Dock Debate

[KSanford33]

I have an ongoing debate with a buddy of mine about docks. 

 

He says you can catch bass off of docks 12 months out of the year (barring ice), even here in northeastern NY. I disagree with him.

 

What do you guys think?

[NorthernBasser]

I would say yes. Especially if these docks are in deeper water. But even in shallower water, baitfish can congregate around them. Also, sun/pilings help warm the water up in those areas. 

[ironbjorn]

Indiana here, my last bass of 2021 was on December 29th using a Super Spook Jr (for 2-3 weeks this was my go to as the water got colder and colder, for some reason the bass went wild, I couldn't even count the number of bass I caught on a Spook by the end of those few weeks before New Years) and my first bass of this year was a few days ago on ... A Super Spook Jr. Small fish, but it was a fish. I kicked off about a week and a half ago after ice out and at the end of the day having had no strikes I picked up where I left off last year and 2 bass went airborne for the Spook. Neither connected, but it taught me that I know nothing and the cold water information we think we all know is not set in stone. There's no such thing as too cold of water apparently. So long as it's soft water and you can tolerate the weather and put the time in, they're there, they're willing, and they get shallow.

[Choporoz]

32 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

I have an ongoing debate with a buddy of mine about docks. 

 

He says you can catch bass off of docks 12 months out of the year (barring ice), even here in northeastern NY. I disagree with him.

 

What do you guys think?

Which month do you think that you can't?

[Bird]

I've heard it said right here by reputable members that you have some shallow Bass year around so why not docks.

[soflabasser]

I think this is a typical Winter Time subject. Bass like to be around structure so if the weather is decent there should be some bass around a dock.

[KSanford33]

32 minutes ago, Choporoz said:

Which month do you think that you can't?

I would imagine just before the body of water freezes and then shortly after ice out. I would think the water temperature would just be too cold. 

[cyclops2]

Air &12 inches down. Yes 

3' or deeper is kept much warmer by earths 50 to 55 F dirt  temperature. 3" to 4 in deep shore line on sunny days in a row do bring in baitfish & bigger fish.  It is a hit & miss condition to guess at.

[TnRiver46]

I have caught fish off my dock 12 months out of the year .

[KSanford33]

52 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I have caught fish off my dock 12 months out of the year .

If you don’t mind me asking, how cold does the water get at your dock?

[TnRiver46]

6 minutes ago, KSanford33 said:

If you don’t mind me asking, how cold does the water get at your dock?

It varies greatly. It’s in a creek that flows through a lot of farmland before it enters the lake and makes a long creek arm . I think it’s only iced over twice since 1990. Most of the time it’s warmer than the main river channel (which is about 1/4 mile away) but if there’s been a cold rain or snow it can be much colder than the main channel. It’s muddier than the main river 100% of the time. I would imagine an avg lowest water temp for a winter is high 30s but it can easily jump up to 50-55 in a day after a warm rain. It’s 35 feet deep about half a cast out 

[Bluebasser86]

We use to ice fish off my buddies dock here in Kansas that was 4-5 feet deep off the end and caught many bass through the ice around his dock. The ice rarely got thick enough to walk on so we'd punch holes around the dock and sit on the dock instead. 

[Dogface]

3 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

I have an ongoing debate with a buddy of mine about docks. 

 

He says you can catch bass off of docks 12 months out of the year (barring ice), even here in northeastern NY. I disagree with him.

 

What do you guys think?

 

SE PA is not NE NY but I have caught fish off a dock down here all year long. Sometimes it gets real slow but it is not impossible. 

[Catt]

3 hours ago, KSanford33 said:

What do you guys think?

 

Why certainly ?

 

My grandson Aiden caught this under a dock next to the boat launch with boats pulling out & launching.

That's the launch behind him.

 

 

 

[LrgmouthShad]

Docks are fast becoming one of my favorite forms of cover to fish. They’re like healthy green lily pads. I just expect fish to be there. 

[FishinBuck07]

No matter the time of year, as long as their is no ice, if I see a dock I am fishing it.

[gim]

Docks are targets for me in summer when it’s warm out and it’s sunny.

[flyfisher]

There are some fish that live shallow year round and docks are not an exception to that.  Winter fish like the abiulity to move  up through the water column easily and a dock does just that.  

[TnRiver46]

Not all docks are shallow 

[GaryH]

Finger lakes around docks on soft water all the time.

[GANGGREEN]

I've spent most of my adult life up north fishing permanent docks that have wood (or metal) structures that are anchored to the lake floor.  We've recently moved to South Carolina and the land owner (typically Duke Energy) prohibits anything but a floating dock.  The docks are anchored to the bank by cables and anchored in deep water by cables, but otherwise they're wooden or aluminum structures built onto plastic floats.   They create shade for sure and on my home lake, there's very little shade to be had, but they create next to no structure (other than the cables which are definitely a bigger PIA than a benefit).  

 

I know that many/most of the locals fish the docks a lot and in my limited time on the lake, I've definitely caught some fish on docks, but in my experience, they just don't relate as tightly to these docks as the ones up north (or elsewhere) that have structure associated with them.   Admittedly, I've never fished these lakes in the summertime and I have to believe that the shade the docks create become a huge attraction then, but what are people's thoughts about fishing the floating docks from fall through spring (when I'm down here on the lake)?

 

(my apologies to the OP, I had intended to post this as a stand alone thread, not sure why/how it was posted here, but I'm sure it was because of my own stupidity).

[cyclops2]

Docks are always good . STRUCTURE

 

 Problem is when a big pike takes up permanent housekeeping.  On any other fish trying to enter under the dock.  "  Dinner has arrived.  " 

[the reel ess]

"can" and "will" are two different things. But yes, docks and other shallow wood can produce year round. In colder months, it helps to have deeper water nearby. You might be talking about main lake docks rather than cove or creek arm docks.

[Choporoz]

On 3/14/2022 at 7:54 AM, GANGGREEN said:

I've spent most of my adult life up north fishing permanent docks that have wood (or metal) structures that are anchored to the lake floor.  We've recently moved to South Carolina and the land owner (typically Duke Energy) prohibits anything but a floating dock.  The docks are anchored to the bank by cables and anchored in deep water by cables, but otherwise they're wooden or aluminum structures built onto plastic floats.   They create shade for sure and on my home lake, there's very little shade to be had, but they create next to no structure (other than the cables which are definitely a bigger PIA than a benefit).  

 

I know that many/most of the locals fish the docks a lot and in my limited time on the lake, I've definitely caught some fish on docks, but in my experience, they just don't relate as tightly to these docks as the ones up north (or elsewhere) that have structure associated with them.   Admittedly, I've never fished these lakes in the summertime and I have to believe that the shade the docks create become a huge attraction then, but what are people's thoughts about fishing the floating docks from fall through spring (when I'm down here on the lake)?

 

(my apologies to the OP, I had intended to post this as a stand alone thread, not sure why/how it was posted here, but I'm sure it was because of my own stupidity).

I am also relatively new to a floating dock lake (2nd year).  The fish absolutely do still relate to the docks year round.   Like any docks, the proximity to deeper water is often a factor.  (Whether at the end of the dock or close by.)  As you mentioned, shade is certainly another key.  Limited anecdotal evidence....but, I have found the larger fish in morning and afternoon shady sides of a dock, vice underneath.   Not sure why.  But smaller fish can be had under most any floating dock year round.   If grass is nearby, so much the better.   Also, like any dock lake, make sure you scan out from every dock for brush.  Don't think I've yet been on a lake with docks that didn't have piles of wood within 15 yards of many.

[Catt]

On 3/13/2022 at 1:17 PM, TnRiver46 said:

Not all docks are shallow 

 

Exactly ?