skip a bait underneath something, I have an assortment of spinning rods that I know I can do the job with.  Works for me.

[dwong]

I was fishing with a guy who was really good at skipping 1/2 oz football jigs. He said he liked the brakes really loose and the cast control tight.

[Logan S]

Crash course...There are some pre-requisites as well.  You need to be a skilled caster in the first place.  You also need to be pretty darn accurate already...The 'landing window' to get a successful skip in the place you want the bait is a relatively small area.  Equipment is low on the list of importance, but shorter rods are generally easier to work with.  I wouldn't go over 7'.  

• Don't get too close to the dock/tree/target.  If you're too close the angle will be steeper and make things harder on you.  I like to stay at least 2 rod lengths away (approximately).
• Leave the brakes at a normal setting, but tighten the spool tension just a little.  The proper skip doesn't require as much thumb as many would think.  
• Choose a skip friendly bait, but make sure it's not too light.  If using a jig, use a wide trailer like a beaver style bait.  As you get better you'll notice that the bait type starts to matter less and less.
• Fluid motions.  You need the wind up, the release, and the follow through to be one motion...Just like a golf swing or pitching a baseball, the entire process is important.
• Practice, practice, practice.

Spinning tackle is a good way to learn the angles, follow through, etc...It's also obviously a better fit when using the smaller/lighter stuff.  But for jigs, swimbaits, frogs, etc...you want casting gear for all the same reasons you'd want it when not skipping .  I use both all the time, sometimes even on the same dock.  

[Florida Cracker2]

There's a trick I use to get lures under low hanging mangroves. I use a spinning setup and hold the lure with my left hand and with the line held by my finger (bail flipped) I bend the rod and slingshot the lure under the mangroves. Sometimes it skips...lol. Does that count???

 

[greentrout]

Each to his own. It's not beneath me to use a spincast to get this done. The bass don't care. Watched Kevin VanDam today win a tournament with nothing but a spinning rod and reel in his hands. Won a lot of money.

[clh121787]

Here's a video I just took. Phone in one hand rod in the other.  It takes practice but anyone can do it. It helps if the lure is accelerating/ forward momentum. And a good follow through.  I don't set my reels any differently than they are normally.