Say you are using a baitcaster and trying to skip docks. How do you keep from getting a back lash when the bait first hits the water?

Good damn question.
I hate fishing docks....but I REALLY hate skipping.

Cast harder, no brakes, and use your thumb and a low trajectory.

Practice, practice, practice at home on the concrete drive way with just a old jig. A swimming pool is another good place. If it has a diving board get on it to practice your underhand sidearm presentation. Start out with half of a spool of line in 25# test which is more forgiving on back lashes. Then work your way down to smaller line then a little more line on the spool until you have the technique down.

Use the right type of bait to learn with. Something that is flat kind of like when you picked out rocks to skip. Make a cast and put some tape on reel then wind it in. Will give yourself less line to be able to backlash. Watch some youtube videos of the pros explaining how. You'll find they'll each have their own way but you'll be able to identify what you aren't doing correctly.

I've done some of that. I can't see how this will end well

While you are learning put some scotch tape across you line a good cast down the spool. Thank me later!!!

Additional tip: need fairly calm water to skip. If the waves are rolling, you're gonna struggle.

Depending on what it is your throwing would probably be better off with a spinning rod.

the trick is, get a spinning reel with a short rod.

Yup don�t tighten everything up. Just keep your thumb in the game. And you will have overruns.. it�s part of it

alot of it is the rod. if it is to stiff it wont load up.

I would suggest you use a spinning rod. I don't care how good you are at skipping your bait, you will eventually bird nest with a bait caster. Skipping is one of my primary skills. I couldn't find a fish in deep water if you gave me coordinates. (Something I plan to change this year.) So because of that, I primarily fish boat docks.

Other than practice, there is no real way for you to get better. I can tell you that I practiced a lot by trying to skip baits under my truck. Stand a few feet away, get low and practice skipping it under the truck and out the other side. Practice from the side of the truck, and then try length wise. If you can get good at getting it under, across the pavement and out the other side, then you can translate that to the lake. I know many on here will say time on the water, and that is correct, but it can also be very aggravating with lost baits, hooking boats, and patio furniture and all kinds of things until your accuracy improves.

If I had to explain the technique, it is always side arm, so boat positioning is important. Sometimes it is forearm, sometimes it is back hand, but always parallel to the water. Think of it as a golf putt but with a little more force. It's just like when you used to skip rocks when you were a kid.. you had to lean to one side to get down close to the water, remember? (sometimes I even kneel on my bow to get low enough) If done right, the bait will skip across the water, or in some cases just glide over the water to the target.

Also, Your bait should be just a few inches from the tip of the rod, you don't want to have a foot or two of line hanging. Bring the rod back, snap it forward and release the bait. You will have to use a little more force with lower or deeper docks.

And last, I would stay away from skipping baits (at first) where the weight and bait are separated, like a Carolina rig. They tend to tangle. And just remember that there is a ton of [censored] under most docks, so use something with a weed guard or bury your hook.

Wordy, but I hope it helps.

Lots of good tips here. It's not a skill that just happens, you gotta work on it. Don't bother if there is any more than a ripple on the water and try the tips mentioned here. Even those who are proficient at it booger a cast up here and there.

Lots of practice and patience. But it definitely helps to have a bait that skips easily and the right rod & reel.