what are some tips for skipping a lure under a dock or branch with a baitcaster. every time i try it get a birdsnest real bad... i cast the baitcaster god otherwise also

practice and great concentration i'm assuming :-/ I can only kind of do it and that's only by pitching, good question, grabs popcorn and waits.... 8-)

Practice

Practice

Practice

Practice

and where you get bored

Time to practice more.

If you can do it your a better man than I. I can only do it with a spinning reel and most the things I have read and the people I talk to do it the same way. Good luck to ya!!!

I can skip like a pro with a spinning reel, but every time I think about doing it with a baitcaster, I think back on the worst bird's nest I've ever gotten and don't even bother attempting it.

Some days I can do it great, other days...not so much.  I think the way I do it is to stop the spool with your thumb as the bait hits the water and then slowly feather and release as it lifts off again.  Practice first  with baits that are easy to skip.  I think a hollow body frog is about the easiest thing for a beginner.  It skips really well and doesn't hang up too easily if you screw up.

Ceph has it.

It's all in the thumb.  

Hollow body frogs are good starters, but so are senko's

the senko is less likely to get stalled if the wind gusts a little.

I use a sidearm cast with a light tipped rod.  

When the bait hits the water clamp your thumb down then immediately release it.

Risky?  You bet.

Fun? When it works right and you catch a good one, you'll feel like KVD>  

Do it front of a buddy and you will get high praise and high fived.

do it wrong and get the "professional overrun".  

Well Let's just say your buddy will  

Feathering the spool is essential.  The less appendages the bait has, the easier the bait will skip.  If you are skipping a weighted Tx rig plastic, peg the weight.  If you don't, the weight will often separate from the bait and kill the skip resulting in a mess.  Most of all, what Raul said.... PRACTICE!

or...

Take the easy way out and use the RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB!

I'll bet I like fishing baitcasters as well as anyone who uses them exclusively. Seriously...but I really enjoy spinning tackle, too. My "preference" is all about the specific technique involved. Spinning tackle is a better choice sometimes.

I have Denny Brauer's Jig Secrets To Huge Catches DVD and he demonstrates how to do this but I for the life of me can't get it.

RW you ganna make me buy a Spining Rig yet  

Can't do it. Don't know how much line I've had to cut out when trying. Give me a spinning rod every time for skippin'. It's the right tool for the job. I admire you guys that can do it with a baitcaster. Allow me to re-phrase; I admire you guys who have the time and patience to learn how to do it.

Cheers,

GK

Boys....

The skip with a baitcaster is quite easy with some practice.  first off, pick a somewhat light bait, 1/8 oz jig n pig, tube on a weighted hook, senko, take your pick.  Baits that are too heavy will nose dive.  

Then leave about 2 feet of line from your bait to the rodtip. You want to roll cast the baits.  Make a "o" with your rod tip and let er fly about 6 inches off the water's surface.  You do  NOT want to make a fired up side arm cast! it is a nice soft roll cast.

Doin it this way you are a little limited in your distance..I would say it works best from about 20-35 ft.  So...boat control is essential as well.

I have to say I skip about 90% of the time now.  I can cast better with a skip than most can with a "pitch". You can cast under docks, tree limbs, into undercut grass banks or any hard to get to places.  It is addicting once you get the hang of it. Yes, it takes some practice in the boat...not just on shore.

Now, can someone give me direction of how to skip with a spinning reel? never did get the hang of that!

Good luck!

Got several videos of Katsutaka Imae and HOLY S*T !!!!!!  , that man takes skipping into a completely different level, I know I 'm good at it but holy crap, watching a bait touching the water & jumping 10-15 times with PINPOINT ACCURACY 50 ft away is by far away from my skills  :-/.

But there 's more time than life, meanwhile, when I grow up (  : ) I want to be just like K Imae.

road warrior is right.  in any situation where skipping is useful, odds are spinning gear will do you just fine.

I can skip successfully about 50% of the time. Depends on the lure. I cast side arm with a bait caster so my first couple skips were actually completely accidental. Threw out a bait and was like...oh well looky there...

I do find that I can pull it off with my more expensive shimano casters...but still cannot avoid the birdnest with my cheaper cating reels. They always tangle.

What I did was start with heavy lures/setups and taper off the weight as I practiced.

Got several videos of Katsutaka Imae

Link?

If I was learning, I would just tighten it up a little bit.

A couple of weeks ago I started skipping Sweet beavers on the old Gags jig heads (not sure what there called now), 1/8oz and 1/4oz and I was skipping them everywhere.  By far the easiest thing i've ever skipped on a bait caster.  

IMPO nothing skips better than a weightless Bass assassin with a 4/0 or 3/0 straight Owner hook, my fav color is rainbow trout

or...

Take the easy way out and use the RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB!

I'll bet I like fishing baitcasters as well as anyone who uses them exclusively. Seriously...but I really enjoy spinning tackle, too. My "preference" is all about the specific technique involved. Spinning tackle is a better choice sometimes.

Aw, c'mon man.  Live a little.

"Life in the fast lane" da dum dum da dum