Is it impossable with a B Caster

[fish-fighting-illini]

OK I've fig'd out how to skip a lure under trees and docks with a spinning reel but I'd like to do with a BC so I can horse out faster from under.

Is it almost impossible to do with a BC? Whenever I bump the ground or nick the water I have huge backlashes on normal casts.

I figure same thing or worse would happen on a skip.

Is it really really really hard? ( I haven't tried yet).

[eastkybass]

Try to adjust the magnet on the side, it will cut out alot of the backlash problem when you hit something.  I haven't tried to skip with a BC yet but might have to give ita try this weekend.

[jomatty]

no doubt it is harder but it is possible.  some lures skip a lot better than others.  i can skip things like hollow frogs pretty well but have a tough time with anything lighter.  like a lot of things practice is key but what makes this technique so hard for me is that practice involves a lot of backlashing, and some nasty ones at that.

good luck,

matt

[George Welcome]

The right tool for skipping is the spinning gear - why bother with the baitcaster?

[Catt]

El Gato can't do it with either one  >

[Guest avid]

The right tool for skipping is the spinning gear - why bother with the baitcaster?

sometimes your bait caster is rigged up with a senko or the "lure du jour"  when you come accross an overhanging limb that looks soooooooo fishy.  

It's timing.  You make a low trajectory cast and just as the lure hits the surface you thumb and release the spool in one quick motion.  I'll only do it with it a senko or horney toad.  It works pretty well.  

Still, if possible the spinning stick is much easier.

[sigep1967]

I have fished with a guy here in town who is unreal skipping a jig under docks with a baitcaster. I have seen him skip 10-15ft under a dock with just a few inches of opening. It is crazy I have never been able to do it well at all. Sometimes I will actually forget to fish and just stand on the back deck in awe at his ability to put a jig in places that look impossible to do with a spinning reel much less a baitcaster. Of course he is good enough to have won some big tourneys and actually won a Ranger boat a couple of years ago.

[IdahoLunkerHunter]

I stick to spinning. It's not worth the hassle of a birds nest. Just carry two rods with ya. Thats what I do. Well It's actually 7 when I'm on the boat .

[slarose20]

Ya im also a spinning guy ... i do have a BC but im terrible with it .   I can cast over head and side arm ... no flipping or precise casts for me.  I carry 5 spinning rods and 1 BC when im on the boat for a tourney.  I also carry 2 extra reals and 1 rod in my storage compartment.  Anyway good luck with the BC it is def. a challenging art that needs to be honed

Tight Lines

SteveL

[Matt Fly]

The normal side arm doesn't give you a low enough trajectory at times.     Try using a roll cast.      Practice ,  practice, and more practice.          I find that baits I use on BC's are better bulky type baits with less appendages make better skipping baits for baitcasters.   I like tubes in these situations with screw lock weights.

Sometimes you have to trade off with different applications.    I have found that I can skip with spinning gear and a heavy line fairly easy, thus not giving up line strength.   17 lb mean green McCoys is as tough as they come and skips just fine on spinning tackle.

Learning to skip accurately is a big advantage over alot of good anglers.    Not everyone can pick a dock apart by skipping.

Hookem

Matt

[jiangtao]

I can do it with 3/8 oz jigs up under piers by slinging the rod hard on the cast, but keeping my thumb on the spool/line the whole time. Just very light thumb action and a little practice and you'll be there!

[KU_Bassmaster.]

Like others have said, it's definitely easier at first with spinning gear.

Practice, practice, practice.

A couple things that helped me ......

1)  I found it easier to use backhand cast when skipping (almost like pitching but more of a 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock whip instead of 6 to 12)

2)  Found this one out on accident after getting the backlash from hell (while skipping docks) that had me removing about 1/2 spool of line.  I found that with about a 1/2 spool of line, skipping became much easier.  Not sure what is behind this, but it honestly works.

[Shad_Master]

I agree with MattFly - use a roll cast and practice -- I can't say I have mastered this technique, but I can do it even better with a BC than a Spinning outfit.

[rdneckhntr]

Ive tried it and i think ive done it once or twice without a huge backlash...ill stick to the spinning reel because I cant afford cuttin line off of my baitcaster when I cant get the backlash out...

[fish-fighting-illini]

Hey awesome responses. Didn't know if I'd get any feedback or not. That's what makes this site excellent! Going on a camp & fish outing with my dad for a few days

( in outing thread ) and I am going to have lots of time to practice. I'l let you know how it comes out.

[G3-Basser]

I'm a mean baitcast skipper with the horny toad.  That's about it.  Anything else and it's spinning gear for me.

-J