Floating docks

[guilford]

The resevoir I'am fishing has floating docks that have been placed in the lake last year and this year. They are of the type that come well of shore and has multiple boat stations. I have had no success in fishing these docks. Don't know if they even hold bass. I would like to hear from you guys who had some luck fishing these docks. Thanks.

[DocRabbit]

As soon as anybody sets foot on a floating dock every fish near it swims for cover.

I've never had success with them.

[gobig]

As soon as anybody sets foot on a floating dock every fish near it swims for cover.

I strongly disagree. I have caught fish off floating docks with people on them. Fish use the shade created from the dock. Its like fishing any other part of the lake there is a top, middle and a bottom of the water column. you need to find out where the fish are active in the water column. Many times the fish will be suspended under the docks. In my experience a weightless senko, wacky rigged is one of the highest percentage baits you could use in this situation. If there are boats in slips pitch it between the boat and the dock. If there are pilings that hold the docks in place fish will hold tight to those also.

[whoopbazz]

I have had luck fishing floating docks. They are not as good as perm. docks. If the only docks on the lake are floating...I'd say fine. But if the docks are mixed perm. and floating...I think the fish prefer the perm docks.

I find fish tend to be a little deeper around floating docks. I agree with the senko comment, but don't rule out tubes, texas rigged worms (or other plastics), and we have good luck using jigging spoons casted out, counted down, and jerked back.

[bandsr4me20]

Do yall think that fish would hold around docks that are in 25 feet of water?

[WRB]

Floating docks have gangways that are attached to the ground and connect to the floating platform. The platform is usually anchored by posts that are driven into the ground. The gangway and posts are like structure elements, the floating platform is like cover for prey and predators like bass.

For example; dragon fly darner nymphs hatch using the floating dock frame and sides of the floats. Bass love to eat darner nymphs and baitfish like bluegill and crappie like the cover during the day and shad like the cover at night.

Docks near or over deeper water are excellent places to bass fish. Marina's have large floating docks for example and are good places to fish, especially at night.

WRB

[gobig]

Do yall think that fish would hold around docks that are in 25 feet of water?

Yes. Even deeper than that.

[5bass]

Do yall think that fish would hold around docks that are in 25 feet of water?

Yes. Shade is shade. Cover is cover.

Take a couple crankbaits and tweak them so that you can get them to run to the left and right. They will run right up under the docks. Senkos are almost money on floaters but sometimes the fish will chase something that falls a little faster (jig, big worm)

I agree that post docks tend to hold more fish but if floaters is all thats there, they'll use them.

[Matt Fly]

   We encounter alot of floating docks on lakes with major water fluctuations annually.

    I will hit the new ones that have developed algae growth, growth equals baitfish.

[cBooms@SML]

i fished a floating dock and found gaps where i could skip worms under the dock, and i caught a smallmouth and a largemouth just my skippin it under it.

[Nitrofreak]

As soon as anybody sets foot on a floating dock every fish near it swims for cover.

I strongly disagree. I have caught fish off floating docks with people on them. Fish use the shade created from the dock. Its like fishing any other part of the lake there is a top, middle and a bottom of the water column. you need to find out where the fish are active in the water column. Many times the fish will be suspended under the docks. In my experience a weightless senko, wacky rigged is one of the highest percentage baits you could use in this situation. If there are boats in slips pitch it between the boat and the dock. If there are pilings that hold the docks in place fish will hold tight to those also.

x2 But I have better fishing around them though after they have been there a while I have noticed...Not sure if it is because the grass grows under them or what.

But definitely a weightless senko wacky rigged works great!!!

[oteymc]

Take a couple crankbaits and tweak them so that you can get them to run to the left and right.

How do you do that?

[procraft210]

Take a couple crankbaits and tweak them so that you can get them to run to the left and right.

How do you do that?

just bend the eye on the crank whichever way you want it to run. it may take a little trial and error to get it running the way you want it to. bending the eye just a little goes a long way. It is the same way you tune a new crankbait that wont run straight out of the box.