Skipping baits

[hmongkidBee]

hey guys I would like to know how to skip fishing lures.  I've seen it in videos and such, but I don't know how to do it.  I can flip and pitch, and therefore would like to learn how to skip to make me a better fisherman.  So please any tips would be helpful?

[Sfritr]

There is no exact science to skipping baits.  PRACTICE PRACTICE

IMO it is easier to skip with spinning tackle.  Let the bait hang about 8-10 inches from the rod and try to skip the bait like a rock.  Generally, I have found that a more sidearm cast works best.  Keep trying

[jettech]

You are right about the side arm casting.  Ive started to experiment with sidearming, as im using longer rods now and its hard to throw under over hanging branches with and overhand throw.  Most all of my baits skip right now. even the plastics.  But Im not hanging up on the low branches any more,  Just everything else in the water.LOL

[Captain Obvious]

I think that a 6' 6" MH spinning rod is best for skipping use a side arm cast

[aarogb]

I think that a 6' 6" MH spinning rod is best for skipping use a side arm cast

X2. 

[Beastie Bass]

I think that a 6' 6" MH spinning rod is best for skipping use a side arm cast

I agree totally, I use a Gloomis BSR803, for a spinning rod its a broomstick. It's only used for skipping and occasionally tubes. Practice sidearm casting with a whipping motion and make sure to aim like you would skip a rock.

[whoopbazz]

I skip underhanded or sidearm. For real low docks, branches, etc I get on my knees.

It's not uncommon for me to fish hours on my knees if I'm on a lake with lots of docks.

[hmongkidBee]

okay great advice guys, but how do I skip the bait.  I'm very accurate with the side arm cast because I love fishing spinnerbaits and I always make the softest presentations as possible in my local lake.  So how do i skip a lure.  Do I just do like what I do for pitching?

[Captain Obvious]

Its just like skipping a rock.

Pick a spot right in front of the area you want to hit. Try and make the lure hit that spot on its side and with enough velocity it will skip.Think of the you pole like your arm and the lure is a rock.

here is an article that might help

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CFPage?storeId=10151&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&&mode=article&objectID=32085&cat=Fishing&subcatID=14&objectType=article

[grimlin]

Keep it low and get it that bait moving. Sidearm cast is the way to go.Like Captain O stated...same concept of skipping a rock.

I use a 7' Medium spinning rod.Much easier than a MH.Depends on the weight of the bait for the most part.

Trying it with a baitcaster always end up in disaster for me.

[J Francho]

Some guys like sorter whippy rods, I prefer a longer, stout rod, both for tip velocity and muscling fish from under docks.  One setup for baicasters that works for me is zero brakes and a lot of spool tension.

[Tin]

I'm with J on this one. I skip my jigs on a 7'3 MH Casting Carrot. But I crank up the brakes and NEVER use arrowhead or grass jigs, they just won't skip. The Arkie style head work's best for skipping jigs imo. Tubes on a jighead or a senko are the go to baits to learn how to skip on spinning gear.

[rookiesmallmouther]

u from MN? hmoob pride! lol anyways to skip you skip with soft plastics with no weights or internal weights inside a soft plastic no other hard lures work for skiping. i pretend like im skipping a rock but with a rod i do a side arm cast but cast it low so it hits the water in other terms i cast it with a side arm aiming pretty much at the water and it should skip. if the lure splashs into the water the lure is too heavvy to skip or needs more force to skip it. like i said softplastics only work for skipping and tubes with internal weights may also work. skipping is easyest with spinning reels not baitcasters but can be done with baitcasters. skip lures under over hang trees or under docks and such is what skipping is for... hoped this helped. no one fishes like a hmoob fishermen.  8-)

[hmongkidBee]

u from MN? hmoob pride! lol anyways to skip you skip with soft plastics with no weights or internal weights inside a soft plastic no other hard lures work for skiping. i pretend like im skipping a rock but with a rod i do a side arm cast but cast it low so it hits the water in other terms i cast it with a side arm aiming pretty much at the water and it should skip. if the lure splashs into the water the lure is too heavvy to skip or needs more force to skip it. like i said softplastics only work for skipping and tubes with internal weights may also work. skipping is easyest with spinning reels not baitcasters but can be done with baitcasters. skip lures under over hang trees or under docks and such is what skipping is for... hoped this helped. no one fishes like a hmoob fishermen. 8-)

I'm from Long Beach, CA where the big bass are.  ;D   Anyways thanks to everyone here for the great tips.  I understand now how to skip and will be trying it out pretty soon.

[blkbearklr2001]

Skipping like everyone has said just practice with it. If you are trying to just get the hand of it use a senko. 8-12 inches of line from the tip, keep the rod low and skip it under the dock. It gets easier the more you do it and once you got it figured out you can go to other lures.

Joe

[owl]

I think that a 6' 6" MH spinning rod is best for skipping use a side arm cast

Ditto

[Bassin_Fin@tic]

Personally an underhanded roll cast is easier and much more accurate for me unless I need a really long distance skip, then I sidearm.

Start with tubes t-rigged,flukes,fat ika,senkos,and buzz frogs such as the ribbit. These are the easiest to skip.

[bassinbob54]

one thing that helps me skip is to slightly rotate my wrist towards the target as i cast..tends to help keep the bait down i think

[pitchNbass]

Spinning tackle, low trajectory cast probably sidearm or underhand with good speed. I have good success with skipping tubebaits.

[BassThumb]

I prefer skipping with an Avid 7' MH/F spinning outfit with 20# braid with no leader. I can get much longer skips with this setup than I can with my baitcasters, but that might change with experience. The 7' rod is a little long, even for me at 6' 4", but I have adjusted to it just fine.  I chose it over the 6' MH I had before because it has a better backbone.

I mostly skip wacky rigged 5" Senkos, 1/8oz low-profile jigs with chunks, and 1/16-1/8oz tube jigs. The Senkos and tube jigs sometimes get snagged on the dock, especially on chains, but they are usually easy to remove using the bowstring technique. I prefer dealing with the snags over using Texas rigs, because the T Rigs get bent out of shape on nearly every cast if you're forced to make long skips due to clear water and spooky fish. Even if you glue the bait to the hook, it will only last a little longer.

A wacky rigged Senko is about the easiest lure to skip. It would make a good practice lure.

[Alex77]

I love short spinning rods for skippin.   6'3 MXF Legend Elite

[Jeepnwayne]