Skippin'

[silvercliff_46]

I like to skip under docks, low lying trees and the like, but always use a spinning reel to do it.

I heard someone say (on tv) they do it with a baitcaster!!  If so how do you set up a baitcaster to do it.

I know if I try to do it, I'll do it one time, and then spend the rest of the day digging a world record over-run out of my reel. :-[

[ring fry]

Well, Tiger can hit a 235 yard, high cut 4 iron too.  ;D   Seriously though, I can skip a 5/16th to a 3/4 oz. jig n pig with fairly (emphasize FAIRLY) good success but it takes tons of practice and tons of down time digging out professional over runs.  I've had some success with brush hogs, senkos and flukes with baitcasters.  Just have to get the drag set right and practice, practice, practice.  Also, I use p-line braid on the jigs and p-line flouro on the plastics.

Good luck!

[roadwarrior]

I like to skip under docks, low lying trees and the like, but always use a spinning reel to do it.

I heard someone say (on tv) they do it with a baitcaster!! If so how do you set up a baitcaster to do it.

I know if I try to do it, I'll do it one time, and then spend the rest of the day digging a world record over-run out of my reel. :-[

Well, I know guys that are quite good at skipping with a baitcaster.

I watched flechero when we fished together last year at Lake Fork.

For him, it seemed second nature. For me it would be challenging.

I fish all soft plastics with spinning tackle and with this equipment

am "reasonably" adept at the technique. There is no reason for me

to change and no particular reason for you, either!

8-)

[grimlin]

Don't look at me,i can't do it.  ;D

I think i'll stick to my spinning setup for skipping.

[ba7ss3in]

I use a Quantum Energy with 65lb braid skipping Spro Frogs with no problems

[Joel W]

Well, I know guys that are quite good at skipping with a baitcaster.

I watched flechero when we fished together last year at Lake Fork.

For him, it seemed second nature. For me it would be challenging.

I fish all soft plastics with spinning tackle and with this equipment

am "reasonably" adept at the technique. There is no reason for me

to change and no particular reason for you, either! 8-)

Exactly. Why frustrate yourself trying to learn how to skip with baitcaster, when you're so comfortable skipping with a spinning reel.

[garry77]

I've accidentally skipped lures with a baitcaster.With a spinning reel I don't know if i would consider myself reasonably adept yet,but it is a lot easier than the baitcaster for me.The problem with skipping is you can only practice it on the water.And when I'm onthe water I can only focus on fishing,lol.

[SPEEDBEAD.]

I tried with a baitcaster one time (on purpose) and was so discouraged I never tried again.  It did allow me to laugh at myself for quite a while that day though.....

I am sure w/ time on the water, you could do it.  Like RW said though, why?  LOL

[Joel W]

...And when I'm onthe water I can only focus on fishing,lol.

Not true. Go to any lake that you have opens shore line and practice skipping, pitching, flipping or whatever. While you're not skipping under brush, there are usually overhanging branches you can target.

[John J.]

I like to skip under docks, low lying trees and the like, but always use a spinning reel to do it.

I heard someone say (on tv) they do it with a baitcaster!! If so how do you set up a baitcaster to do it.

I know if I try to do it, I'll do it one time, and then spend the rest of the day digging a world record over-run out of my reel. :-[

I fish all soft plastics with spinning tackle and with this equipment

am "reasonably" adept at the technique. There is no reason for me

to change and no particular reason for you, either!

8-)

Amen to that RW!

[Sam]

Skipping with a baitcaster.  Humm.  Interesting thought.

As you know, the best rig for skipping your lure is with a 6 1/2 foot medium action spinning rod with 10 to 12 pound mono.

Buy making that low sidearm cast, like a whipcrack, your bait skips across the water two or three times close to the water's surface and then enters the water very gently.

Now doing this with a spinning rig is difficult, at best, and as said above, takes a lot of practice and patience.

I would summarize that doing this with a baitcasting rig would take even more time and an enormous amount of patience.  Plus the fact that you would have to set up your baitcaster by putting Scotch Tape over the line on the spool to help stop the backlashes.

So I must agree with the guys when they say to perfect your spinning skipping presentation.  

Maybe by being able to do it both right and left handed.  Or perfect it so that you always get three skips before it gently sinks into the water.

But with that said, give it a try and see what happens and let us know.

For now, I will start to practice my skipping technique, which I have never perfected and am still amazed at just where the bait will go when I use the technique on the water.

[silvercliff_46]

YAH! I think I'll stick with the spinning reel, by the time I would get it figured out I'd have wings. I hope I get the wings, not the horns. :-[

I have to add skippin' is one of my favorite things.  If you can put your bait where other guys are afraid to throw...,well look out.

[WBFishing]

I skip with both.  I am not great with either, but I figure I can get it done when I need to.  The way I skip with a baitcaster is to adjust the brake tighter than I would normally have it.  I pay close attention and when the lure it about to hit water, I do a quick thumb tap tp slow down almost stopping the spool.  If your trajectory it right, the momentum of the lure when it touches down should strip more line off the reel while the lure is skipping.  It works easiest with Zoom Horny Toads for me, cause I like to get them under docks and over hangs.  I have done it  with spinnerbaits and jigs.  

Like it was said earlier, just practice it. All of us can stand to add more tricks to the arsenal.  I am getting good at picking those "nests" out anyways.  A little work makes it worth it.  That's why we call it fishing and not catching.

[silvercliff_46]

I am just curious as to how it is done.  Maybe I will give it a shot.  I always like learning new things.  Nothing ventured nothing gained.

[5bass]

I skip with both. On the baitcast skip, it helps to start with something that will skip easily...fluke, toad etc. Skipping jigs under docks is a big part of my game and it took a lot of practice to skip a jig consistently and effectively. I found that a bigger trailer helped the bait stay on top and a nice medium action casting rod with some 'whip' to it and thick mono will help the learning process.

Once you get the overall motion down, you can switch to a heavier rod to get the eye-crossing hooksets that are sometimes needed with a jig. The jig is what made me learn to skip with a baitcast reel. I just couldnt depend on a rock solid hookset with the spinning stuff and if I did get a good hookset, it was hard to control bigger fish when they started swimming circles around the dock posts. With the casting gear, moving and fighting fish became a non-issue.

It's by no means impossible and an extra tool in your belt is always good to have. I encourage you to at least make another solid effort to learn it. And always remember.......its all about the thumb.

[Tin]

It's by no means impossible and an extra tool in your belt is always good to have. I encourage you to at least make another solid effort to learn it. And always remember.......its all about the thumb.

I always have my brake and spool tension set a little higher too. One of the big things is realizing when the bait will skip or just die when it hits the water, once you figure out the angles it will be real easy.

[Joel W]

For those of you that get Verses tv. On Bass Pros today, KVD did the 4 min segment on jigs and at one point was skipping a jig with baitcaster under a very low dock. Needless to say it was quite impressive. I would be thrilled to be able to skip a Senko under there with a spinning reel. One thing he did mention is that he prefers a 6 or 6 1/2 ft rod for all his skppping.

[flippin]

i can skip with a bacaster i use a siide arm cast but use spinning tackle mostly for skipping

[5bass]

I would be thrilled to be able to skip a Senko under there with a spinning reel.  

Try skipping a senko wacky rigged.....it'll scoot right up under whatever you want it to.

[bugman]

I like to skip under docks, low lying trees and the like, but always use a spinning reel to do it.

I heard someone say (on tv) they do it with a baitcaster!! If so how do you set up a baitcaster to do it.

I know if I try to do it, I'll do it one time, and then spend the rest of the day digging a world record over-run out of my reel. :-[

Well, I know guys that are quite good at skipping with a baitcaster.

I watched flechero when we fished together last year at Lake Fork.

For him, it seemed second nature. For me it would be challenging.

I fish all soft plastics with spinning tackle and with this equipment

am "reasonably" adept at the technique. There is no reason for me

to change and no particular reason for you, either!

I agree with RW. I have to admit that I was one that thought that spinning oufits were a 2nd class outfit but now I find myself using them more often. I like a 5.5' spinning rod for skipping. Use the right tool for the right job.

8-)

[SenkoBasser]

I would be thrilled to be able to skip a Senko under there with a spinning reel.

Try skipping a senko wacky rigged.....it'll scoot right up under whatever you want it to.

Absolutely. Maybe its just in my head but I find its easier and more accurate to skip using an all fiberglass rod. Its all in the wrists.

[RichardE]

I tried "skipping under a dock once, hit my head. Won't do that anymore  ;D

[Joel W]

I would be thrilled to be able to skip a Senko under there with a spinning reel.

Try skipping a senko wacky rigged.....it'll scoot right up under whatever you want it to.

Actually, 90% of the soft plastics I do skip are 4 & 5 inch Senkso, but I Tx rig them. I only wacky rig in shallow water where the falling action is critical.

As for getting the Senko way back under that dock, I mostly fish the NYC reservoirs, and there aren't any docks. All my skipping is just to get the lure under a over hang a few feet.

[silvercliff_46]

I noticed that most of you guys prefer using a shorter rod 6-6 1/2 foot for skipping.  I find using my 7 foot Fish Eagle II M/H works best for me.  Maybe it is the arthritis.  My shoulders, elbows and wrists wear out after a half day fishing.  I find, I am able to use an easier snap with the tip to do the job.

I have switched to longer rods over-all. the wife uses longer rods now days too.  She has been my fishing partner for 47 years now.  

I have been trying to teach her to skip, but it sounds like a depth charge dropped from an old destroyer.  Maybe that's a good thing, because she beats me enough, and she only fishes from the back of the boat.  ;D

[SenkoBasser]

Yeah, the longer rod seems to help too. Try a 7 foot fiberglass with Senko. It takes practice. Good to kill the winter down time. I practice in my yard using the edge of the forest as targets. Obviously you want to go hookless.