I'm hoping to start a general discussion on the skipping technique.
I seldom fish docks but I do like to fish lay downs and overhanging willows etc. I'm a decent pitcher and side arm caster but it's difficult to get the bait under overhanging trees and lay downs with that type of cast. When I saw Ott Defoe skip a Donkey Rig under the over hangs, all the way to the bank, I said I gotta learn to do THAT!
I watched all the You Tube videos and went out and worked on it. I got better when I added a Daiwa Tatula TWS SV reel. It's the real deal when it come to being forgiving to backlashes. Better than other good reels like Curado E-7 or Chronarch Ci4. I was a dyed in the wool Shimano guy until I tried that Daiwa reel.
I could never find the right rod for this technique. I started out with my old trusty Falcon Lowrider 6'4" Spinnerbait Special, it seemed too stiff, then switched to a Dobyns Fury 705CB. It was great at great at skipping but a little too whippy for setting the hook on a jig or tube. I then switched to my favorite Cumara 7'3" MH and found it to be too long. I decided to go all in and buy the rod Andy Montgomery uses, Daiwa Tatula 6'9" MH. After all, when I wanted to be a catcher, I asked my dad for the Yogi Berra mitt.
So now I've got the rod on it's way and I'm ready to get serious to learn to skip a jig or chatterbait. I'm at the stage where I can successfully skip into the target I'm aiming at one out of five times. I know practice is the ultimate tool but I would like to hear what everyone else recommends.
What's the best line to use? ... heavy or light? mono or fluro?
Best baits?