Best Skipping Rod for $100

[Brett's_daddy]

What's the best band for your buck skipping rod in the $100 price range? I'm thinking shorter like anywhere from 6'7" to 7' and a MH or HVY. I have two reels I could use for a skipping setup, a Daiwa Tatula SV 103 and a Shimano Curado DC. The rod I have right now is a 7' Daiwa Tatula XT M/F...I'm just thinking for heavier stuff like jigs, plastic swim baits and chatterbaits that I'd want something more stout than the M/F.

[FryDog62]

Not a lot of rods any more in the $100 price range as they have all drifted upwards recently. Here's one rod I haven't fished but meets some of your specs. There is also a Vendetta rod at 6'9" MH for $89.

 

Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Cast Rod 6'10" Hvy Dock Skippin AJLC610H -Designed for skipping and flipping boat docks. This rod allows you to make accurate casts and skips into tight places deep under docks with enough power to get the fish back to the boat. Having a short, powerful rod is a must if you're a dock fisherman. Hide Information
Taper	Line Wt.	Lure Wt.	Guides	Handle Type	Handle Length	Stock	Price	Qty
Fast	12-25lb	3/8-1 1/2oz	7+Tip	Lee Cast B	15-3/4"	In Stock: 3	$99.95

[Catt]

Daiwa Procyon $79.99

Falcon BuCoo SR $99.99

Lew's TP1X HM40 $99.99

 

Lew's is coming out with one designed by Andy Montgomery.

[casts_by_fly]

The Bucoo SR 6'10" rods are great rods (just fished my 6 power last night) and right at $100 (10% off lots of places for first time orders also).  Can't tell you how it skips though as I spent a half hour trying to figure it out and still haven't gotten there.

 

thanks

rick

[Brett's_daddy]

32 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Abu Garcia Jordan Lee Cast Rod 6'10" Hvy Dock Skippin

AJLC610H -Designed for skipping and flipping boat docks. This rod allows you to make accurate casts and skips into tight places deep under docks with enough power to get the fish back to the boat. Having a short, powerful rod is a must if you're a dock fisherman.

Hide Information

Taper Line Wt. Lure Wt. Guides Handle Type Handle Length Stock Price Qty Fast 12-25lb 3/8-1 1/2oz 7+Tip Lee Cast B 15-3/4" In Stock: 3 $99.95

I've been eyeing this one. Just wanted to make sure with a Heavy rod that it has a soft enough tip so it's not going to rip the hook out of the fishes mouth. Being a Jordan Lee designed rod I'm guessing that he would have it made that way since he's a pro and knows what kind of rod is necessary for skipping.

[GReb]

You want a rod with a stout backbone but softer tip. More moderate fast action. The Falcon Head Turner models are great. Hammer makes a very similar rod too. I’m sure there are others

[Choporoz]

51 minutes ago, Brett's_daddy said:

 so it's not going to rip the hook out of the fishes mouth. 

I struggle when I read this.....I am the confused one, because I read this a lot....but I don't recall ever worrying about ripping a hook out of a bass' mouth....except maybe the tiny trebles of a size 78 jerkbait...even then, I gotta think barb penetration trumps ripping free...but wouldn't cross my mind for the single hooks you're considering 

[FryDog62]

3 hours ago, Brett's_daddy said:

I've been eyeing this one. Just wanted to make sure with a Heavy rod that it has a soft enough tip so it's not going to rip the hook out of the fishes mouth. Being a Jordan Lee designed rod I'm guessing that he would have it made that way since he's a pro and knows what kind of rod is necessary for skipping.

Wish I have fished it to know too... Probably once you feel and bend the rod in hand you'll know without even slinging it. Many of the retailers offer free returns if you size it up and know its a "no." Looks like a pretty nichey rod, but maybe what you're looking for ~

[Brett's_daddy]

7 minutes ago, FryDog62 said:

Looks like a pretty nichey rod, but maybe what you're looking for ~

Well, during his interview at iCast when he introduced his new rod line he did say he wanted to bring more technique-specific rods at an affordable price to the market.

[Columbia Craw]

I grabbed a new Dobyns Maverick 704C and that model at 99 bucks is a deal (free shipping too) and has the power and tip to be a solid skipping rod. 

[zell_pop1]

Nobody skips with spinning anymore? I hate spinning reels but dock skipping is much easier with them and a short spinning rod IMO.

[MN Fisher]

6 hours ago, zell_pop1 said:

Nobody skips with spinning anymore? I hate spinning reels but dock skipping is much easier with them and a short spinning rod IMO.

(raises his hand)

I can't skip with a BC to save my life - so yes, I skip with spinning

Okuma Reflexions A 7' MH/F, Pflueger Supreme-30

[MontclairDave]

On 4/12/2022 at 1:55 PM, GReb said:

You want a rod with a stout backbone but softer tip. More moderate fast action. The Falcon Head Turner models are great. Hammer makes a very similar rod too. I’m sure there are others

I’ve got the Head Turner in the Expert line, which is twice your budget. But same model I believe is available in Bucoo line for around $100? If the action is at all similar, you will love the rod: soft enough tip to really sling baits but a stout backbone to haul em out of cover. I just landed a 5-lber with the rod that would have owned me with my Falcon Medium HD rod (amazing budget rod by the way at $75 or so; could also be your dock skipper for lighter baits—maxes out at around 3/4 ounce but excels between 1/4-1/2)

[casts_by_fly]

23 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

I’ve got the Head Turner in the Expert line, which is twice your budget. But same model I believe is available in Bucoo line for around $100? If the action is at all similar, you will love the rod: soft enough tip to really sling baits but a stout backbone to haul em out of cover. I just landed a 5-lber with the rod that would have owned me with my Falcon Medium HD rod (amazing budget rod by the way at $75 or so; could also be your dock skipper for lighter baits—maxes out at around 3/4 ounce but excels between 1/4-1/2)

i have both the expert and the bucoo here and the actions are similar. My guess is that falcon used the same mandrel for both and adjusted the graphite fiber wrap dimensions to get them as close as they wanted. The expert is lighter and more responsive but the bucoo is no slouch. It was my primary jig and plastics rod all of last year.

 

i see you’re in Montclair. I’m just down the road in Chester.

[BigAngus752]

On 4/14/2022 at 11:48 PM, zell_pop1 said:

Nobody skips with spinning anymore? I hate spinning reels but dock skipping is much easier with them and a short spinning rod IMO.

I skip with both.  I pitch with both.  I'm trying to get my lure where it needs to be.  I'm not picking up a rod and declaring "this is my skipping rod" or "this is the bait I flip with".  Just this morning I pitched a lipless crankbait because pitching it was the most efficient way to get it exactly where I wanted it based on what I was throwing at, the boat angle, wind, etc.  I'm not saying that I can skip with every rod, it has to have the correct action, but I skip with multiple rods both spinning and casting and I'll pitch absolutely anything if that's what works best at that particular moment.    

[LCG]

14 minutes ago, BigAngus752 said:

I'm not saying that I can skip with every rod, it has to have the correct action, but I skip with multiple rods both spinning and casting

May I ask what the correct action is for skipping for casting and spinning? I ask because I am exploring downsizing my set ups and focusing on maximum versatility. I can skip with spinning, still working on skipping with casting set ups.

[BigAngus752]

1 minute ago, LCG said:

May I ask what the correct action is for skipping for casting and spinning? I ask because I am exploring downsizing my set ups and focusing on maximum versatility. I can skip with spinning, still working on skipping with casting set ups.

I can only answer for myself, but I have to be using a rod with a more moderate or "softer" tip if the lure is light.  I skip with fast tips too though.  It's more about what I'm skipping I guess.  I am constantly skipping wacky rigged 5in worms under docks but no way I would try that with a BC.  I'm sure there are some people that could, but I use a spinning rod with a moderate tip for wacky. 

 

On the opposite end of that spectrum is when I'm skipping a 1/2oz bladed jig with a large paddletail trailer.  I use baitcaster and a MH Okuma with a fast tip, and that Okuma's "fast" is much stiffer than, say, one of my Dobyns "fast" tips.  But the vibrating jig with the paddletail is so heavy that I very rarely have an issue.  It's more about getting the angle right IMHO.  If I screw up that first angle I'm picking yarn regardless of what rod I'm using.  

 

I only skipped with spinning gear for years.  I finally realized that I was only going to learn by doing.  I cinched up my undies, put my head down, and started hurling it.  It turns out it wasn't difficult to learn at all.  I made a few messes but I never had to cut any line.  I'm not Andy Montgomery but I can put it where I want it most of the time.  

[MontclairDave]

On 4/16/2022 at 10:15 AM, casts_by_fly said:

i have both the expert and the bucoo here and the actions are similar. My guess is that falcon used the same mandrel for both and adjusted the graphite fiber wrap dimensions to get them as close as they wanted. The expert is lighter and more responsive but the bucoo is no slouch. It was my primary jig and plastics rod all of last year.

 

i see you’re in Montclair. I’m just down the road in Chester.

Actually moved to West Orange a few years ago but same general area. Good to hear the Bucoo actions are similar; looking for a frog rod and I don’t want to spend a ton; maybe something that would double for flipping into heavy cover. Haven’t tried the Expert for heavy flipping yet but it is one sweet jig rod (swimming, pitching, etc).

[casts_by_fly]

4 hours ago, MontclairDave said:

Actually moved to West Orange a few years ago but same general area. Good to hear the Bucoo actions are similar; looking for a frog rod and I don’t want to spend a ton; maybe something that would double for flipping into heavy cover. Haven’t tried the Expert for heavy flipping yet but it is one sweet jig rod (swimming, pitching, etc).

The bucoo pitching stick would be okay for a frog rod, but I’d go heavier myself. In fact, I grabbed an expert amistad for heavier flipping/punching/frogs and it will be perfect for that. When the grass and pads grow in here come June/July you need a little more than the pitching stick I think. The bayou/eye crosser would also be good at that 7 power but a little shorter. I wanted more punching than frogs so went longer.

 

if you want to try any of them, pick a lake and I’ll be there. I’m probably going Friday and/or Saturday this week somewhere. 
 

thanks

rick