dock skipping

[ikeslayer]

i am looking to build a dock skipping rod this winter and i am curious to know what everyones favorite dock skipping blank/rod is? I would love if you posted model numbers but more importantly why you like the rod you like for this application. i know there are some dominators on here that skipp docks with bc gear but this one i am seeking out will be a spinning outfit. thanks much

ike

[Deitz Dittrich]

If you are talking just spinning.. I think the most important thing you can look at is your boat. I know it sounds stupid, but thats my advice and opinion.

here is my train wreck of thought.

Most people like a short rod for skipping. Thats all fine and dandy. I have a bud whos fave rod is a Fenwick MH 5'4" rod.. He loves the thing.. I'm not a fan.

My boat sits pretty low, I am also somewhat tall(6-3) and I love a 7' Shimano Crucial. MH, Fast. I load her up with 30 lb power pro and I am happy.

But if you are in a tin boat, or a boat that sits higher in the water, or has higher sides. A shorter rod may give you more control.

I like the added length to get the fish out, and have a heavier hook set.. and with practice, I feel I am as accurate as anyone out there no matter what length rod they have. I have no problem at all skipping between the eng and pontoon.

Thats my thought.. .. and I am sticking to it.

[Larson15]

I don't use spinning gear much but if I do I use a spinning setup I use a 6'6" MH Shimano Compre paired with Pflueger President. From my experience I wouldn't recommend using anything longer than 6'6". I would recommend something between 6-6'6". Depending on what kind of money you want to spend Kistler makes a rod called the "dock special." I believe it is 6'3". I also like using 15# power pro or 10# seaguar invizx.

I would like to see what some of the others are using for there baitcasting skipping setup. I generally use a 6'6" MH with either a curado or chronarch. I like using 15-20# Invizx for this.

[gritsnham]

I like using my 6'6" or 6' MH-M rod for skipping because the control on the shorter rod just makes it an easier task. I also like using braid since alot of sharp things are around docks. I have not skipped much with a baitcaster just because I end up struggling alot more than with a spinning rod...not to hijack but a side note any tips for skipping with baitcasters????? I would like to get better at this especially for jig fishing docks but backlash more often then id like and switch to spinning

[sicheneder]

i used to use 6' rods, but have switched it seems to be to short to have enough control. i would say 6'3" - 6'6". i know team daiwa, st croix all have a 6'3" model but they are both medium action. the 6'3" st croix blank is for the avid blank or higher $$ blanks. not sure if a person can buy daiwa or as the other person said kistler rod blanks. using the 6'6"+ length rod takes a little adjusting for skipping , not as easy to skip backwards with the longer rod and getting in at angles, but a longer rod is very good when leaning out skipping in the front of the boat.

shouldn't be to hard to find some companies that make the 6'6"+ m/mh rod blanks, but harder to find companies that make a 6'3" blank. good luck and let us know what you end up trying.

[TonkaBass]

I like using my 6'6" or 6' MH-M rod for skipping because the control on the shorter rod just makes it an easier task. I also like using braid since alot of sharp things are around docks. I have not skipped much with a baitcaster just because I end up struggling alot more than with a spinning rod...not to hijack but a side note any tips for skipping with baitcasters????? I would like to get better at this especially for jig fishing docks but backlash more often then id like and switch to spinning

Maybe try putting some electrical tape on the spool so the backlash can't travel as deep on your reel.

I for one like a spinning outfit most the times. I do however like a longer rod as I think it help with the hookset and more power, like Dietz said. I go with a 6'6" Med fast and braid or floro depending...

[BigGrassBass]

I use a 6'6" out of my tin can. I like the extra length for pulling the fish out of there. With a little practice I got the side-arm motion down. I also made sure I had a soft tip. This allows me to "load" the tip and get a little extra distance than most guys.

[JConrad]

The rod that I have been using for a number of years for dock skipping is a G-Loomis IMX Model STR724 6' Heavy fast action. I have a Pleuger Supreme spinning reel with 30lb power pro on the reel. My boat sits up a bit higher than most of the bass boats (Ranger 620DVS). I have excellent control with this set-up but again it's what I am use to and have been using for several years.

[RK]

Hiya -

My favorite dock skipper was a 6'9" All Star with a really weird action - tons of backbone, and an extra-fast tip that was really whippy. Really a strange rod, and pretty much useless for anything but dock skipping. But that whippy tip would load up like you can't believe with a weightless tube or fluke, and you could skip like mad with it...right up until the second I broke it on a hookset. Now I use a 6'6" MH-XF that works ok, but isn't nearly as good as that stupid All Star. I'm almost certain they don't make the rod anymore though.

Rainshadow makes a blank that's a 6'10" X-fast Medium that might work ok as a skipper. In RX-6 the blank will probably only run you 35-40 bucks. Might be worth checking out...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm