I was reading the article on the 1st page about skipping baits. They mentioned free spooling. I would imagine that would mean the brakes are turned off. Is the cast control knob set at a "normal" setting or what :-/? Are there anyother situations where you use a free spool?

                                               As Ever,

                                                skillet

I will use a free spool sometimes when flipping

I pull off a length of line, but sometimes I need to get another couple of feet.

I back off on both the spool tension and brakes.

Then as I flip the bait I just let the weight of the jig and the momemtum peel off another couple feet of line.

with a litlle thumb control I'm guessing

 Thanks fellas. Avid, the first "decent" reel I got was a Garcia Ultra Mag1, with the controls on the outside it was easy to change the settings. After just a little learning curve you could cast a country mile ;)with it. Had David clean it up for me and the Thumb hadn't forgotten how to work it on 0 setting. Haven't tried it with the Citica yet. Maybe that's the key to helping me with flipping and pitching. Thanks...

                                            As Ever,

                                             skillet

Free spooling is just that...you let the spool spin free. Once you press the thumb bar you are now in free spool. So if you have adjusted you reel correctly when you let go of the spool your lure should FREE SPOOL down.

Now for your question about skipping baits. If your using a bait caster Never free spool when skipping unless you want a very ugly bird nest. With a spinning reel skipping is much easier because you don't have to thumb the spool like on a bait caster. Takes practice.

The whole thing stems from this paragraph in the story.. :

Dave Lefebre is Genter's consummate rival among northeast anglers for the shallow-water skipping crown. Lefebre can skim the surface with a jig and drop it into the tightest corner of nearly impenetrable cover. But rather than using spinning tackle like Genter, Lefebre skips with a free-spool casting reel. This feat leaves every boat partner wondering how he does it.

Definition of free-spool casting reel; "Baitcaster"..

It's not that he is using the reel in free spool so much, as it is that he is using a free-spooling baitcaster (an old school term).

I'm sure he has it setup (fine tuned) for the weight of his baits and the distance he wants to cast under the overhangs, or that the reels cast control has been setup, and the brakes on the reel are also setup...

Just my .02¢

Tight Lines!!!!  

So do you thumb it before it contacts the water?  On a long cast I don't touch my spool but with anything close I would get a bucket of fun (nest).

 Not always. You have to learn when the bait has the angle and will skip and when it will just hit the water and you will have a nest to pick out. I always have the magnetic brake all the way up, it might take away but it can save you too, and the tension adjusted to the weight of the jig, so if it hits the water it wont over-run.