I only got three fish today because....skipping. yup. skipping

[Darth-Baiter]

my buds got into some fish.  one guy found a good cove and got 7 decent fish.  oh, good for him!!

 

I found a super quiet cove and decided that it looked like a good time to try skipping.  I stood up in my kayak, looked around to see if anyone was looking and let it rip.  I think I got the thumb control  down.  using my brand-new Tatula SV TS, and a Levante Perfect pitch.  line is 50lb braid.

 

I had some pro-level skipping.  tight, fast, that cool as heck sound.  oh, bait was a small brush hog, t-rigs with a 3/16 tungsten bullet.  I think I could have taken the time to tie on an even skip friendly bait, but I was lazy.  I flubbed plenty, and backlashed 4x.  but I was able to pick them out an try again.  (and again). I need to work on having the bait hit at the same repeatable spot next to me.  roll cast was No-Go..I just had to straight forehand cast it with moderate speed.  I think I spent 1 hour in that fish-less cove working on my moves and untangling things.  

 

I eventually got interested in fishing again and found my buds out on the main lake.  they were approaching double digit bass numbers!!  oh-o.  Steve asks, "what were you doing in that cove for so long?".   without saying a thing I picked up rod and skipped my bait past him..hahah.. he goes..."OOOHH!!!"  got lucky and could not repeat it with an audience.

 

I am going to keep practicing.  maybe with a weightless 6" Senko.  something easy,  trust me, if I could find a flat rock with a hole in it......I do not think I can hone my skipping skills while fishing.  I have to put time aside and just focus on the task at hand.  it is just how my mind works.

[FrnkNsteen]

Have it hit out towards your target a little more than next to you and lift your rod tip as it starts the skip. It does two things,... It keeps your line out of the water, but also helps pick up line slack that could lead to over-run on the spool.

 

I'm still learning too. Found that my '17 Tat SV on my 7' Zodius MH F is a decent combo and seems to work well. Currently throwing a SK Andy Montgomery skipping jig. I like the screw baitkeeper.

[Choporoz]

It is hard to stop fishing and work on learning, but it will pay dividends down the road.  Skipping,  casting, cranking, dog-walking, grass-ticking, pitching, punching, etc....all good skills that didn't come naturally to me.... had to stop and work at them

[Chris Catignani]

Yup...good advice. There are days I will go out and just use a technique that need improving.

[Woody B]

I need to work on skipping more.  I can skip really good....... but not really accurate.   A few month ago I was skipping a dock with poles about 3 feet apart.  The dock surface was 10 inches or so above the water level.  I managed to get the elevation right on every cast, but hit a pole on my first 4 casts.  I finally got between the poles on my 5th cast and caught a 4 pounder.   

[T-Billy]

On 10/8/2022 at 5:34 PM, Darth-Baiter said:

I am going to keep practicing.  maybe with a weightless 6" Senko.  something easy,

Still working on it myself. Roll casting hasn't worked well for me either. Straight forehand. Keeping my elbow tight to my side helped a bunch. Senko works well. Super fluke is the easiest thing I've found to skip. Both good practice baits. Neither will clang off peoples pontoons or dock floats and won't damage anything. Both are fish catchers.