Fishing Docks-Questions

[Brian6428]

Hey guys, I always see people talk about fishing docks or even skipping lures under them. They never specify, however, where the fish are when they are doing this. Are they holding close (shallow) to the dock, like to be caught with a spinnerbait or rattle trap, or are they on the bottom under the dock, like to be caught with a jig or a T-Rig? So essentially, what lures do you guys use when fishing or skipping docks? Thanks in advance!

[brady01]

Usually if fish are relating to docks, they are somewhere under them therefore if they are fairly shallow (10ft) and you skip a jig, floating worm, shakey head, fluke, whatever it may be, more than likely the bass are going to hear it and see it come in. Whether they bite it or not is a different story, therefore you have to figure out what they want. Some of my best fishing is prespawn when bass are under docks by just casting jerkbaits around them and crossing the corners.. Many different ways to fish docks, you just have to figure out what is working for you for the day, time, temperature, and stage of spawn. 

[Bluebasser86]

All the above. Sometimes they're on the walkways, sometimes the ladders, sometimes the lifts, sometimes they're tight under the bottom of the dock, sometimes they're suspended 30' under it on the cables. Sometimes the foam docks are better than the plastic float docks. It's all up to you to be able to figure the pattern out on a given day. Don't always get hung up on just the docks either. A dock on a long, featureless flat will hold far fewer fish than one with significant structure, bottom composition/contour changes, or other cover nearby. One great trick I've found to find docks that have brushpiles under them is to look for rod holders on the dock because whoever owns that dock fishes from their dock. The best way to bring fish to their dock is to add cover around it in the form of brushpiles. I've found some great docks that way. 

[BuckMaxx]

I stick a weightless fluke under ever nook and cranny I can stuff it. These guys are right where the fish are in relation to the dock varies from day to day.

[Sam]

Bluebasser and the guys have nailed it on the head.

 

However, a few more tidbits of information to help push you over the edge when dock fishing.

 

The docks that are close to the water usually hold more fish than the docks and piers standing higher above the water. Look for the docks lower in the water plus the ones with deep water near by and any structure around them.

 

Start fishing the docks out front; then to each side starting from the back along the shore to the front on the water.

 

Using a spinnnig rig cast under the docks, letting your plastic fall slowly to the bottom; let it sit; and then bounce it on the bottom back to you. Repeat over and over again.

 

You can throw a Texas rig; drop shot; shaky head; Jika; unweighted plastic; MOJO rig; split-shot rig; Senkos, wacky or otherwise; French Fries;

creature baits; crawfish; beavers; Ika's; jigs and pigs, frogs, floating trick worms, trick worms weighted with a light weight and anything plastic you want in whatever color the water calls for.

 

Throw plastics and spinnerbaits, crankbaits, buzzbaits, poppers, jerkbaits, frogs, Chatterbaits, trick worms and anything else you want parallel to the dock starting at the back corner and along the side, allowing the baits to hit the pilings if possible and bounce off. If you are really good with a baitcaster you can skip a spinnerbait under a dock without a backlash and slow roll it back to you. Also skip a frog, chatterbait and anything else you want using a baitcaster if you are proficient in skipping baits with your baitcaster. Otherwise use a spinning rig.

 

If you are in a boat you will need to be as quiet as you can. Turn off your electronics. Use a Power-Pole or an anchor to keep boat in place as you cast your hard moving baits.

 

When approaching a dock head straight for it from open water, cutting off your big motor and using your trolling motor to get you into positon. By heading straight into the dock you will eliminate your wake from bouncing you around.

 

Be as quiet as you can. Do not drop anything on the boat's floor. Don't fall overboard. Shut-up and concentrate on the dock.

 

PATTERN!!!  Once you get hit or catch a bass stop what you are doing and take it all in. Where did you catch the fish. How was the boat positioned? Did she hit it on the fall, bottom or when you moved it? By the stairs? In the corner next to the shore? In any grass? Any brushpiles felt in area you caught her? Next to any pilings away or inbetween the dock and the piling. Your bait. Your retrieve. Bait color. Cloudy or sunny?

 

Whatever you did on one dock will be the same on most of the other docks like the one you caught your first one. Low to water? Boat House? Pier? FISHING RODS ON THE DOCK? (Very important if there are fishing rods and reels on the dock. Means the people fish and they may have thrown in a brushpile or two or other bottom structure). Rafts? Boats in the water? Boats not in the water? How far is the dock from the shore? Any deep water close by? Current running or glass water? A retention wall or rip rap along the bank? TAKE IN EVERYTHING and mimic it as you fish other docks until the pattern dies. Then find the new pattern.

 

Many a tournament has been won fishing docks with shaky heads, drop shots and Senkos. Many big  bass have been caught adjacent to or under docks with frogs and jigs.

 

Dock fishing is a lot of fun. Just be quiet and throw everything at them.

[Nitrofreak]

It don't get much better than that guys nice job all !!!

 

One more thing to think about, the age of the dock, the older the better, the older the dock the more likly it's going to have algae built up on it, algae will attract bait fish.

[Brian6428]

Man guys, these are some awesome answers! Thanks a ton! I can't wait to get out and fish those docks this weekend!

[MichBassMan]

Most docks deserve a few casts but docks with wooden posts will generally produce more as will docks that are low to the water. The fewer logs, stumps, or trees there are in a lake the better the docks will be.

[200racing]

i like to fish shakey head under docks as i can really work it slowly when i get a good cast.

also clean bottom is something to take advantage of under low docks of a decent size inhibit vegetation growth.

[JOHN JONES]

Well here in Florida I usually hit the docks once the sun is hot and bass seem to migrate towards the shade they provide. As far as baits ill throw a zoom trick worm t rigged, wacky worm stick worm, or a football head jig trailer with a dean Rojas fighting frog, these have been best producers for me. I like slower presentation to keep my bait in that shaded strike zone as much as possible. Hope this is helpfull

[stkbassn]

A very talented bass fisherman who is a local told me that if you don't know the lake well or if you want to increase your chances of catching fish, you should hit every dock that you can. He said he won a bunch of tournaments doing this, fishing a t-rigged worm and a jig and pig...Not trying to hi-jack the post but seeing if this is an opinion shared by many....I know the guy that told me this is for real. He used to take with him during practice for club tournaments...and he did catch them on docks....This was a night fishing deal by the way but he also did this during the day..summer time.... 

 

Thoughts?

[Nitrofreak]

A very talented bass fisherman who is a local told me that if you don't know the lake well or if you want to increase your chances of catching fish, you should hit every dock that you can. He said he won a bunch of tournaments doing this, fishing a t-rigged worm and a jig and pig...Not trying to hi-jack the post but seeing if this is an opinion shared by many....I know the guy that told me this is for real. He used to take with him during practice for club tournaments...and he did catch them on docks....This was a night fishing deal by the way but he also did this during the day..summer time....

Thoughts?

If you don't know a lake then maybe, I would agree there is no doubt that fishing cover like docks can and will be productive, with all of the answers that have been provided, it would be up to the angler to locate the most productive docks, a little talk to the locals to find out where tournaments are held and where the fish are released may be a good option since most are held in larger creek channels, my thoughts would be yes if your out for fun then fish all the ones you can, but for a tournament, I would be looking for ones that have feeder creeks, ones where tournaments are based out of, ones that are nestled against some more vertical structure etc....to give yourselves the best chances if that's all one would plan to fish, even though one is not familiar with the waters there is always options imo to give us the best chance possible, docks are usually almost always productive, looking at and fishing the best ones will help you increase your odds of being more successful.