What models do you like? How are you guys fishing them? Also Im pretty new to jig fishing anyone used the freak for skipping under docks? Looking for a easier jig to learn to skip docks. Thanks guys!!!!
There are so many different jigs, I don't know where to start. I do know The Freak! Black and blue or brown and orange or green pumpkin and black, when teamed with sweet beavers or Nemisis bullet crass, are deadly. Pitched to any dock, corners, weed edges, wood. The lip gets hung and flips the tails which trigger strikes.
Use the Red Zone football head jigs on rip rap and shell bottoms.
Use the dock monkey (red eye) to swim through stalks, rip out of weed edges and of course to skip under docks..." this is what I use also on LSC with a 2 1/2 inch matching tube, small paddle tails or chigger craw.
There are dozens of other products they have, but let's start here. Let me know your thoughts.
With the freak are you just pitching it letting it fall and reeling like crazy and recasting or bouncing it up and down off the bottom? Any tips on skipping a baitcaster?
I have done pretty good with the lil punk with a smaillie beaver on it.
Again, the dock monkey and lil punk skip real well under docks.
I fish the freak as a swim jig.
swim + sometimes - just kill it, especially over a ledge or drop off. When pitching under docks, let it fall
The best way to get good at skipping with a baitcaster is to do it about 20,000 times. You can practice on snow in the winter btw... Some types of snow.
You need a smooth reel adjusted just right but a little looser than you might when making regular casts. You need to have the timing nailed. You can also use the tape on the spool trick to keep any possible bird's nests from getting out of hand while learning. Or if you tend to get 'sleepy' later in the day (like me ;D). It helps to use flatter lures, bouncier trailers and things that don't create a lot of drag.
You also need the right action rod at the best length for your height and the distance above the water you tend to be most often in whatever boat you fish out of. You also need to try to plan your positioning well before casting including figuring out the direction you move whenever possible that matches your best casting direction.
If you can add having the sun at your back you can increase the odds you'll see the bass before it sees you too though a steady, stealthy approach without a lot of big movements and noise changes helps a lot. Dock bass are fine-tuned to their small living quarters but they are no smarter than any other bass.
If you can learn to skip with a baitcaster well and you ever fish tournaments that are not team events you can gain a psychological advantage over the anglers who will hate that you can do it! ;D :D Just a smile a lot while they give you dirty looks and make their little comments about how that ain't right... ::)
PS: I really like the jig that is basically a Jika rig. Not for dock skipping but for the unique presentation of any lure trailer and the variety of covers you can use it in and around.