Zona Show on Skipping Docks

[OCdockskipper]

Mark Zona had a different show that aired today, it was pretty much instructional on the things he has learned over the years about skipping docks.  It is one thing to read this information, it is another to see it in practice.  One thing I found particularly interesting was that he uses both spinning & baitcasting, the former for unweighted plastics, the latter for traditional jigs.  That is different than the either/or I often find on this subject.

 

One other tip he gave was if you are right handed, to always approach the docks in a clockwise manner to make the skipping easier.  While this is a good tip, there is one scenario where the opposite is true, a scenario that I have on my home lake.  When you have short docks where a majority of the pontoon boats are parked on the front of the dock, your skips have to enter from the side.  When the docks are fairly close together & you are approaching the docks clockwise, that means your casting angle will be really tight, often not even possible.  However, if you approach these docks counter clockwise, the angle to the side of the dock opens up, giving you a larger & more accessible target.  I have included a diagram of what I am trying to illustrate.

 

The only time I approach these kind of docks clockwise is when the fish are positioned under the boats more than the docks.  A majority of boat owners park their boats so that when you face the dock, the open pontoon section is to the left.  Approaching these boats clockwise gives you a clear shot between the pontoons as opposed to trying to squeeze the cast between the pontoon & lower unit.  It also cuts down on fish wrapping you around a propeller.

 

If you haven't had a chance to watch the show, do it - it was very well done & even features a cameo by Greg Hackney as "That Guy"

 

diagram.pdfdiagram.pdf.

 

 

[RichF]

The Hackney cameo was hilarious.  It even got my girlfriend laughing!

[Scarborough817]

just waiting for it to show up on youtube.

this is definitely something i want to get into more i've been practicing and i'm not doing to bad skipping just need to be able to put it to use 

[N Florida Mike]

I love skipping. Its enjoyable to me making a good skip and then often having a fish pick up.Its truly priductive as bass so often hold under docks.The lake Im on has docks and a couple pontoons.One of them always has fish under it.Now the owner has pulled the boat straight in to the dock so the only way to skip it is at the motor end.To make it even harder,the angle is such that I have to back hand the cast.

I also have an Island to fish around.I can go backhand or forehand .Ive gotten really good at the angle either way.I do better in my jon boat than the bass hunter because it sits lower in the water.It is just like skipping rocks to me.

Lest you think Im bragging,I have not yet learned flipping.I have tried and just cant seem to get it. To me ,skipping is easy. ( only with spinning though)?

[Hez]

I just recently began successfully skipping under docks with a baitcaster.  

 

I have yet to catch a fish doing it - but it felt rewarding just being able to get the worm under there.  

 

I will keep at it...hope to be catching fish this way soon.  

[buzzed bait]

i use both spinning and casting for skipping.  for senkos it's much easier with my spinning gear, but for jigs i've got it dialed in with a daiwa alphas sv 105 and a megabass phase 3 bearing down rod.  the rod has the perfect tip for skipping the 3/8 and 1/2oz jigs that i prefer and the sv spool in the reel is unbelievable for skipping.

[Quarry Man]

i love skipping wacky worms with spinning rods and swim jigs with casters

[12poundbass]

After seeing Andy Montgomery work his magic and watching Zona's show last week, this is my goal this year to learn to skip a caster under docks. My list keeps growing. I think I might need to move south where the fishing season is longer than 6-7 months. 

Zona if you're reading this, I might make the 2 hour drive south so if a weird looking guy knocks on your door, he just wants to learn to skip docks.