Pro bass angler Kyle Welcher views dock skipping as one of the most consistent ways to generate bites, but it requires a lot of practice and the proper rod setup. Welcher shares his expertise and preferred gear setup, offering helpful insights for both novice and seasoned anglers looking to enhance their dock skipping accuracy.
FEATURED PRODUCT (retail links)
- ROD – 13 Fishing Muse II Black Casting Rod, 7’3” Medium-Heavy Extra Fast: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- REEL – 13 Fishing Concept C2 Casting Reel, 8.3:1: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- LINE – Sunline Shooter Fluorocarbon, 20-pound: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- JIG – Untamed Tackle Ace Jig: Buy at Tackle Warehouse
- TRAILER – Zoom Super Chunk or Super Chunk Jr.: Buy at Bass Pro Shops | Buy at Tackle Warehouse
WELCHER’S IDEAL DOCK SKIPPING ROD ACTION
Welcher emphasizes the importance of selecting the right equipment for dock skipping. He opts for a slightly longer extra-fast action rod. He highlights the extra-fast action, as he feels it reduces the wrist movement needed for effective skipping, making the process smoother and less strenuous. As always, adjust your rod length to your height and personal preference.
PREFERRED LINE
For dock skipping, Welcher recommends a 20-pound fluorocarbon as the standard choice. This line strength ensures durability and reliability when dealing with obstacles under docks, such as poles, cables, and brush piles. He’ll occasionally switch to a 16-pound line when fishing clearer water or docks with less cover.
DOCK SKIPPING CASTING REEL SPEED
Welcher discusses the importance of the reel’s gear ratio. As a rule of thumb, he prefers the fastest reels in his lineup (8.1 or higher) when he works the bait with the rod, explaining that it allows for quick retrieval of slack and getting the bait back to the boat for the next cast.
FAVORITE DOCK SKIPPING BAIT
The bait plays a crucial role in dock skipping. Welcher’s go-to is a compact jig and trailer. He designed his signature Untamed Tackle Ace Jig with dock skipping in mind. Its head shape and skirt material are tailored to reduce drag and enhance skipping ability. This setup maximizes skipping performance when coupled with a compact chunk or craw trailer.
PRACTICE AND PERSISTENCE
Dock skipping requires practice and commitment. Welcher encourages anglers to dedicate time to refining their technique, focusing on accurate casting to exploit hard-to-reach areas under docks where bass often hide and few anglers can reach.
