How to Fish Shallow Docks

[Quarry Man]

There seems to be a lot of information out there on how to fish these massive boat docks on massive lakes, some of the docks over 15' of water or more and the size of a small house! I fish smaller lakes that have smaller shallower docks. There are still lots of fish around them, except they need to be fished very differently. While I have good success on them, I want to get even better.

 

The two lakes I fish docks primarily, one is actually pretty deep and very clear, but the bank is gradual, and the docks are small. Most of them are for fishing, and a few have boats. avg depth is like 2-6'. The other lake is about 4' vis and the docks are much closer together. lake is a lot shallower.

 

My main techniques are a spinnerbait, keitech swimsuit trigged, and a walking bait. these lures I cast two the sides and around the docks, not underneath.I throw senkos, tubes, and flukes underneath the docks.

 

I want to try fishing more traditional lures under the docks like jigs and Texas rigs, but can't find any help on the internet for shallow docks.

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

 

BassResource.com has articles on just about everything "fishing".

 

https://www.bassresource.com/content/search?SearchText=fishing+docks&BrowsePageLimit=30

 

 

[waymont]

Shallow docks and 1/8-3/16oz jigs and weightless worms are an excellent combination.

[Fishin' Fool]

Ned rig, drop shot, Rage Tails, Menace Grubs, Fat Ikas

[Largies4Life]

My confidence bait for around docks is a jig. I like the 3/8 oz. around docks and slowly roll it back on the bottom, while making sure to bump into the rocks/wood/etc on the bottom. Tremendous amounts of success doing this last summer around docks in 2'-6' of water. You could also take this same methodology and apply it to shaky heads as well around docks. If you don't want to be making bottom contact as much, my vote would then be a weightless senko, just can't go wrong with that around docks!

[Quarry Man]

Forgot to mention that there are weeds on the bottom that stick to the baits so bottom contact lures don’t work

[ratherbfishin1]

On 3/24/2019 at 8:11 AM, Quarry Man said:

I want to try fishing more traditional lures under the docks like jigs and Texas rigs, but can't find any help on the internet for shallow docks.

 

12 minutes ago, Quarry Man said:

Forgot to mention that there are weeds on the bottom that stick to the baits so bottom contact lures don’t work

I’m not following... 

[Frog Turds]

are you trying to describe filamentous algae or?

[N Florida Mike]

I do best under docks with t-rigged senkos. I skip em under, let em fall, and if there's a fish it wont take long and you'll get bit. That pattern is best for me from late spring to fall, from about 11 a.m- 4 pm or so.

[TOXIC]

You are throwing the best bait in the business for docks in the Senko.  I have one setup on my deck at all times for skipping.  A 6'6" medium rod with a medium/fast action and the spinning reel of your choice loaded with 6lb mono.  I do not throw wacky rigged because I will throw over, under and around boards and pilings.  Wacky will catch the wood way too much for my liking.  I do not like leaving baits on people's docks.  I always rig Texas on a Gamakatsu Skip Gap hook (4.0).  

[Glaucus]

A shallow dock screams Senko.

[RichF]

I like a 1/2 oz jig and 20lb fluoro...even around and under docks in 1-2 ft.

[Quarry Man]

12 hours ago, Frog Turds said:

are you trying to describe filamentous algae or?

I think that might be what it is, there is also some milfoil

[Way north bass guy]

If you have a lot of algae on the bottom, try a drop shot. If it’s fairly shallow, you don’t need a big lead from bait to sinker, just enough to keep the bait above the algae and clear so the fish can home in on it. I’ve  caught a ton of bass off docks on a drop shot, but like everyone else said, a weightless senko is pretty hard to beat as well. 

[OCdockskipper]

If many fishermen on your lake use Senko's to skip under the docks, go old school & show the bass something different with a Slug-go.  Since you have vegetation on the bottom, rig it weightless T-Rig (I use Gama Skip gap hooks).  They skip really well & will "swim around" under the dock once under there.  When it hits bottom, it will sit on top of the vegetation instead of sinking down in.

 

There are also Slug-Go type knockoffs that also work well, I found a small local manufacturer who makes some in some unique colors.  Mister Twister has one called the Exude Dart and Yum used to have one called the Swurm, but I believe they discontinued it.

[N Florida Mike]

22 hours ago, TOXIC said:

You are throwing the best bait in the business for docks in the Senko.  I have one setup on my deck at all times for skipping.  A 6'6" medium rod with a medium/fast action and the spinning reel of your choice loaded with 6lb mono.  I do not throw wacky rigged because I will throw over, under and around boards and pilings.  Wacky will catch the wood way too much for my liking.  I do not like leaving baits on people's docks.  I always rig Texas on a Gamakatsu Skip Gap hook (4.0).  

Exactly. Except I use 10 pound mono. 

[soflabasser]

Try fishing with a Zoom Super Fluke.