Doodlesocking with a noisy lure like this Arbogast Sputterbuzz can produce quick, hard strikes. Photo by Keith Sutton.

Have you ever thought how different bass fishing was in days gone by? The modern tackle we use is very different from -- and much better than -- the simple tools used by anglers in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Back in "the old days," catching bass was much more difficult.

To compensate for poor-quality short-range tackle, early anglers developed innovative fishing techniques designed to draw up-close strikes. Three such techniques -- skittering, jiggerpoling and doodlesocking -- are rarely tried by most of today's bass anglers. But as more people learn about the incredible success one can experience when employing these old-fashioned fishing methods, an increasing number of anglers are giving these tactics a try.

With a bit of improvisation, you can adapt modern tackle for skittering, jiggerpoling and doodlesocking. And you're sure to find the results pleasing.

SKITTERING
When thick weeds hinder an angler's use of more-conventional fishing techniques, bass can be caught by skittering. This old-fashioned tactic, once used by market fishermen swinging perch bellies or frogs, typically employs a sturdy 10- to 12-foot cane pole, jig pole or fly rod and an equal length of line. A pork frog or strip of fish belly is affixed to a stout hook and the bait skittered across broad openings in weed patches. If bass are present, they'll hit with frenzied, chomping charges.

One earliest description of skittering was written in 1791 by naturalist/explorer William Bartram who observed it being used in the southeast U.S.

"I found some of my companions fishing for (bass) . . . with a hook and line, but without any bait. Two people are in a little canoe, one sitting in the stern to steer, and the other near the bow, having a rod ten or twelve feet in length, to one end of which is tied a strong line . . . to which are fastened three large hooks, back to back. These are fixed very securely, and covered with the white hair of a deer's tail, shreds of a red garter, and some parti-coloured feathers, all which form a tuft or tassel, nearly as large as one's fist, and entirely cover and conceal the hooks: this is called a bob.

The steersman paddles softly, and proceeds slowly along shore, keeping the boat parallel to it, at a distance just sufficient to admit the fisherman to reach the edge of the floating weeds along shore; he now ingeniously swings the bob backwards and forwards, just above the surface, and sometimes tips the water with it; when the unfortunate cheated fish instantly springs from under the weeds, and seizes the supposed prey. Thus he is caught without a possibility of escape, unless he break the hooks, line or rod, which he, however, sometimes does by dint of strength; but, to prevent this, the fisherman used to the sport, is careful not to raise the reed (pole) suddenly up, but jerks it instantly backwards, then steadily drags the sturdy reluctant fish to the side of the canoe, and with a sudden upright jerk brings him into it."

In Fishing in American Waters published almost a century later in 1888, we learn from Genio Scott that skittering was still popular, and anglers had enhanced their rigs with fishing spoons.

"Angling . . . among the lily-pads and pickerel-weed is very exciting sport. The angler should use a rod from 13 to 15 feet long, flexible, but strong. For skittering, a float is not used, nor is natural bait the best. Use Buel's or M'Harg's spoons, mounted with red ibis feather, and white feathers or hair for the under side of the spoon. Stand near the bow . . . and skitter the lure along the surface of the water, near the margins of the lily-pads."