Next time you visit the Pickwick Dam tailrace to fish for striped bass, be sure to take at least one ultra-light rod-and-reel with you.

The stripers have been unpredictable below Pickwick Dam this year - and when they’re not biting, you’re in for a really dull trip.

Unless you’re prepared to fish for skipjack.

Largely regarded as a trash fish used for bait by big-game catfish anglers, skipjack can be loads of fun on light tackle. They seem to be running particularly big below Pickwick Dam this year, and it’s possible to catch them two and three at a time if you use the right rig.

If you’re using a light-tackle rig to reel in three skipjack that weigh 2 pounds apiece, you’re in for a battle.

Skipjack are easy to find because they school heavily along the surface, and they’re easy to catch because they’ll bite pretty much anything.

I like using a two-hook rig with two 16th-ounce white crappie jigs. You can also catch them on small Rat-L-Traps, Rooster Tails and Sassy Shads. The smaller baits will help you land more skipjack, but the bigger baits give you a chance to catch “accidental” stripers that might be hanging out beneath the schooling baitfish.

When you hook skipjack, they tend to go crazy, often jumping several feet into the air. That’s why many people refer to them as “Tennessee tarpon.”

I know they’re considered a trash fish. But trust me, if the stripers aren’t biting, skipjack can help fill the void.