Fishing docks as a co-angler

[Jeremy M]

Last year was the first time fishing tourneys as a co-angler in a bass club. It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton. However, I found it most difficult when fishing docks. I just didn't have much success fishing behind the boater. I tried to target different spots and use different lures, but felt like I didn't have time to do much as we moved fairly fast and could never get into any rhythm. Perhaps I just need more experience but I'm wondering if there are specific tips for fishing docks as a co-angler? Any advice would be much appreciated!

[RDB]

18 hours ago, Jeremy M said:

Last year was the first time fishing tourneys as a co-angler in a bass club. It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton. However, I found it most difficult when fishing docks. I just didn't have much success fishing behind the boater. I tried to target different spots and use different lures, but felt like I didn't have time to do much as we moved fairly fast and could never get into any rhythm. Perhaps I just need more experience but I'm wondering if there are specific tips for fishing docks as a co-angler? Any advice would be much appreciated!

Co-angling can be really frustrating at times, especially when you get front ended all day.   It sounds like you did a lot of good things…watched where the other angler threw, fished different lures, etc.

 

If it were me, I would really practice my pitching.  Most people think of jigs when pitching but you can pitch most lures.  The challenge with boat docks for a co-angler is you often have short windows to hit and work due to boat speed and angles.  If you perfect your pitching skills, you can hit those precise spots with most lures with less worry about long casts and boat speed.  Just a thought.

[Way north bass guy]

I’ve never fished as a co angler, but used to fish team tournaments a lot. Whenever we got on a dock bite, we always tried to mix it up as much as we could. If one guy was pitching jigs or soft plastics, the other guy was often running a spinnerbait or buzz bait along the sides, or a crankbait or even a jerkbait. If the guy up front is moving pretty quick, you’d have to be careful with your casts so you don’t hang up a crankbait etc., but I’d you can make it work, showing the fish something completely different can pay big time in your favour.  

[gim]

When I target docks, I’m usually in the front of my boat. I am really not thinking of what might be the best angle for the person in the back. I’m just not because I’m focused on boat position, my own casting angle, accuracy, etc.

 

I’m not specifically referring to a tournament here or being a co-angler. Just thinking of how I do it when I’m recreational fishing around docks with someone else in the back.

[roadwarrior]

Swim jig.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Hi-Powered Red Neck]

Fishing dock as a co-angler is tough. The boater is focusing on boat position that suits his casting. Something different is a good choice, but if they are eating a black grape trick worm, why reinvent the wheel. The biggest problem for the guy in the back is boat position. Learning to cast at odd angles will serve you better as a non boater, than what you are throwing. 

[N Florida Mike]

2 hours ago, Jeremy M said:

Last year was the first time fishing tourneys as a co-angler in a bass club. It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton. However, I found it most difficult when fishing docks. I just didn't have much success fishing behind the boater. I tried to target different spots and use different lures, but felt like I didn't have time to do much as we moved fairly fast and could never get into any rhythm. Perhaps I just need more experience but I'm wondering if there are specific tips for fishing docks as a co-angler? Any advice would be much appreciated!

I’d learn to skip under docks. You’d be surprised how many boaters can’t do it. They cast around docks and move on. 
Case in point: I fish with an old friend on his boat. He works the T. motor in front. He can’t skip at all. When I get to a dock, Ive got the chance to skip under it and catch the fish he by-passed. I use a 5 inch yum dinger, texas rigged wieghtless, or a zoom super fluke. Craw type baits skip good as well . The last time we went , I got 2 from under the same pontoon and my friend just watched and shook his head.

Its easier to learn with spinning. The motion is like skipping a rock. Find a dock and practice. Just let ‘er fly. 

You’ll love it…

The lower-slung docks are better. Pontoons are best. I’d fish the ends of docks, not the narrow part leading to it. 

Mike

 

[Bird]

We have one very large lake that we fish that has literally several hundreds of docks. 

Having both fisherman of equal ability, the guy in front will pick up the most fish 99% of the time. 

I'm definitely not throwing trebles around docks. 

 

What we catch the most fish on are baits that skip the best and time and time again on this particular lake it's been wacky rigged Senko's and Zoom flukes. 

 

 

[Delaware Valley Tackle]

I used to get bites hitting the backside of targets as we passed by. If he’s moving fast you might need a heavier weight to get the bait down quickly or leave the bail open so there’s slack and doesn’t pull the bait away as the boat moves along.  Also, don’t be afraid to throw up real shallow while he’s hitting the deep pilings. 

[papajoe222]

If both you and the boater are right handed, it's tougher. A sidearm or roll cast will improve your opportunities as will a faster moving bait, or a topwater. If you have to wait a second or two for your bait to fall before moving it, as with a soft plastic, you could be out of range before you get a chance to work it.  With a faster moving bait, you can start working it when it hits the water and with, say, a hollow body frog you can wait without the momentum of the boat pulling from the intended target.

[RDB]

18 hours ago, Jeremy M said:

It was a lot of fun and I learned a ton.

It has been a long time since I was a co-angler but fun & learning is one of the most important things.  I don’t know how common bass clubs are in your area but in Texas, there are many clubs and they can vary greatly.  In some, co-anglers compete against everyone, in others the co-angler only competes against other co-anglers, and then some compete as teams.  In the latter two you are much more likely to get more favorable boat positioning and can often share the front deck depending on the owner.  If you compete against everyone, you just have to accept that you are at a huge disadvantage in most cases.  Since it is generally good etiquette to not cast ahead of the consoles and your owner moves fairly fast, you will often be fishing behind the boat with anything other than shorter presentations.

 

The last suggestion that may help you get more favorable opportunities is to focus on being a valuable co-angler.  Simple things like getting the net before being asked, bringing a towel and drying the boat as the owner is strapping everything down, helping defer costs, etc. is not only polite, it shows your respect and appreciation.  It takes a special kind of owner to front end someone all day who shows that degree of respect, though it does still happen.

 

Most of all, have fun, be a sponge, and accept that there will be times of frustration.  MANY big time pro’s started off as co-anglers.

[Bankbeater]

Look up ahead of  where the boater is fishing and pick out the spots you are going to cast into before you get to them. 

[TOXIC]

Having been a guide and needing to put the back deck on fish, I totally understand your predicament.  In a tournament setting, the front deck angler is going to position the boat where he has the best angles to fish the dock.  That leaves you in the open behind the dock he is fishing.  Tournament etiquette dictates you not cast to the front of the boat.  When he feels he has exhausted the dock, he will quickly move on to the next dock leaving you no time to cast to any of the dock structure.  Here’s what you do…..stop trying to fish the dock.  Your casting time is while he is fishing the dock.  I would finesse the shoreline and fish the open water behind and to the opposite side of the boat from the dock.  Trying to fish the dock is a losing proposition.  You’ll have better luck fishing where he hasn’t.  If the docks are close enough that you can get in some casts to the dock he just left, then fish it.  

[Oklahoma Mike]

First thing I would go to in that scenario would be some form of back gliding creature bait. Totally different presentation from what the guy in front is throwing and will allow you to poke your bait down into some spots he’s never going to reach. 

[Jeremy M]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the tips and suggestions. I can't wait for the season to start!

[Catt]

9 minutes ago, Jeremy M said:

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate the tips and suggestions. I can't wait for the season to start!

 

How good you is at skipping?

[WRB]

Docks are dock no 2 are exactly the same. 

The front seater is targeting bass where he feels they are located. 99% of the time it’s the faint deeper end that gets the attention and it’s a slower presentation using soft plastic or jigs. 

Toxic mentioned you are not supposed to cast forward beyond the drivers seat. My advice is ask the front seater if you can target the opposite end of the dock and walkway near shore if he isn’t doing that. Frogs, spinning baits and buzz baits often work shallow toward the near shore dock corners, post or cover patches and personal launch ramps.

Another often over looked target is man made brush piles in front of the dock near high light fixtures for night crappie fishing.

Roll cast is another very accurate technique and skipping is essential for getting lure under the cover and walkways.

Practice and practice some more because getting snagged will annoy your boater big time.

Tom

PS, I never back seated as a tournament angler, always worked with my partners pointing out targets.

[PhishLI]

Being stuck on the back means always remaining conscious on the backswing of a motor, power poles, or both. My solution is a short rod and practice roll cast skipping, backhand skipping, and pitching. As soon as the boater is around the front of the dock you'll be able to skip the back side of it without too much worry about clipping anything.

[Catt]

12 hours ago, Catt said:

 

How good you is at skipping?

 

Once ya get proficient at skipping including backhanded you'll never be out of position.

 

Don't be afraid to target the same "spots" the boater hit, sometimes it takes multiple cast to get a bass to bite.

[roadwarrior]

12 minutes ago, Catt said:

Once ya get proficient at skipping including backhanded you'll never be out of position

 

[the reel ess]

Ditto the pitching and skipping. But also pay attention to what the guy in front is doing. Do what he isn't. Pitch where he didn't. Boaters tend to cast forward if they're really covering water. You're at a different angle and you can get to fish he probably didn't. Pitching the jig or T rig is fantastic because you can pitch it, let it sink and yank it right back if you get no bite and look for the next target. Also skipping a Trick Worm or a fluke under docks and overhanging trees can be killer. I'll sometimes throw a topwater a lot longer than the guy in front will. Just showing them something different.

[Bluebasser86]

A senko or Ned rig skipped under docks will pull fish from under docks behind anyone. 

[J Francho]

On 1/29/2022 at 4:36 PM, Jeremy M said:

Perhaps I just need more experience but I'm wondering if there are specific tips for fishing docks as a co-angler?

Learn a backhand-side arm cast.  Most boaters like to move by docks with the port side facing shore because it is easier for a right handed person to cast.  learn to cast from left to right, back handed, and you can hit the spots the boater missed.

[Catt]

18 minutes ago, J Francho said:

Learn a backhand-side arm cast.  Most boaters like to move by docks with the port side facing shore because it is easier for a right handed person to cast.  learn to cast from left to right, back handed, and you can hit the spots the boater missed.

 

I fished one B.A.S.S Top 150 as a coangler but I've spent many years fishing teams. 

 

To be successful as a team both anglers better learn the above. It doesn't matter if I'm in a tournament or not that's how we fish.

[TOXIC]

I think what everyone is missing is that if the boater is done with the dock, he’s not going to sit there while you fish it.  He’s moving on to the next one.  You “might” get one cast in as he moves by.  You might get lucky and the docks are close enough together that you can fish the one he just finished while he’s fishing the next one in line.