Advice on skipping light plastics

[LCG]

Long story short, I have grown to prefer casting over spinning. The overall control and accuracy are much better for me. While I am no expert, I have learned quite a bit over the last few years. The one area I need serious help is skipping light plastics (weightless trick worms, wacky senkos, and weedless 1/16oz Ned rigs). These are highly productive for me and this year I am determined to use casting gear to skip under trees.

 

My set up is a 6'10" M-F casting rod, rated 1/8-5/8oz and 8-14lb line. It has a light tip and the rods loads deep. Have it paired with a SLX MGL 71 HG spooled with 6lb Yo Zuri Hybrid. I can pitch and cast pretty decently, not quite as far as my spinning set up, but close enough. I can skip with spinning, but not well with casting. 

 

 

I have the brakes set to 3 on 1 off, dial at 4. Spool tension set to allow a fairly fast fall rate. I thumb the spool the whole cast and raise the rod tip up towards the end of the cast. 80% of the time I still get over runs and backlashes. I am trying not to snap cast, rather load the rod and swing in a smooth forcefull manner.

 

What am I missing? How does one skip light plastics weighing a total of 1/8-3/16oz? Any tips would be highly appreciated. Thanks

 

 

[Bird]

This may not be a popular response but at the end of the day, you'll skip better with spinning.

My 2 favorite baits to skip are wacky rigged Senko's and Zoom flukes.

 

The issue I have with casting gear is not while the bait is skipping, it's when the bait decides not to skip.

[FryDog62]

I use 3 casting set ups for skipping weightless/light plastics:

 

•Loomis NRX 852 7’1” Medium-XF - paired with Steez SV TW used to skip weightless wacky rigs. 20 lb braid + fluoro leader.

 

•Phenix Feather 7’1” Medium-Light Fast with Daiwa Alphas CT SV70. 10-12 lb fluorocarbon to skip 1/16 oz Neko rigs. 

 

• 1/4 oz and above a regular Tatula SV TW works well. Owner 3/32 oz Twistlock Light with 5 inch Caffeine Shad = 1/3 oz on 7’0” Tatula Elite Ehrler rod.  15 lb Abrazx.

 

Key to skipping is the SV spool... 

 

 

[papajoe222]

I go against the norm in rod selection and go with a M/MF 6'6" baitcast rod.  It loads up much easier and that reminds me not to overpower the cast.  I will admit, I'm far from being proficient and much more comfortable using spinning gear for this.