Pitch Skip and Skipping on a Baitcaster?

[ib_of_the_damned]

How do you do this on a baitcaster? I have only skipped with a spinning set up. If any of you know how to do this that would care to explain, I would love to learn(as with others im sure!) this technique.

Thanks!

[ring fry]

I'm not sure there is any real way to explain it.  I just pitch-skip the same way I pitch only a lot faster motion and maybe a little more side arm.  I usually use 65# braid and learned by putting a piece of tape around the spool with about 20 yards of line out to keep the backlashes professional overruns to a minimum.  Best advice...just practice, practice, practice on the water. 

[Pitchinkid]

I'm not sure there is any real way to explain it. I just pitch-skip the same way I pitch only a lot faster motion and maybe a little more side arm. I usually use 65# braid and learned by putting a piece of tape around the spool with about 20 yards of line out to keep the backlashes professional overruns to a minimum. Best advice...just practice, practice, practice on the water.

Nail on the head. Practice, practice, practice. Your still gonna backlash every now and then. Everbody does. But as you start getiing better,, the times you backlash are farther apart. Like RingFry said, theres no easy way to explain it. Theres no magic rod or reel or line. Just keep pitchin and practicing.

[Hot Rod]

I agree with what has already been posted.  Its all about practice and getting the "feel".  That said, you have to have a decent quality reel that is pretty smooth.

Also I find that you have to have the spool tension set perfect for best results.  Again that requires trial/error. 

Keep the bait low and paralell to the water on the cast.  It is more of a "quick" motion than a "power" motion if that makes sense.  Works best with compact lures without  a lot of appendages.

[J Francho]

Practice really is the key.  I can skip hollow frogs, torpedo shaped topwaters, and weightless/weedless rigged Senkos.  Sometimes I can skip a Trap, but its iffy, LOL.

I use more spool tension, and ZERO brakes.

[Gatorbassman]

Low sidearm cast with high velocity. Practice. Start with a high dock and work your way to a low one. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent skipping one dock this year. It sits three inches above the water. I'm determined to get to where I can get under that thing every time without hitting it.

[Tin]

I do it just like how I skip with a spinning rod. I roll my wrist with the rod pointing down and use the momentum of the bait spinning to throw it. Also, crank up the brakes.

[fishfordollars]

Just like skipping a stone. Side arm cast with lots of velocity. I back the brakes off and get after it. Make sure you are comfortable thumbing a spool or bring lots of line. It took some work, but surprising, how quickly you get the feel, and how far you can sling it back under a dock or overhang. You might want to try a jig and trailer with a smaller trailer that is not loaded up with appendenges. They catch more water and this did cause me problems at first. When I went to a plain old twin tailed grub behind the jig it helped me figure it out.

[Thai]

I skip with the same settings I cast with, but I make sure I compensate for the bait slowing down when it hits the water by raising my hand and reel straight up and in a backwards pendulum motion as it skips

If that makes sense to you at all

[flyboy]

I went to a class in Nashville last weekend on skipping.  The techniques the pros talked about encompassed most of the points mentioned in the other posts.  In a round table discussion when questioned about skipping docks, all of the pros said they prefer a spinning outfit with braided line.  Kinda surprised me. 

[FD.]

I skip with the same settings I cast with, but I make sure I compensate for the bait slowing down when it hits the water by raising my hand and reel straight up and in a backwards pendulum motion as it skips

If that makes sense to you at all

Bingo...

also you should practice with a solid frog without legs or a beaver with the claws cut off.  They have good mass and skip easier than most.

[Thai]

I skip with the same settings I cast with, but I make sure I compensate for the bait slowing down when it hits the water by raising my hand and reel straight up and in a backwards pendulum motion as it skips

If that makes sense to you at all

Bingo...

also you should practice with a solid frog without legs or a beaver with the claws cut off. They have good mass and skip easier than most.

Glad I made sense to some so far 

[b.Lee]

I skip with the same settings I cast with, but I make sure I compensate for the bait slowing down when it hits the water by raising my hand and reel straight up and in a backwards pendulum motion as it skips

If that makes sense to you at all

Surprisingly I picked that up well also.  I feel like anything can be done, as long as you understand the concept in your head, for the most part.

[Koop]

As opposed to cranking down the brakes I loosen mine significantly.

[fishfordollars]

Sorry guys i should have stated that I turn the brakes off and just thumb all my reels. Just what I am comfortable doing.