Dock skipping rod?

[Fishin Dad]

Hey All, 

 

I have been learning so much just reading for a couple years (you all are a wealth of knowledge, thanks) so here goes my first question.  I really enjoy skipping docks.  I am also a big chicken to do so with a bait caster (I plan on trying it this year anyway).   I have used a 6'6" medium, a 6'6"mh, and a 7'4" medium spinning rod all fast action.  I have used braided line with no leader with good success.  What spinning rod do you all like to use for this?    Feel free to encourage the baitcaster use as well!  

 

Thanks

  

[IndianaFinesse]

I'm with you on skipping with baitcasters.  I can do it, but i can't skip near as far with a baitcaster as I can with a spinning rod.  Any rod will work for skipping (which model depends on what you're planning on skipping) but shorter rods around the 6' 6" range are easiest to skip with IMO.

[JDNKC]

I skip with either - 6'8" IMx spinning rod paired with p line braid and shimano stradic fk, or a curado 70 on a 6'6" IMx with 15lb tatsu.

[NYBasser]

I currently use a Dobyns Champion 683sf. I used to use a 6'3" Rapsody hot rod. Liked the shorter rod better for skipping, but the champion was a big upgrade in sensitivity.

[FryDog62]

I use two different spinning rods - one 6'-8" and one 6'-9".  One is Fast action and one Extra Fast.  Depending on bait size/weight the rod action makes a difference.  Have to experiment..

 

I do tie a fairly long fluorocarbon or Yo-Zuri Hybrid leader to the main braid line.  I have found the braid gets nicked up and snapped around docks too easily.  Anywhere from 8 to 12 pound test leader depending on lure.  A weightless Senko gets the lighter leader to attain optimal sink rate.  

 

I too have a hard time skipping with a baitcaster but am going to give it one more try this year with the new Daiwa Tatula "SV" reel coming out.  It is touted as a game-changer for skipping lures without backlash...  we'll see, but I have fallen to the bait monkey on this one...  

[RichF]

I'm 100% baitcaster for skipping docks.  Probably because I only like to skip jigs, frogs, and big swimbaits.  If you go the caster route, 6'8 to 7'0 medium heavy to heavy (I prefer heavy) with a soft tip.  I have 3 different rods I skip with, all have different lines.  17 -20lb fluoro or 50lb braid.

[FryDog62]

1 hour ago, RichF said:

I'm 100% baitcaster for skipping docks.  Probably because I only like to skip jigs, frogs, and big swimbaits.  If you go the caster route, 6'8 to 7'0 medium heavy to heavy (I prefer heavy) with a soft tip.  I have 3 different rods I skip with, all have different lines.  17 -20lb fluoro or 50lb braid.

 

Curious what reel works best for you and settings to get maximum casting range w/o backlash..

[J Francho]

I use lots of spool tension, zero braking, and a trained thumb.

[RichF]

17 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

 

Curious what reel works best for you and settings to get maximum casting range w/o backlash..

 

I use a Chronarch CI4, Curado E7, and Tatulat CT.  On the Chronarch, I set all the internal brakes on.  The outer dial doesn't seem to make a lot of difference to me. I also tighten the spool tension a little more than I normally would if were just casting.  With the E7, 2 sets of brakes on, same deal with the spool tension.  I set the Tat to around 12 to 14, same spool tension deal.  I still get overruns but rarely ever major backlashes. I think training the thumb is the most important thing.

 

3 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I use lots of spool tension, zero braking, and a trained thumb.

 

I've heard of others doing it this way as well, no brakes/all spool tension.  I'm gonna give this a try this year. 

[Logan S]

For casting I use a 7' H/F with 17 lb flouro.  For spinning it's a 7' M/F with 10 lb braid and a 10 or 12 lb flouro leader.  I can/do skip with most of my rods occasionally when needed, but those two are the regulars.  The only other rod that I use somewhat regularly is my frog rod with is a 7'4" H/F with braid.

 

Shorter rods can be a little easier but once you get some practice in it doesn't make too much a difference unless you're talking about a really long rod (like 7'6"+).  As far as casting vs spinning, it's simply a matter of what bait I'm throwing...90% of the time it's either a jig or a finesse/stick worm of some sort (shakey/wacky/weightless/etc) and it should be obvious which goes on which rod .  

 

For skipping with baitcasters I find the reel doesn't matter a whole lot...Just use your normal braking setting and add a little spool tension.  Practice is the key...A Shimano DC reel sure is fun though .  

[OCdockskipper]

I fish from a smaller boat that is closer to the waters surface, so I prefer a shorter rod (6ft).  It allows me to underhand skip and backhand skip easier with the rod being more vertical to the water.

 

I recently went from a M to a MH & didn't like the difference.  I throw lighter baits so a little whip in the rod seems to make the baits skip more times & further.

[J Francho]

A little note on skipping baits...  While fishing Smith Mountain Lake during an Elites TX, I noticed Dean Rojas skipping his frog along the shoreline, when there wasn't really any reason to skip it.  I asked him about it, and he said it was part of the presentation.  I can't say I skip all my baits, but things like flukes, senkos, frogs, even walking baits, I tend to try some skipping.

[A-Jay]

16 hours ago, Fishin Dad said:

Hey All, 

 

I have been learning so much just reading for a couple years (you all are a wealth of knowledge, thanks) so here goes my first question.  I really enjoy skipping docks.  I am also a big chicken to do so with a bait caster (I plan on trying it this year anyway).   I have used a 6'6" medium, a 6'6"mh, and a 7'4" medium spinning rod all fast action.  I have used braided line with no leader with good success.  What spinning rod do you all like to use for this?    Feel free to encourage the baitcaster use as well!  

 

Thanks

  

 

Hello and Welcome to Bass Resource ~

In addition to all the most excellent advice already offered, when skipping with a casting reel, especially when you're first starting out, something that can really help is to skip with LESS THAN A TOTALLY FULL SPOOL.     

   Taking some line off your 'skipping reel" so that you have at least an 1/8 of an inch of the reel spool showing above the line, can be a good way to assist with 'line management'. 

This is also a decent reason to use a higher speed reel as the reduced spool diameter will effect speed of line recovery.

A-Jay

 

[FryDog62]

2 hours ago, J Francho said:

A little note on skipping baits...  While fishing Smith Mountain Lake during an Elites TX, I noticed Dean Rojas skipping his frog along the shoreline, when there wasn't really any reason to skip it.  I asked him about it, and he said it was part of the presentation.  I can't say I skip all my baits, but things like flukes, senkos, frogs, even walking baits, I tend to try some skipping.

 

I live fairly close to Mille Lacs and talked to a guide last Fall.  He says he tries to skip Plastics whenever possible, even when no cover is present.  Long casts with the lure plopping can spook the smallies there, even though a relatively lower-pressured lake.  He said skipping across the surface the fish really seem to hone in on, and then strike at a much higher percentage.  Probably true other places too, but definitely in some of our better/clearer lakes up here...

[A-Jay]

26 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

 

I live fairly close to Mille Lacs and talked to a guide last Fall.  He says he tries to skip Plastics whenever possible, even when no cover is present.  Long casts with the lure plopping can spook the smallies there, even though a relatively lower-pressured lake.  He said skipping across the surface the fish really seem to hone in on, and then strike at a much higher percentage.  Probably true other places too, but definitely in some of our better/clearer lakes up here...

 

Interesting ~ I'll say that for me fishing the clear open water smallies here - getting the bait as far away from the boat as possible Is Key. 

 

And there is No Way I can come close to that kind of distance if I started skipping casts. 

 

Besides,  I think bounce casting RES and Jerkbaits is a little wacky anyway.

 

A-Jay

 

[FryDog62]

I think a lot of times, he'll see a submerged rock pile at a relatively close distance and skip over there more often than he casts to it.... Says he sees the fish look up as the lure skips across the surface, and many times follow it and strike...  

[BassGirl71]

I skipped a dock with a bait caster once....   By accident, of course.  I was shocked it went fairly well!  But I am more of a spinning rod person when skipping.  It is just so much easier - or maybe I'm just not patient enough to learn it with a bait caster.  I have a 6'6" shakey head rod that I use.

This year I thought about trying the Gene Larew Dock Shooters. I got some Gene Larew pinhead jigs and the Dock Shooter soft plastics.  I'm not sure if it will be easier or harder - but I suppose, like anything, it will be a matter of practice and getting used to it.

I also agree with FryDog62's statement about skipping in other situations.  I think it's a presentation the fish do not normally see, so it can get them interested better than other presentations they've seen a million times.

[Fishin Dad]

Hey, thanks a lot you all.  The knowledge you added is unreal.   I really learn a ton on here.   I just hope I can contribute and help others at some point.    I might even have enough confidence to give the baitcaster a go with skipping now.   Great ideas.   Really appreciated!!

[fishwizzard]

7 hours ago, J Francho said:

A little note on skipping baits...  While fishing Smith Mountain Lake during an Elites TX, I noticed Dean Rojas skipping his frog along the shoreline, when there wasn't really any reason to skip it.  I asked him about it, and he said it was part of the presentation.  I can't say I skip all my baits, but things like flukes, senkos, frogs, even walking baits, I tend to try some skipping.

 

This is good to hear as I skip almost all of my weightless plastics whenever it is practical.  Mostly just for the practice but I do think sometimes it seems to trigger an immediate strike once the lure comes to rest.  I don't skip senkos as it seems to kill their already awful durability, but do also almost always skip my Ned rigs as well.  If I am wading and find a longish run with a lot of overhanging trees it is almost a sure thing to get a bite if I can get my Ned far back under them.  

[Fishin Dad]

I have heard a lot about that Tatula SV.    I may have to grab one of those to try out.   Sounds like the bees knees for skipping.   

[BassThumb]

I use a MH/F Avid spinning rod for skipping plastics and small jigs under docks. I could do that all day long it's so fun. 

 

I can do a decent job of skipping with a baitcaster and I do it routinely with frogs, but the difference in efficiency and effectiveness between skipping with a spinning set-up and a baitcasting set-up is not even close for your average angler.

 

I'm looking to maybe upgrade to a Dobyns Sierra 705sf for this season for skipping. 

[Zippyduck Krimm]

The higher end sv reels are great for skipping. I don't see how the new tatula sv will differ in any way.