I am 6' tall and like a 7'rod. I expect a Tat SV or Zillion SV would be about as good as you could get. Especially in the summer months when bass seek the shade and cover docks provide. Bass will eat it. Zona explained that a fast rod tip helps with casting accuracy and consistency, but also helps the angler with a quick hook set. That means it will still have plenty of momentum to carry it far under the cover, where the bass are holding. The right rod, reel, line and jig combination is essential to learning and performing the skipping technique with as little frustration as possible. Well, if you ever get into a situation where you need to catch a fish, whether it’s for fun or a tournament check, having an extra trick up your sleeve could be critical. Mark Zona says that a Shimano Metanium loaded with 20-pound fluorocarbon is the best reel for skipping docks. Of all the effective methods out there, which one is the hardest to master? There are a great number of anglers on the Bassmaster Elite Series tour who could provide insight on how to get good at skipping, but several I spoke with said Michigan native Mark Zona is about as good as they come. ... more accurately, and provide stress-free control when chunking into the wind, skipping baits or casting large lures. He also said that if you notice a lot of bluegills and other panfish “happily” hanging around, that’s typically not a good thing. For optimum skipping distance, Morrow’s first lure choice is a 1 3/4- or 2-inch Lindy Watsit Grub, a thick-bodied creature-style bait with a 1/32- or 1/16-ounce jighead. Mark Zona says that a Shimano Metanium loaded with 20-pound fluorocarbon is the best reel for skipping docks. The deepest, darkest recesses of docks are the best places for big bass to lie in ambush. For me, the very best bait to shoot up under a boathouse or dock is a #6 sickle hook on a 1/16oz round head jig with a 1" Slab Bandit plastic bait (Baby Shad type). The best way to stay cool and comfortable on and off the water, the new Performance Hoodie offers style combined with function. With that being said, for proper adjustment, turn the antibacklash magnets all the way to zero if you have that control on the left side of the reel. The main time frame for skipping is in the springtime around the spawn. You also want a rod with plenty of backbone so you can make a good hook-set and get a bass out from under the dock and away from cover quickly. When targeting a shallow dock, no weight will ever be needed. He admits that learning the technique on a spinning outfit is likely the best way to reduce frustration, and really understanding how the lure reacts to the water’s surface before upgrading to a baitcaster. Zona said that if you’re right handed, fish the dock clockwise, or if you’re left handed fish it counter clockwise. Spinning equipment gives the angler better casting control for pin-point accuracy. That spot just at the edge of the dock is your target. So much so it could easily be priced in the mid $200 range. There are several key areas I look for while skipping. Get best fishing times with lunar fishing calendars, Bassmaster College Series 2021 regular-season stops announced, Bassmaster High School schedule for 2021 features iconic fisheries, Do's and don'ts of tournament competition, Fantasy Fishing: Rely on experienced river anglers, Fantasy Fishing: Pick strong tidal anglers on the Potomac, Fantasy Fishing: Count on skilled vegetation anglers to catch them on Cayuga, Fantasy Fishing: Pick offshore specialists for BASSfest. “The bass will often eat the jig as soon as it hits the water,” he said. The proper rod/reel/line outfit will greatly affect the proficiency of this technique. I find a standard Tat CT my best skipping reel with 20 fluoro. Just 1 to 2 feet of water is enough to hide a big bass that doesn’t like company. That’s when I learned how to skip a jig.”. I like to fish it on spinning gear — a Revo Premier reel and 7-foot, 1-inch medium-heavy iRod Genesis II rod. The reel is super smooth, casts great, and is easy to adjust. “I really think that jig and trailer is one of the best skipping options out there,” he said. Those are two keys to a good, accurate skip. It’s literally just like skipping a rock, you really only use your lower arm, and the same technique applies when there is a rod in your hand.”. However, learning this technique and adding it to your arsenal will pay off big time. This year I bought a 6' M IMX rod paired with a stradic 2500(the action on the shorter IMX rod feels more like a MH) for skipping docks and started using 20lb power pro. Experimenting is the best way to figure out what works for you. Sometimes you won't see anything, but when you lift up it feels mushy or you can see the line is moving to one side. I just let it fall, and I want it to fall without any tension on my part, so I don't even engage the reel unless the water's extremely shallow. Zona suggests starting with the spinning outfit and a weightless presentation, and then graduating to baitcasting tackle and heavier jigs. Skipping Docks With Soft Plastic Stick Bait Skipping is best learned with a spinning rod, as the line rolls off the spool without concern of a backlash. That's where skipping comes into play. When rigging the Senko, one thing I like to do that saves baits and allows me to catch more fish on each one is to use a plastic O-ring that slides onto the bait and rests in the middle of the thickest part of the stickworm so that it doesn't slip off. #1 Rod Length and Action For Skipping Baits The most important piece of … Last year I was using a 7' M rod with 8lb flouro and had issues with accuracy and breaking off. This reel is usually used by professional anglers, but it’s also excellent for beginners if you have a more flexible budget. Docks that are isolated away from other can be great. “That’s the part of the puzzle I can’t help you with, you just have to go out and fish them all to determine which ones will hold the most and biggest fish. JOIN TODAY! Watch our guy Tyler Anderson showcase his approach to catching more bass around docks. I’ve presented here, the easiest lure of all to skip – the stick worm. Zona suggested learning to skip with a spinning combo. Here’s a quick list of the top things to consider when fishing docks for redfish, snook, seatrout, etc. “In a clear-water situation, I might add a 5-foot, 12-pound fluorocarbon leader. Now I know none of this really answered the question but I believe the rod/reel/line setup you use is as important as the bait itself. If you come in hot, you stand a good chance of blowing the dock-staging bass out of their comfort zone before you can even make a presentation. Once you learn to skip effectively, you can put a bait in places most other anglers can't, and you'll be fishing for bass that rarely see a lure. Tim shows the 4 combos and the baits he uses for dock fishing. Don't worry if your first few efforts are off the mark — they almost certainly will be. Once the O-ring is in place, I run the hook just under it and avoid putting it through any of the plastic of the bait. “Effective and accurate skipping happens from the elbow to the wrist. It has a terrific and subtle action as it falls — one that bass can't seem to resist. “I grew up fishing the dock-studded lakes of Michigan — there are literally docks everywhere, which naturally hold a good numbers of bass,” the host of Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show said. A good reel should be light and have a buttery smooth drag. Just remember to keep the trajectory of the entire cast low and hard. : Use a good lure for skipping up under the docks; Get comfortable skip casting from both sides (right and left) Try various depths until you hone in on where the most fish are holding The toughest spots to put a bait under a dock get the least fishing pressure. “The way the back of the head tapers to the nose and how the hook positions the trailer makes it easy to skip. They all work, but I find the CT the easiest. With a weighted bait, you'll need to make a harder cast. Once you get good, you'll find there are very few places where you can't put a lure. 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