Your Preferred Skipping Jigs

[Big Rick]

This year I have really upped my skipping game and have caught fish that I would've never seen otherwise. Big ones, too. It's been and eyeopening experience that makes me really want to excel at it. Up to this point most of my dock skipping has been frogs. But, I know there are some big fish that won't hit that toad but would suck up a jig dropped in front of them.

 

Here are the questions: What is your favorite brand, weight, size, and style of jig that's easiest for you to skip? Also, what's the preferred trailer on your skipping jig?

 

I've done a forum search to prevent another post about an often repeated topic and couldn't find these particular questions addressed. 

 

What say you?

[LrgmouthShad]

Got some Siebert Dock Rockers in 1/4oz recently. They are pretty sweet. I don’t really pick the trailer based on how well it skips. 

[gim]

11 minutes ago, Big Rick said:

But, I know there are some big fish that won't hit that toad but would suck up a jig dropped in front of them.

Have you considered skipping a stick bait like a senko or a tube?  I have done pretty well the last couple years almost exclusively skipping stick baits wacky style.

 

I won't skip anything that has a hard surface anymore.  I don't like banging jigs off people's docks, lifts, or pontoons.  If I bump into that stuff with a soft plastic, it doesn't make any noise.  If I bump into it with a jig, it's loud.

[waymont]

Boss 3/8 and 1/2oz Dock Knocker with zoom chunk.

[scaleface]

30 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Have you considered skipping a stick bait like a senko or a tube?  I have done pretty well the last couple years almost exclusively skipping stick baits wacky style.

 

I won't skip anything that has a hard surface anymore.  I don't like banging jigs off people's docks, lifts, or pontoons.  If I bump into that stuff with a soft plastic, it doesn't make any noise.  If I bump into it with a jig, it's loud.

Have you tried a tube with the weight inside ? 

[gim]

23 minutes ago, scaleface said:

Have you tried a tube with the weight inside ? 

Yes.  I use the phantom weighted tube hook when specifically skipping tubes.

[Big Rick]

45 minutes ago, gimruis said:

Yes.  I use the phantom weighted tube hook when specifically skipping tubes.

Good idea. I'll have to rig one up and give it a go. 

[Deleted account]

2 hours ago, LrgmouthShad said:

I don’t really pick the trailer based on how well it skips. 

But you should...

[LrgmouthShad]

21 minutes ago, Deleted account said:

But you should...

No

[Big Rick]

In my experience a beaver style trailer works well since the appendages are very large and the bait itself is wide and dense, in essence assisting in keeping the jig skipping along. 

[Lead Head]

3/8oz Siebert dock rocker with a rage bug trailer. This is my preferred jig for pretty everything, but especially skipping. 

 

As to picking a trailer specifically for skipping, in my experience, it does make a difference. Bug/beaver type trailers (anything fat with flat-ish top and bottom) skip noticeably better for me than traditional craw or chunk trailers. Noticeably better, but not so much that I will rule out other types of trailers.

[GetFishorDieTryin]

I like Molixs' Kento jig in 3/8.  It's a great all purpose jig to begin with and the fact that it skips easily is a plus.  The only drawback is it doesn't have a super aggresive keeper.  After a few fish your plastic may slide a bit during the skip. 

Recently I started using the Greenfish Chibi Jig as my lighter option (5/16) Its got a similar arkie style head so it skips great.  It's a smaller profile jig with a 3x short shank Gami hook, it fits into tight spots and has a hook that can pull them out.  Double barbed keeper works exceptionally well.  It's a great option for a heavy finesse jig as well.  I really like the line tie, it's almost completely integrated into the head, stays very clean.

Just about any wider craw or creature trailer with a flat bottom will skip pretty well.

[FrnkNsteen]

I like the Strike King skipping jigs, mainly due to head shape and the screw style bait keeper that helps keep the plastic in place. 

 

I like using a Rage Bug or Bandito Bug due to how flat they are. Not a fan of a lot of Beaver style, or Big Bite Yo Mama style that have a valley down the middke of the bait as the hook seems to tear out the side very easily. 

 

In fact, ... I like how Bandito Bugs skip, but the tear out really easily too.

[the reel ess]

Of all the jigs I've tried, the Trashmaster with a Rage Bug type trailer skips the best. It's also waaaay more weedless than any other I've used. It has a screwlock at the head and an EWG type of weedless hook. The plastic is rigged as you would a toad. The downside is it's a Karl's Tackle exclusive. They cost a bit more and you have to pay shipping. But they last so long they're still a bargain. I have a couple so old the hooks have rust and the skirts are almost gone. They still catch.

 

Just a T-rigged Bug style bait with a pegged 3/16 oz. weight is even easier to skip.

[the reel ess]

19 hours ago, Big Rick said:

But, I know there are some big fish that won't hit that toad but would suck up a jig dropped in front of them.

 

This is true. The number of bites goes down. The quality goes up. I believe the jig intimidates most smaller bass, but big ones are not intimidated easily. The trick is to drop it in their mouth. They'll suck it in on instinct. For that to work, they have to be in the cover you're fishing. So there will be days you get no jig bites. You can mitigate the intimidation factor by pitching a T-rig. Lately, I haven't been able to buy a bite on a jig. But I have done well pitching a Tirigged Senko. I even caught an 8 on it.

[kbeeb374]

I tie my own but i learned from The guy who owns omerta tackle co.   He ties a jig specifically for skipping and it is perfect for it.  he has a website you can order from if you are interested:

https://omertatackleco.com/collections/structure-jigs/products/skipping-jig

[Big Rick]

6 minutes ago, kbeeb374 said:

I tie my own but i learned from The guy who owns omerta tackle co.   He ties a jig specifically for skipping and it is perfect for it.  he has a website you can order from if you are interested:

https://omertatackleco.com/collections/structure-jigs/products/skipping-jig

Thanks for the link. Very interesting concept. Is the longer hook guard an added benefit to skipping? Do you trim yours back a bit?

[kbeeb374]

I don't trim mine and i skip them pretty far. you certainly could trim it, it would just make the weed guard a bit stiffer.

[LrgmouthShad]

22 hours ago, the reel ess said:

Just a T-rigged Bug style bait with a pegged 3/16 oz. weight is even easier to skip.

I hear a lot about skipping jigs, skipping weightless plastics, skipping frogs, etc, but seemingly less talk about skipping Texas rigs. Even unpegged a creature bait seems to skip real well. 

[Boomstick]

The flat head on the Strike King skipping jigs with a beaver or bug style trailer works pretty good for skipping.