Help! - Skipping

[BassFishingMachine]

Hey, wasn't quite sure where to post this, but what can ya do. Anyway, I need help skipping. My pitching/flipping skills aren't what I'd call the best of the best, but all in all I can pitch/flip, so becoming better and better is just a matter of time.

As for skipping, I just can't do it correctly. The bait won't skip!! Are there specific baits that aren't skippable? If so what are they? And what are some easy baits to skip? I hope jigs and t-rigged soft plastics are on the list of easy skipping baits, because those are what I believe I'll have tied on in most situations where I'd want to skip.

So, if you could give me any info on how to skip, any videos, or articles or advice, I'd greatly appreciate it. Thanks for any help, I know im limiting myself by not being able to skip, so I really want to try and learn it.

[bigfruits]

this might sound like a stupid question but, have you ever skipped a rock? try to do the same with the lure.

you want to do a side arm cast parallel with the water. to practice id use a spinning rod and crouch down so youre close to the water. do a side arm cast so that the bait flys just above the water's surface. when it loses altitude, it should skip if the angle in which it hits the water's surface isnt too verticle (closer to 90 degrees than 180...)

this is easier to do with plastics, at least for me. id recommend a big tube with spinning gear to practice.

hope this makes a little sense.

[fishizzle]

try a texas rigged senko or wacky, no weight

keep your rod tip a few inches off the water and throw side arm.

the first touch of the water should be 10-15' away for it to skip 10 times.

This is a good place to start, then the skys the limit.

this technique works great under overhanging branches in the summer where no one else fishes

[JShrock07]

One thing I will add to this; when you first practice this method start with spinning gear!!!! If you don't you will become very angry and you will give up way to quickly. Once you have mastered the art with spinning tackle then move on to a baitcaster. I can tell you first hand I started out trying to skip with a baitcaster with expensive flouro line and I went through a lot of line that way. It was very frustrating for me for about 3 months.

When you use a baitcaster, make sure you loosen up the magnetic brake. Make sure you are holding your rod down low to the water.

I would advise you to start skipping with a senko with no weight, then upgrade to a weight, then try something different. I can pretty much skip any type of lure but a deep diving crankbait. but i am still attempting it.

Good Luck to You!!

[flippinbaits]

i've gotten pretty good this past year with skipping senkos (rigged texas or weightless), and sweet beavers.  The beaver has a great profile to skip a very good distance, but the sekno works great as well.  I have done really well with spinning gear, but not baitcasting reels.  I havent getten the skipping without backlashing yet.

anyway, i fish out of a pontoon, so it is easy for me.  I cast side arm, about a foot to a foot in a half over the water and parallel.  A simple flip of the wrist parallel to the water will help you greatly.

if you are from a boat, you will need to put your rod tip down, closer to the water and try flickin it there parallel to the water.

GL! and try those baits, then skip well, but sky is the limit.  I;ve seen guys skippin cranks under docks and snagging some toads.  

[Tooth Dr]

Skipping is no longer a problem for me. I am fortunate to have a pier this is ~2' above water level. The best lure I have found is a horny toad. I use a rod length that allows me to have the rod ~vertical to the water. I use a very short swing (I try to keep the rod tip parallel to the water on the short swing.), and skipping under a 4" opening 30' away is no problem. Of course, I use a spinning rod/reel combo.

My intentions were to make a video of this technique, but I have not found the time.

I am blessed to live on Lake Guntersville in AL. The biggest Bass I have caught from our pier is something over 5 pounds, but my wife caught one that weighed 6.3 lbs using a Zebco reel. I frown on Zebco reels, but...

Dr T

[Danny1991]

Yea, definitely start with spinning gear, and you may want to try skipping a T-rigged tube with a small PEGGED sinker, I can skip this bait probably easier then anything else I've tried. Good luck and keep practicing! ;D

[Gatorbassman]

After fishing with Timmy Horton last year I decided that I needed to learn to skip with baitcasting gear. Thanks to Senko77 for helping me get over that hump. Skipping a Jig way under a dock is a must on many of the lakes that I fish, so it was important that I learned. All of the advice just given is great but if you want the most out of skipping using a pitch or sidearm cast you need to remember that you have to have velocity. The faster you get that lure moving the better. Don't sissy it. Low and fast is the trick.

[Tin]

Knowing your angles and a quick thumb helped me.  Braid helps also, less messes and when you get them they are easier to get out help the frustration factor.

[Chris]

I tend to roll cast a lot to get baits under areas. If skipping with a baitcaster is a pain in the butt for you carry a spinning rod. It is a ton easier. You need to aim for a spot ahead of the dock or object and let the forward momentum carry the bait under the object. It is much like skipping a rock. Speed is key and it is what carries the bait.

[502largemouth]

its funny to hear someone saying they frown on using Zebcos for this but I have heard from MANY different anglers in and around my area lakes saying that it is the easiest reel in the world to get good skips with.

I dont know this from experience of course, I am assuming that many people cant be all that wrong, especially considering that a good Zebco 33 will cast across Lake Erie if you had a heavy enough sinker and a helluva arm....lol.

I really should work on this but I feel my basics are far from being completed enough to move on to advanced techniques like this(at least I consider it advanced after trying it a couple of times with a baitcaster followed by several minutes of expletives I cant repeat here.... ;D )

Luck to ya bro.

Cyas,

D

[MDbassinmike]

I absolutely live to skip docks!  This is my favorite technique and love it when the bass are relating to the docks.  You have already gotten a lot of great advise from people probably a lot more knowledgeable than me, but there is one thing that I would add:  It is far easier to skip a soft plastic when the weight is attached to the hook.  I use a Charlie Brewer Sliderhead to fish everything from finesse baits to six inch lizards and beyond.

And one more thing:  The only way to get better is to practice, practice, practice.  There are still days when I am more accurate than others.  It is just a matter of doing it over and over.  Hope this helps.

[Sam]

ALWAYS USE SPINNING GEAR WHEN SKIPPING.

Be ready to hit a lot of things when on the water, such as docks, pilings, ramps, piers, houses, trees, shrubs, the shore, ropes, other boats, your boat's windshield, your boat itself.

Just keep practicing and do what the guys say to do BUT...PLEASE USE A SPINNING RIG.

After you master the spinning rig then try your luck with a baitcaster.

When skipping with a baitcaster, be sure to place a lot of Scotch Tape or electrical tape over the spool to help minimize backlashes.

I love to skip under docks. Best way to get those plastics and cranks to where the fish are hiding.

Skipping is like when the tourist in New York asked the guy on the street, "How do I get to Rockerfeller Plaza?"  The man on the street replied, "Practice, practice, practice."

Keep practicing.  

[grimlin]

I usually skip plastic baits,namely tubes 75% of the time.Don't be afraid to put some power behind your cast.

Here's a video to get you some good visualization of somebody on youtube doing it.

[Skunked in DR]

two tips I was given that really work.

1) Practice in open water until you can skip consistently, then add a target (a dock, tree etc.)

2) Get the bait moving before you start your cast.  start with six to 12 inches of line out. Cast with both hands for accuracy. Begin a side arm cast and point the rod tip slightly downward, quickly turn your wrist to get the the bait rotating around the rod tip away from your target.  

   Immediately after starting the motion, pull back on the rod and make a side arm cast. As the bait completes half a rotation, snap the rod tip forward. In an ideal cast, the rod tip should unload as the tube completes three-quarters of the rotation.

[simplejoe]

Don't sissy it. Low and fast is the trick.

I did that with a baitcaster last year and man what a mess, How do you keep it from backlashing,what's the trick?

                                     joe

[Cravin]

I'll admit it too! I can pitch/flip pretty good but I tried skipping a time or two and decided I was asking for trouble and have avoided trying to learn it!

Telling me how can help a little but I think I really need someone to show me how. It's something you cant practice in your front yard either.  

[CWB]

My favorite baits for skipping are 4" tube and 5" senko, both t-rigged weightless or as little weight as possible. I use Spinning gear with 12 or 15 lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultra Soft. You need a lager capacity reel for this.

Have caught several pifs under docks and Pontoon boats. Gave up on using baitcasting as 1 slight mistake and you just got a mess and probably spooked the fish or need to turn around and re-position the boat (Wind). Can't remember getting broke off- set the hook ASAP and don't give fish chance to go to the left or right. Of course a pig up here is 6 lb., 10lb might be trickier.