1 Bait, 5 Reasons: Andy Montgomery’s Go-To Skipping Jig with a Perfect Profile

Andy Montgomery shows off the Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig. Photo by Phoenix Moore

September 2, 2020 • Mason Prince • Major League Lessons

If Andy Montgomery is lighting up SCORETRACKER®, most anglers assume that he’s doing one thing—skipping a jig around and underneath docks. It’s a strategy that Montgomery doesn’t really hide because he seems to do it better than anyone on the Bass Pro Tour.

When skipping a jig, the South Carolina native can’t leave home with his Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig. He listed five reasons why this particular jig always gets the job done.

1. The Right Hook

A common theme in this list will be the jig’s slender and flat profile. That makes all the difference in the world, according to Montgomery. However, the most important part of the bait is the hook.

“You want to always have the right hook when skipping something,” Montgomery explained. “If the hook is too light, it’s going to bend when you hit it on the dock. Too big, and it’s going to be hard to get the hook in the fish. This hook size is perfect for the job, right in that middle sweet spot.”

2. Screw-Lock Keeper

Montgomery mentions that keeping your trailer intact is obviously important when skipping. Instead of wasting time gluing on a new trailer every time you lose one, the folks at Strike King added something easier for changing out your trailer.

“With this screw-lock keeper, you don’t have to glue your trailer to the jig,” Montgomery said. “I like using a Strike King Rage Bug, so that screw lock allows me to know that when I’m skipping, my trailer isn’t going anywhere. Plus, not having to mess with glue is nice.”

Notice the flat-head design and the perfectly-sized hook on the skipping jig. Photo by Phoenix Moore

3. Flat-Head Design

Another characteristic that aids in the jig’s skipping ability is its flat head. Montgomery prefers a 3/8-ounce head for skipping, but no matter the size, it’s still all about the profile for Montgomery.

“That flat head is going to do exactly what it’s meant to—make the bait skip better,” Montgomery noted. “A pointed head just isn’t going to skip as good as a flat head. This jig was made specifically for skipping and this flat head outperforms all others.”

4. Thinner Skirt

The bulkier the bait, the harder it is to skip. That’s why a thinner skirt is just another reason that the Strike King Tour Grade Skipping Jig is Montgomery’s go-to.

“A thinner skirt is going to allow the jig to skip even better,” Montgomery pointed out. “A thick skirt is going to get caught up on the water or something else, making it that much harder to skip. There’s a lot few strands on this jig and that makes a big difference when you’re skipping.”

5. Complete Skipping Setup

Montgomery’s final reason for loving this bait is a combination of all the components that come together to make a perfect skipping setup. He uses a Lew’s Skipping rod with a Lew’s Skipping reel. Spool on 20-pound Strike King Tour Grade fluorocarbon for the line and that is exactly how Montgomery catches those bass hiding underneath boat docks.