Bait ideas for dock skipping? 2025

bassnleo reply :

I'm getting bored skipping my usual dock baits and looking for a change up. I regulalry use senko style baits, tubes, light jigs. They always work for me but I just want to try something different.

Looking for suggestions on a different soft plastic, what works for you?

Most of the docks have 1-4 fow of water under them. Will also be skipping baits under pontoon boats......

Thanks!

roadwarrior reply :

Fat Ika

8-)

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

Trickworm with a small finishing nail in the rear.

Flukes skip amazingly also.

Buzzfrogs-I prefer the sizmic for subtlety

senko_77 reply :

Trying skipping small swimbaits under them like the Berkley Hollow Belly. If you've noticed, most fish under docks are caught on the baits initial fall. That's because fish are usually suspended when underneath them.

The advantage to the swimbait is, you get the fish to look up when it skips across the surface and then it stays in the strike zone the entire retrieve.

CWB reply :

Agree with Roadwarrior. Fat Ika is a good alternative. All I use now are senkos. Try a 4". Will fall a little slower. If I come to a dock with a Pontoon boat attached, I go to the Pontoon boat first as that's where the fish will be more often in shallower water. If you can get good at skipping a bait under a pontoon boat from behind it, between the pontoon and the motor, you'll be golden. I have yet to see anyone do this and most boats are pulled into the dock headfirst. Make sure the owner isn't on it though so noone hears the clank if you miss.

EdKras reply :

wacky rigged trick worm

bassnleo reply :

Thanks for the suggestions. I have tried a Fat Ika, for some reason I cannot get bit on that bait and have zero confidence in it.

I was thinking about a trick worm, I really like the nail idea.

senko77, never though about a small swimbait, I may have to give that a whirl.

I do use flukes and on occasion will dock fish them. They do skip a country mile.

ColdwaterBassin, I'm actually proficient at skipping just about anywhere and with both spinning and casting tackle. SHHHHH about skipping under pontoon boats, you'll give the secret away I actually prefer the boat to be parked w/ motor facing out and skipping baits between the motor and pontoons. I've found boats parked that way will hold more fish more frequently, least around here that is.

Speed Worm reply :

Try a chatterbait, or a heavy spinnerbait with small profile skirt.

BassBandit35 reply :

When it comes to skipping, a wacky rigged worm works the best for me.

Fat Ika is a joke. Like the helicopter lure :

Another endorsement with Gary Yamamoto :

grimlin reply :

Quote
When it comes to skipping, a wacky rigged worm works the best for me.
Fat Ika is a joke. Like the helicopter lure :

Another endorsement with Gary Yamamoto :

;D,Funny you should say that....I had my best year this year using the fat ika this weekend.

BassBandit35 reply :

At first I thought it might be the water where I fish but have tried it at 4 different water in 3 season with no result. My fishing partner lives 2 state away and he claimed that he had no bite on it for this and last year either.

Its another gimmick helicopter lure.

T-rig reply :

Quote
Fat Ika is a joke. Like the helicopter lure :
Another endorsement with Gary Yamamoto :

Really? : The fat Ika will catch fish when everything else doesn't work!

I recently tried the Jackall I Shad and it works very well!

http://cgi.ebay.com/JACKALL-BROS-i-SHAD-4-8inch-WATERMELON-PEPPER-NIP_W0QQitemZ260266166814QQihZ016QQcategoryZ31691QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

The Imakatsu Javallon 110 also works great for skipping.

http://cgi.ebay.com/IMAKATSU-JAVALLON-110-S-34-ARKANSAS-SHINER-NIP_W0QQitemZ260277161256QQihZ016QQcategoryZ31691QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q2em118Q2el1247

rfrazier reply :

fat ika for me too

Avalonjohn44 reply :

The Sweet Beaver skips really well. I rig them weightless. That flat section of body will skip a mile.

bassnleo reply :

Quote
The Sweet Beaver skips really well. I rig them weightless. That flat section of body will skip a mile.

Will they stay on the hook? I use beaver style baits.......alot.......but for flipping or pitching presentations. They have a tendency to slide down the hook. I would think that skipping would mutliple that.

roadwarrior reply :

Quote
At first I thought it might be the water where I fish but have tried it at 4 different water in 3 season with no result. My fishing partner lives 2 state away and he claimed that he had no bite on it for this and last year either.
Its another gimmick helicopter lure.

I guess I can't tell whether you are kidding or not...

The Fat Ika ranks either #1 or #2 as the biggest bass

producer I have ever fished, both for size and numbers.

8-)

bassnleo reply :

Quote
At first I thought it might be the water where I fish but have tried it at 4 different water in 3 season with no result. My fishing partner lives 2 state away and he claimed that he had no bite on it for this and last year either.
Its another gimmick helicopter lure.

Although I have not had great results with an Ika, I do know a few people whom have had success with them. They are definately not in the same class as the helicopter lure.

Avalonjohn44 reply :

Quote
Will they stay on the hook? I use beaver style baits.......alot.......but for flipping or pitching presentations. They have a tendency to slide down the hook. I would think that skipping would mutliple that.

They do fine for me, but after one has caught two fish, they do sometimes start to slide. If you are having problems with a bait sliding down, a good solution are Parasite Weights. They are a bullet style weight that pegs itself to the hook. It keeps the bait from sliding down, awesome weight system. For weightless presentations, Parasite has a clip that goes on the line above the hook, then loops around the shank, doing the same thing that the weight does. You get more mileage out of a worm. Gander Mountain sells them.

Super Glue will help too, but I have a bad track record of spilling it on my fingers...

Tokyo Tony reply :

x2 on the plastic toad. It skips exceedingly well, and how many times do you think dock bass have had a toad thrown at them? Probably never. It's pretty exciting getting a topwater hit under a dock

Although I've never tried it, you could also rig it with a weighted EWG hook and swim it a foot or more under the surface.

Probably my favorite skipping bait, along with stickbaits, is the GYCB Kreature. It skips like a dream and you can dead stick it, twitch it, or swim it with great results.

Bassin_Fin@tic reply :

I couldn't catch a fish even in my dreams on an Ika but I wouldn't go as far to say they are a joke or don't work.There is way to much positive testimony.It is also very durable. Just not my bait though.

LEO: If you are using senkos alot try the nail on those too.Slide it right in the tail OR slip it in behind the hook just like a worm rattle.The allows you to dead stick the bait in one spot longer as the bait falls away from you on slack line.It also makes it skip even better.

I dont hear people talking about weighting the senkos with nails too much.Everyone wants that "horizintal fall". No doubt it works,but falling tail first is killer too.In fact there is no wrong way to fish or rig a senko.I have even rigged texas with a sliding bullet weight.

fishbear reply :

I love skipping senkos.. they skip forever.

Uncle Leo reply :

I have been having luck lately with a Booyah 3/8 oz jig head/ skirtless with a Craw Papi lately. Really not able to skip deep but fall rate seems about right. They have been hitting on the fall or just as it hit bottom.

Primus reply :

I've done well skipping a Zoom Centipede with a Lunker City nail weight rigged on a 2/0 owner offset.

booneangler reply :

what in the world is a fat ika or senko.

fishbear reply :

Quote
what in the world is a fat ika or senko.

UMMMMMMM your kidding right???

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643

http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1141053342

J Francho reply :

Try flat sided shallow cranks or lipless cranks.

9535

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