Part IV

"Skipping"

The

skipping method is primarily used by me for largemouth

and spotted bass that are in remote hide-aways under

boat-docks, undercut banks, bushes, overhanging trees,

and overhanging cover along bluff walls. This is where

bass often hide out in the shadows and where they feel

safe and see very few lures in their strike zone.

To reach

these hard to find fish and catch them, a unique cast

comes into play, "a skip cast." The skip cast

is one that will skip your lure like a flat rock beneath

overhanging obstacles and into the strike zone of the

fish.

To use this

method properly, you must first acquire the proper

equipment. Spinning tackle is by far the most effective

way to present lures with this method.

For the

best control and accuracy, I use and recommend a spinning

rod equipped with a 6 to 10 pound test line on a 5 1/2 to

6 1/2 foot medium to medium heavy action spinning rod.

Lures in

this method are compact and rigged weedless at all times.

These lures are grubs, worms, plastic crawfish

imitations, soft jerk worms and plastic tube baits.

Now, let's

talk about how to skip these lures underneath obstacles.

First, you

should concentrate on the target you want to skip to.

Now, point your rod tip down and allow your lure to hang

about 6 to 10 inches below your rod tip. Now, open the

bail on the reel and secure the fishing line with your

index finger and you are ready to cast.

Once that

is done, begin a relaxed rotation of the wrist and

forearm and release the line and lure at a six o'clock

position. The momentum of your lure should propel it like

a flat rock across the water and underneath your target

area.

The

skipping method to many fishermen is considered difficult

to learn and a method that only pro anglers use. In

truth, it really isn't that hard to learn and can be used

Good

fishing,

Chris

Foster