Going night fishing on a lake known for docks...what would be your top baits?

[clemsondds]

I have night fished several times and have had pretty decent luck.  But I've never fished much on a lake that's just known for good dock fishing.  Will these bass still stay up under docks at night or will they be roaming in the vicinity?  Anyway, just curious what your top baits would be for fishing docks at night?  Typically during the day it would be a senko, skipping jig and swim jig.  Would you put rattles on a jig or in a senko and keep the same technique?  Thank you guys for your thoughts and advice.  

[gim]

2 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Will these bass still stay up under docks at night or will they be roaming in the vicinity? 

 

I have to imagine they wouldn't be under the docks anymore since they were there during the day to find relief from the sun.

 

As for where they would be, I can't help you there.  If you find that answer, report back.  There is a lake I fish frequently that has a good day time dock bite and although I don't fish it at night, I might reconsider if I knew where they went.

[Tennessee Boy]

I don’t consider myself an expert night fisherman by any means.   I did catch the big fish in a tournament once off a dock fishing a Texas rig the same as I would during the day.  I was also half asleep when he hit. ?

[casts_by_fly]

Topwaters (buzzbaits, ploppers, prop baits for me) are my starting point around docks at night.  If they don’t want to break the surface then spinnerbaits and chatterbaits get the call. 

[papajoe222]

As long as there is forage in the area, those dock bass will stay in the area. If they're actively feeding, fan casting around the docks with a spinnerbait or buzzbait is a good approach. If not, you'll need to fish the dock the same as you would during the day. Docks that have lights anywhere around them are usually the better ones as the lights will draw the bugs and in turn the baitfish.  Sadly, that also includes the biting variety of bugs, so be forewarned.

 

[Cory20]

I'd throw a rat, prop bait, popper

And

Colorado blade black spinner bait

 

[Revival]

Junebug Senko and some Fat Ikas

[Catt]

Bass do not morph into a new creature just because the sun set. Neither does they're prey.

 

Throw the same lures you would during the day.

 

Bass are under dock for shade, what is shade?

 

Shadows!

 

Depending on moon phase the will still be shadows, ie ambush points. 

 

If the lake is known for Crappie fishing look for brush piles & lights.

 

Yes there will be bass away from the dock, quite  often there's seawalls or rock stopping erosion.

[WRB]

Look for docks with lights that attract baitfish and bass.

If casting around docks use lures the don’t snag easily.

Otherwise fish hard during dusk, slow down the 1st hour of darkness, then go fishing and enjoy the quite night.

Tom

 

[GreenPig]

A simple 1/8 oz Shakey Head has produced many many bass for me around docks at night with & without lights. Alot of folks put brush piles out in front of their docks and they shouldn't be overlooked. Many times I've fished behind people at night and out fished them because they postioned their boat unwittingly on top of the brush pile to fish the dock and then moved on.

[gim]

I have to wonder, for those of you that are fishing docks at night, how do you actually see the dock?  I have enough difficulty skipping docks during day.  In the dark, I wouldn't even attempt it.  Are you using the force or do you have night vision?

[Functional]

10 minutes ago, gimruis said:

I have to wonder, for those of you that are fishing docks at night, how do you actually see the dock?  I have enough difficulty skipping docks during day.  In the dark, I wouldn't even attempt it.  Are you using the force or do you have night vision?

You just have to believe its there.

 

All my night fishing has been done with a black double jointed jitterbug. Rock piles, docks, downed trees, rocky banks, anywhere that has a shallow flat out from the shore all produce very well. My father, uncle and myself used to fill a bag each and cull throughout the night with just that one lure. 

[clemsondds]

Thank you all.  I know that bass have lateral lines and more acute night vision than we do...but do you have confidence in a texas rig or do you prefer throwing something that rattles (ie spinnerbait, chatterbait...)?  I love fishing a ned rig but not sure if it will be enough for bass to know it's there

[gim]

8 minutes ago, Functional said:

You just have to believe its there.

 

[casts_by_fly]

8 minutes ago, clemsondds said:

Thank you all.  I know that bass have lateral lines and more acute night vision than we do...but do you have confidence in a texas rig or do you prefer throwing something that rattles (ie spinnerbait, chatterbait...)?  I love fishing a ned rig but not sure if it will be enough for bass to know it's there

 

What Catt said above.  The fish don't magically change into new creatures.  If they would eat the T-Rig durign the day then they will eat it at night.  Same for a ned.  I don't personally prefer to fish that way at night (there's nothing like a topwater bustup at night) but it works.

 

9 hours ago, WRB said:

 

If casting around docks use lures the don’t snag easily.

 

 

Also what Tom said.  Lots of docks have ropes and cables and carpets.  If you're trying to fish tight to the dock, treble hooks will snag a lot easier and you'll have to go in to get the more.

[Functional]

9 minutes ago, gimruis said:

 

 

HAHA. A more serious answer, 9/10 there is more than enough ambient light to tell there is an object there. What takes practice is knowing how far your cast is going without being able to see even a glimmer of line or lure as its traveling and knowing when to stop it before you hit something.

 

Despite loving bait casters, night fishing I do with a spinning rod only, I can keep the bait far lower with no tangles than I can with a BC which becomes important around trees and docks. 

[roadwarrior]

Weightless Senko

[clemsondds]

32 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

Weightless Senko

Do you put a rattle in it or anything? color? 

[roadwarrior]

No rattles. Pick YOUR favorite color and it will work just fine.Specific suggestions

are Green Pumpkin, Watermelon w/ black flakes, and Black with blue flakes.

[clemsondds]

6 minutes ago, roadwarrior said:

No rattles. Pick YOUR favorite color and it will work just fine.Specific suggestions

are Green Pumpkin, Watermelon w/ black flakes, and Black with blue flakes.

So you have had good success at night fishing weightless senkos around docks?  

[roadwarrior]

I rarely fish at night, but when I do it's always a Senko or Fat Ika.

This one was caught off a dock at Guntersville:

 

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/lake-guntersville-2012.html

 

[clemsondds]

Anyone use livescope at night? 

[softwateronly]

21 hours ago, clemsondds said:

I have night fished several times and have had pretty decent luck.  But I've never fished much on a lake that's just known for good dock fishing.  Will these bass still stay up under docks at night or will they be roaming in the vicinity?  Anyway, just curious what your top baits would be for fishing docks at night?  Typically during the day it would be a senko, skipping jig and swim jig.  Would you put rattles on a jig or in a senko and keep the same technique?  Thank you guys for your thoughts and advice.  

 

For me, water displacement seems more effective than "noise" and I'm consistently surprised at how effective bass are hunting with limited vision.

 

scott

[clemsondds]

21 minutes ago, softwateronly said:

 

For me, water displacement seems more effective than "noise" and I'm consistently surprised at how effective bass are hunting with limited vision.

 

scott

So what is your go to for water displacement?

[softwateronly]

@clemsondds

 

Swim jigs/paddle tails

jig / beaver

soft swimbait / paddle tails

t-rigged worm 

 

I tend to upsize my baits as well.  5-7" swimmers, 8-10" bull worm or 10-13" curly tail, full bodied jig/beaver.  I lean on the swimjig the most, with a slow but erratic retrieve.

 

scott