Dock Baits

[cyclops2]

If I can get out before sunrise. The fish cooperate nicely.  Alas  My 8:30 am are not well received.   

[gim]

5 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Anybody NOT TOSS at docks & piers ?

I don't if there's someone present on the dock, in the yard, on their deck, etc.  Aint worth it to me, I just move past to the next dock.

[Way north bass guy]

20 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I don't if there's someone present on the dock, in the yard, on their deck, etc.  Aint worth it to me, I just move past to the next dock.

Same here. If there’s anyone on or near a dock, I’ll make an exaggerated swing out in deeper water and go around, just to let them know that I don’t need to fish right there at the moment. There’s always plenty more docks to hit anyway. 

[FishTank]

Wacky rigged senko, fat ika, jigs with a beaver trailer, a beaver or flat fish equivalent.

[T-Billy]

Senko or a stupid rigged tube most often. 

[papajoe222]

If I'm targeting docks, I always have two cranking rods and a tube rigged and ready. On one rod is a crank tuned to run to the left and the other with one tuned to run to the right. By adjusting my boat position, I can run one or the other under the dock and pick off any active fish.  This is also a great way to target fish holding under pontoon boats without banging it with a jig on an errant cast, or skip. It also shines when fishing docks that sit close to the water's surface.

If you plan to try this, keep a constant eye on your line and retie often. It helps to use abrasion resistant line.  I prefer Original Stren as it's cheaper than fluorocarbon and holds up just as well.

 

[thediscochef]

11 hours ago, cyclops2 said:

Anybody NOT TOSS at docks & piers ?

I fish them if they're around...but usually that requires boat. I also dont cast at anything with non-fish animals present. I'm confident in my aim, but hooking a person is very time consuming and I'd rather keep casting the other way.

 

I digress. I'd generally have to trespass to fish much more than boat ramp piers and such. I do just fine with those, but I do better casting over the rocks and beds and other things near the ramps. Most ramp piers I'm at are too heavily used to have much hiding under them, save for the occasional slow day. Right now while exploring, I'm focused on finding gravel and sand beds with dropoffs I can cover the gradient with from the bank. 

[Spankey]

Grubs, tubes, weightless worms and stick baits. 

[J Francho]

On 3/26/2022 at 5:17 PM, gimruis said:

I don't if there's someone present on the dock, in the yard, on their deck, etc.  Aint worth it to me, I just move past to the next dock.

I often strike a conversation.  If the person seems friendly enough I ask them if it's okay to see of there's a biter under the dock.  Most often, they are thrilled if you catch something and then let it go.  Maybe I inspired them to learn to fish.

[gim]

6 minutes ago, J Francho said:

I often strike a conversation.  If the person seems friendly enough I ask them if it's okay to see of there's a biter under the dock.  Most often, they are thrilled if you catch something and then let it go. 

I can see this approach too.  That's just not my type of personality and I'm less than 100% on the accuracy of my casts when I'm skipping.  So any potential confrontation is something I am going to avoid because there's plenty of docks.  If I get hung up when there's no one around, I can remove it quickly without causing any issues.  I don't mind waving or saying hello.  Most people are friendly enough to at least acknowledge each other's presence but there's always a few of those lakeshore owners that are more up tight about their property and I don't blame them for it either.