How to Pick Lures for Skipping Under Cover

Skipping docks and other overhanging cover is a great way to catch bass, especially in the summer when the fish are looking for shade and protection. When it comes to skipping however, not all lures are created equal. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a lure for skipping docks:

• Lure size: Smaller lures are easier to skip, but they may not be as visible to the fish. Larger lures are more visible, but they can be more difficult to skip. A good rule of thumb is to use a lure that is about 3-5 inches long but always experiment to see what lure is best for the conditions you’re facing.

• Lure shape: Lures with a flat side will skip better than those with a rounded bait. This is because the flat side helps the lure to glide across the water's surface just as flat-sided rocks do.

• Lure weight: Heavier lures will skip better than lighter lures. This is because they have more momentum and are less likely to be affected by wind or waves. However, too heavy of a lure can be difficult to skip and may not be as effective at attracting fish. Again experiment to see what’s best.

• Lure action: Lures with a lot of action, such as paddle tails or swimbaits, can be more effective at attracting fish. However, they can also be more difficult to skip.

Here are a few specific lures that are good for skipping docks and other cover:

• Soft plastic jerkbaits and stickbaits: These lures have a lot of natural appeal and are easy to skip. They are a good choice when skipping cover located in shallow water.

• Tubes: These lures are also easy to skip and have a lot of action on the fall. They can be a good choice for both shallow or deep water by altering the weight of the tube-style jighead.

• Jigs: Jigs with a flat side will skip well and can be dressed with a variety of flat-sided soft plastic baits. They can be a good choice for any water depth since different weight jigs can be used.

When trying to decide when to select a soft plastic bait like a soft stickbait versus a jig and trailer for skipping, it’s often best to consider the type of the cover you’re fishing.

Take a few minutes and watch as Pete from Omnia Fishing describes his approach to selecting the best skipping bait when he’s out on the water…

Finesse Skipping for Bass

Spinning rods are one of the most versatile types of fishing rods that are useful for a variety of fishing techniques, including skipping lures beneath overhanging cover for bass. 

Skipping lures under cover is a technique where you cast the lure under overhanging branches, docks, pontoon boats or other obstacles imitating an intruder into the bass' shallow water hideout. If done correctly, this technique can be very effective for catching bass tucked tightly under different types of shoreline cover. 

Consider these step when preparing to use a spinning rod for skipping lures under cover for bass:

Choose the right spinning rod: To skip lures under cover, you'll need a 6.5' to 7' medium to medium-heavy power, fast action spinning rod with matching reel. This will give you the necessary tip action for making the cast, the sensitivity you need to detect bites, while also providing enough backbone to set the hook and fight the fish out from cover.

Pick the right lure: There are a variety of lures that can be skipped under cover, but soft plastic lures (soft stickbaits, worms, creature baits, tubes, etc.), hollow-body frogs, and jigs are good choices. You'll want to choose a lure that is small enough to fit under the cover, heavy enough to cast well, but bulky enough to trigger a reaction from the bass.

Line selection: Use a braided line with a low diameter, high strength and low stretch. This line will allow you to detect even the slightest bites. If high water clarity is a concern, pair the braided line with a fluorocarbon leader of about 3-4 feet in length, which will provide a low visibility connection between the lure and the line.

Using Jigs When Skipping Docks

Ask twenty bass anglers what their favorite baits are for any given situation and you’ll get thirty different answers

It’s no different when jawing about the best baits to skip under docks and other over-hangs…

In this video, Bass Pro Andy Montgomery describes his two favorite dock skipping baits…

I agree jigs are pretty good choices but I always have a soft, salted stickbaits rigged Texas-style as one of my top skipping baits…

How about you?