Pitching Shallow

[Preytorien]

Went out today with a guy I know. We worked some docks with jigs but I noticed that most of the docks were pretty shallow. Less than 4ft of water in many of them.

 

In this case how would you effectively pitch the docks? The jig fell so fast to the bottom that there wouldn't have been much time for a discernable strike on the way down, and no sooner than you started to hop your jig, it'd be nearly back to the boat.

 

How would you approach this? Would you even pitch a jig to such a shallow place?

 

[doyle8218]

I do. What weight are you pitching?

[fish365]

Small finesse jig, small t-rig craw or weightless senko

[Smallie Seeker]

Some of my biggest bass have come out of less than 3 fow.

[quanjig]

There are times I will go to the shallowest part of a flat and pitch a bait in to what appears to be only inches of water and pull out 3-4lb fish routinely. Someone once told me "it's always a little deeper than you think it is" so to give my opinion, try a lighter jig if you think the bait is not getting noticed!

[Mccallister25]

Def. keep pitching in the shallows. Most of my jig fish come from the shallows along banks, and iv pulled out 3-4 pound fish. I'm usually throwing a 5/16oz jig and rage chunk when Im doing this.

[iabass8]

Bass will be in water that barely covers their back. 4 FOW is plenty deep for pitching a jig. If the water covers the jig, it's deep enough to use.

[Preytorien]

I've been using a 3/8 Siebert Jig with a RageTail or Paca Punch trailer.

[iabass8]

If you're going for a presentation for the bass to be able to get a look at it while falling, then use a lighter jig. If you're just going for a presentation pitching to cover/brush/wood/dragging, you're jig is fine.

[TorqueConverter]

Sounds like you're using the right jig but are expecting the bait to get bit on the fall.  I'd soak the jig under those docks, shake it ect.  If I was looking to get bit on the fall then I'd switch over to a reverse rigged Fat Ika or a creature bait on a swimbait hook.  I regularly fish docks in the 4 feet of water in shallow silty canals.  Pitching cranks and spinnerbaits have been my biggest producers.  

 

Pitching cranks to docks isn't for the faint of heart. 

[CDMeyer]

First thing to ask yourself is "Are there fish there?" and if the answer is yes then you will definitely want to fish it..... I would use a T-Rigged 1/8th to no weight creature bait 

[Mike L]

As was said, Yes keep pjtcjing the docks regardless of the depth.

The only time that it isn't the "right" time is if the bottom is exposed.

A bass will come after it if there is water there..You can skip a jig under a dock in 3ft of water, work it out to the piling's where it's only a foot and get hammered.

I believe a pitched jig is mofe effective if it fall straight down.

If you dont give it line it will pendulum back to you which is not what you want.

Mike

[Catt]

I spent 14 hrs yesterday doing the exact same thing (well minus the docks); I was flipping/pitching from bank shallow out to 30". I was fishing a shallow water marsh & 30" is the maximum depth.

Don't be deceived into thinking a 14" bass can not annihilate a 3/8 oz jig.

We must establish rate of fall!

I started the day with a Texas rigged Bass Assassin Tap Out worm with a 1/16 oz weight, but they wete kinda playing with it.

I switched to a Sweet Beaver Smallie with a 1/4 oz weight & proceeded to kick bass.

Like Mike L stated ya want a vertical fall, the Smallie type lured offer an additional plus, they spiral on the way down.

[Comfortably Numb]

Spinning reel and skip a wacky Senko or a 1/8 rage rig with a craw.