I know the real answer is "the fish will tell you" but any good tips on when to go with or without a skirt? 

I never punch without a skirt.

I never punch with a skirt. 

 

I'm worried the other fishermen will laugh at me.

14 minutes ago, NorthernBasser said:

I'm worried the other fishermen will laugh at me.

They're probably laughing anyway...skirt or no...

27 minutes ago, MN Fisher said:

They're probably laughing anyway...skirt or no...

8 hours ago, NorthernBasser said:

I never punch with a skirt. 

 

I'm worried the other fishermen will laugh at me.

Tell them you're Scottish, and the bra just matches and was on sale....  

I don't use a skirt when punching.

Never when punching through thick mats. 
The stands can get caught going through and throw it off, but the biggest reason is that sometimes the mat is thicker than the water underneath it which wouldn’t give it enough time to get the effect I want. 
 

I’ll say most times when pitching in and through more moderate to heavy vegetation I’ll try one if not getting bit without one first. 
 

 

 

 

Mike

Sometimes yes...sometimes no!

 

 

It depends on how thick the stuff is that I'm punching through.  In the real thick stuff the skirt sometimes gets tangled up.

no......my rigs don't look good in skirts......