Every time i try to skip my lure with a baitcasting reel my line backlashes. Does anyone have any pointers that could help me??

Thanks!

Hmm...

How 'bout using spinning gear?

PRACTICE.PRACTICE.PRACTICE. Its all thumb and drag control. Just keep at it. Everyone still backlashes every now and again.Just part of the monster that is skipping.

good luck

Like Road Warrior said I think you need to stick to spinning gear for skipping because it will give you more time to fish instead of getting rid of backlashes.

8-)

Its all about practice and learning to set your reel right for doing it but Spinning gear is better but not always practical.

I fish alot of ponds from shore and it makes sense to carry one rod. I want a rod I can throw senkos sometimes 7 inchers too and other plastics weightless and weighted, jigs, smaller swimbaits like a matts bass and perch, and topwater baits like superspooks. Medium heavy casting equipment can handle that all , pretty well I might add. Be silly to carry an extra rod for skipping when casting equipment can work with practice and good equipment. Only time I carry 2 or more rods is if I plan to throw swimbaits alot or fish for panfish.

Spinning gear does work better but with practice and thumb control I use a baitcaster. Use a side arm cast with a lot of wrist. You will not get a lot of distance but it is doable.

It's tough to do.  As with every potential backlash, the line slows down rapidly (only more often with each time the bait hits the water)-causing the spinning spool to "overtake" the line leaving the spool.  I agree with Roadwarrior.  Get a spinning outfit if you plan to do a lot of skipping.  Or you might wind up literally skipping the baitcaster across the water after you've experienced one too many backlashes.

Hmm...

How 'bout using spinning gear?

X2 You can do it with baitcasting gear but by the time you actually master it you will probably have spent $500.00 on line.

That'll buy you a few good spinning reels! ;D

I just dont see any advantage ever of using a baitcaster to skip with ...

I may be wrong and there may be some useful need for it Im overlooking ... but seems to me youll be FISHING a whole lot more using spinning tackle

It can be done.   Get the KVD 3 dvd set from Bass Pro Shops.  Best $20 I have ever spent on fishing.  KVD really gets into this in the 'Pitching to Heavy Hitters' one.   Set your spool loose like for pitching but turn your magnets to the highest setting.   Use a side arm loop cast.   Don't throw hard, just get it started.   Using a bait that skips well helps (internal weighted tube, senko, etc) although Van Dam was doing it with jigs and spinnerbaits.  Get a 3/8 to 1/2 ounce casting plug and practice in your driveway skipping under your car or someone else's if you don't want to dent yours.   Ha Ha.  Good luck.

Roll Tide

Use a heavier lure...I have learned to use a jig 99% of the time when skipping with a baitcaster because it doesnt foul up on the hook nearly as much as a soft plastic when skippin...I used to have backlash problems skippin a 1/4oz jig but once I moved to 1/2oz the difference was night and day...I tell you one thing; you start skippin pontoon boats with a 1/2oz jig you either get good or you get shot!!! ...now if only I could skip as good as my 15yr old little brother...dang prodigy's

'Bout 30+ years ago, I watched my father skip a Zebco across the lake...after about the millionth time it jammed up on him!  I didn't dare laugh at the time, but its funny as heck now!  I still bust him about that day!   ;D

Use a reel you are comfortable with. I skip using a curado. I know how that reel will cast with any brake and cast control setting possible. I do pretty well with it. There is also a video on flw outdoors where Dave Lefebre instructs how to do it. Man he slings those lures.

One thing everyone seems to have left out; line. A good, low-memory line is a necessity. Braid is preferred if you can get away with it. Line with a lot of memory will bunch up and jump off the spool, thoroughly screwing up a skip.

X2 on the 3 DVD box set, and it is 9.99 now. I learned from that, and watching Rojas skip that frog under bushes. THAT is fun!

Adam,

As Roadwarrior says, use a spinning rig.  

Another good DVD that shows skipping with a bait caster is Denny Bauer's Jig fishing secrets

I just dont see any advantage ever of using a baitcaster to skip with ...

I may be wrong and there may be some useful need for it Im overlooking ... but seems to me youll be FISHING a whole lot more using spinning tackle

Once you master the technique, it does have it's advantages.

The advantages I see using it is that you can use a heavier lure and heavier line than you can with spinning gear.  

Secondly, you have the power of your baitcasting gear to get the fish out of the cover.  If you're doing what Dean Rojas does with a frog, you just can't do that with spinning gear.  You won't be able to get the fish out of that stuff.  

To each his own. Using spinning gear, I have actually skipped a 1/4 oz. tube under a dock, under the Pontoon boat moored behind the dock and had the bait snag on the prop. That's a total length of about 25'. No way with a baitcaster.

I use a 4000 size reel, 10-12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultrasoft or P-line Fouroclear and have not had any problems getting big fish out from under and unwrapped from boats, docks, dockposts, etc. You get a breakoff every now and again but that's part of the game with whatever reel you use.

To each his own. Using spinning gear, I have actually skipped a 1/4 oz. tube under a dock, under the Pontoon boat moored behind the dock and had the bait snag on the prop. That's a total length of about 25'. No way with a baitcaster.

I use a 4000 size reel, 10-12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultrasoft or P-line Fouroclear and have not had any problems getting big fish out from under and unwrapped from boats, docks, dockposts, etc. You get a breakoff every now and again but that's part of the game with whatever reel you use.

I'll show you how its done at Kentucky Lake with a Curado. ;D ;D ;D

Practice and Practice.  I skip frogs under all kinds of stuff with an Extreme BC.  The side arm cast is the key.  The lower the trajectory, the further it will skip.

To each his own. Using spinning gear, I have actually skipped a 1/4 oz. tube under a dock, under the Pontoon boat moored behind the dock and had the bait snag on the prop. That's a total length of about 25'. No way with a baitcaster.

I use a 4000 size reel, 10-12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultrasoft or P-line Fouroclear and have not had any problems getting big fish out from under and unwrapped from boats, docks, dockposts, etc. You get a breakoff every now and again but that's part of the game with whatever reel you use.

I'll show you how its done at Kentucky Lake with a Curado. ;D ;D ;D

If I remember correctly, Kentucky lake has mostly floating docks.

Not much to actually skip under. I could be wrong cause I didn't see too much of the lake. 8-)

If you can skip something 25 feet under a dock, I'll buy you dinner.

Wait, I already am cause your driving!

To each his own. Using spinning gear, I have actually skipped a 1/4 oz. tube under a dock, under the Pontoon boat moored behind the dock and had the bait snag on the prop. That's a total length of about 25'. No way with a baitcaster.

I use a 4000 size reel, 10-12lb Yo-Zuri Hybrid Ultrasoft or P-line Fouroclear and have not had any problems getting big fish out from under and unwrapped from boats, docks, dockposts, etc. You get a breakoff every now and again but that's part of the game with whatever reel you use.

I'll show you how its done at Kentucky Lake with a Curado. ;D ;D ;D

If I remember correctly, Kentucky lake has mostly floating docks.

Not much to actually skip under. I could be wrong cause I didn't see too much of the lake. 8-)

If you can skip something 25 feet under a dock, I'll buy you dinner.

Wait, I already am cause your driving!

d**n, I already have extra line packed!