Your Favorite Skipping Jig

[the reel ess]

I was out Sunday and had to break off my "standard" 1/2 oz. black/blue jig. I was in the kayak so I didn't have all my tackle with me. I had a 1/4 oz. gold shiner grass jig (used as a swimjig) tied on another rod. Well, I put a black/blue craw on it and went to work. Man, it skipped easily, with way fewer "professional overruns". And I caught fish on a gold shiner jig/black and blue craw. Got me thinking I need a lighter jig to improve skipping. I like to get way back under overhanging stuff where bass think they're safe. I hooked this big gal so far back I almost needed a machete to go get her out. I had a kayak full of spiders and insects afterward. I was on the lookout for snakes. What's your favorite jigs and weights for better skipping? 

 

 

 

[J Francho]

It’s more about the trailer for me. Some skip better then others. Something with wide body works well. An Arky style head skips well for me when doing pitch skip casts. 

[the reel ess]

1 minute ago, J Francho said:

It’s more about the trailer for me. Some skip better then others. Something with wide body works well. An Arky style head skips well for me when doing pitch skip casts. 

I can dig that. But I was using the same trailer on both. What's your best skipping trailer? I've been using a 1/2 oz. Arky from Seibert with a Rage Craw, exclusively.

[J Francho]

Rage Bug, Menace, Zoom Super Chunk, and any non boot tail frog. Yum Tiptoad has been what I’m using lately. 

[the reel ess]

1 hour ago, J Francho said:

Rage Bug, Menace, Zoom Super Chunk, and any non boot tail frog. Yum Tiptoad has been what I’m using lately. 

A toad is something I have not tried yet. That's a killer idea because I've feel certain these fish haven't seen one as a jig trailer. And it's likely more durable.

[FryDog62]

I use the Strike King Skipping Jig, or any jig that is intended for skipping - but also has the screw lock for the trailer (otherwise it gets tedious always pushing the tailer back up, super gluing, etc.).  I tend to use 3/8 oz most often and the two trailers I prefer are either a Rage Bug, or my new favorite the 4 inch Biwaa Armored Craw - the thing doesn't even bounce, it goes straight across the surface like a water skier.  

[Teal]

Arky style jig with a beaver style trailer skips like a dream.  I can skip dang.near any type of jig with even a swimmer on it... but if you want a good, easy, effortless, and quiet entry, something flat and wide.   

 

 

[the reel ess]

16 minutes ago, Teal said:

Arky style jig with a beaver style trailer skips like a dream.  I can skip dang.near any type of jig with even a swimmer on it... but if you want a good, easy, effortless, and quiet entry, something flat and wide.   

 

 

Do you have a preferred jig weight?

[Teal]

Yes, 15 years ago I would have said 1/4  but.3/8 is where I start now.  If it's a super slow bite, I may go down to a quarter oz.   3/8 takes up most of.my 4 jig boxes.  My.next.weight is.probably a 1/2 with 1/4 being third.    I like the 3/8 with the best...Has a quick fall, and loads easily.  Just gotta keep in mind that when you are skipping, you do not have to sling it as hard with slightly heavier jigs...the weight and momentum creatures a good deal more energy off of the same effort...if nothing else, dual it down a notch.  Thst s.prob why u had some backlash with the 1/2 oz

[clemsondds]

On 8/17/2020 at 4:53 PM, Teal said:

Yes, 15 years ago I would have said 1/4  but.3/8 is where I start now.  If it's a super slow bite, I may go down to a quarter oz.   3/8 takes up most of.my 4 jig boxes.  My.next.weight is.probably a 1/2 with 1/4 being third.    I like the 3/8 with the best...Has a quick fall, and loads easily.  Just gotta keep in mind that when you are skipping, you do not have to sling it as hard with slightly heavier jigs...the weight and momentum creatures a good deal more energy off of the same effort...if nothing else, dual it down a notch.  Thst s.prob why u had some backlash with the 1/2 oz

Are you using this mainly when dock fishing or just going down the bank, hitting spots under cover?  Do you pitch with this jig as well, or just skip?  I'm trying to figure out if people carry a pitching setup and a skipping setup...or what?  Do you use your skipping setup as your main pitching setup as well?  Do do you switch it all depending on the cover and conditions?  Thanks

[Lead Head]

95% of the time I pitch and skip with the same setup.

95% of the time I'm using a 3/8oz Siebert dock rocker with a rage bug trailer. 

 

As I have gotten better at roll casting and skipping, I find myself pitching less. Most times it's faster, gives me the same entry into the water, and keeps the hook away from my hand. Obviously boat position and casting angles force me to pitch often enough, but it is no longer my preferred method for low trajectory casting. 

 

If I could cast as well with my right hand as I can my left, it would likely be rare that I pitch at all.

[Kenny Yi]

17 hours ago, clemsondds said:

Do you pitch with this jig as well, or just skip?  I'm trying to figure out if people carry a pitching setup and a skipping setup...or what?

i have a DC reel so i have one single setup with me, a Siebert Sniper Jig with either a Zoom Z-Craw or a Missile Baits D-bomb (full and junior versions of both)

 

the only time id separate into two setups is if i want a 1/2+ pitching setup for heavier cover, otherwise any jig i can skip with can also be pitched (alot of people use two separate setups because they need different braking systems for each technique)

 

anytime i can skip under something, i will try, for two reasons: there is always a chance a fish there hasnt seen a bait and that i feel like a badass

[the reel ess]

Since this thread has been resurrected, I'd like to mention the Game Changer Lures Trashmaster jig. I like the 3/8 oz. with a Rage Bug. It's the best skipping jig I've found. It's also, by far, the most weedless. I bought two about a year ago. I'm still using one of them.

[Jaderose]

58 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

Since this thread has been resurrected, I'd like to mention the Game Changer Lures Trashmaster jig. I like the 3/8 oz. with a Rage Bug. It's the best skipping jig I've found. It's also, by far, the most weedless. I bought two about a year ago. I'm still using one of them.

The Trashmaster is the shiz-nizzy.  Weirdly, I lose the heck out of them in rip rap though.  I think I get cocky and figure they'll go through anything

[the reel ess]

7 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

The Trashmaster is the shiz-nizzy.  Weirdly, I lose the heck out of them in rip rap though.  I think I get cocky and figure they'll go through anything

I have to admit there's no rip rap where I fish them. It's almost all wood cover.

[Jaderose]

15 minutes ago, the reel ess said:

I have to admit there's no rip rap where I fish them. It's almost all wood cover.

Yeah...I dunno.  If I let them get wedged, they're gone.  You'd think I'd learn...lol.

[the reel ess]

6 minutes ago, Jaderose said:

Yeah...I dunno.  If I let them get wedged, they're gone.  You'd think I'd learn...lol.

I tried a blade bait for the first time Saturday. It paid off with 2 bass and a big crappie. But I discovered how easy they are to get hung up. They should come in packs of 3.

[Jaderose]

3 hours ago, the reel ess said:

I tried a blade bait for the first time Saturday. It paid off with 2 bass and a big crappie. But I discovered how easy they are to get hung up. They should come in packs of 3.

lost a few of those too!