floating docks

[rowyourboat]

do they hold as many fish as normal docks? how do you fish them? what lures do you like?

[backwater4]

They do hold just as many fish, it's just harder to get under them. I normally fish the back, under the walkway and then the front and sides. Try to flip in right next to it. I'll us jigs worms and creature baits for the bottom and run a spinnerbait, crank or buzzbait along the sides. Also there is normally some cement blocks or something anchoring the front in place. Don't overlook these.

[5bass]

Floating docks provide shade and fish do use them but I think they prefer docks with posts most times. The posts gather algae which brings in the smaller fish, which are eaten by larger fish and so on, plus the posts are something the fish can relate to as well as creating an ambush point.

Floating docks can be difficult to fish, especially big wide floaters. If the fish are hanging up tight to the dock in the middle, you'll never get a bait to them. I will always throw something at floaters, just to see if anything runs out or even pokes it's head out to get a look. One good bait for floaters is the Jackall Cover Craw. Rig it up backwards and it will float away from you and right up under the dock. The deeper the dock, the further it will go under it.

Another thing you can do is tune two crankbaits. One to run right, the other to run left. It's good to throw two different depth cranks until you figure out what depth the fish are using. The tuned cranks will pick a few fish out from under floating docks but it's a pain in the a.s.s to keep switching rods every 2-3 minutes.  ;D

[Hellbenderman]

....flying lure....

[Bass Fisher55]

Floating docks provide shade and fish do use them but I think they prefer docks with posts most times. The posts gather algae which brings in the smaller fish, which are eaten by larger fish and so on, plus the posts are something the fish can relate to as well as creating an ambush point.

Floating docks can be difficult to fish, especially big wide floaters. If the fish are hanging up tight to the dock in the middle, you'll never get a bait to them. I will always throw something at floaters, just to see if anything runs out or even pokes it's head out to get a look. One good bait for floaters is the Jackall Cover Craw. Rig it up backwards and it will float away from you and right up under the dock. The deeper the dock, the further it will go under it.

Another thing you can do is tune two crankbaits. One to run right, the other to run left. It's good to throw two different depth cranks until you figure out what depth the fish are using. The tuned cranks will pick a few fish out from under floating docks but it's a pain in the a.s.s to keep switching rods every 2-3 minutes. ;D

Totally agree, only caught a few bass near foating docks.  Permanent docks seem to hold a lot more fish.

[Gatorbassman]

My home lake has all floating docks and my favorite lake has post docks and I can tell you for sure that they prefer post docks. I have found one lure that can get under any low or floating dock very well. It's called the Dockapede by Reaction Strike.

[CWB]

Don't forget the backwards rigged Ika.

Great for skippin' under post docks and will glide under floaters.

[BassThumb]

I skip lures hard to the edges and let them hit the dock. Hopefully, the commotion will bring curious bass to the edges, where my lure is falling.

I have caught a few fish by pitching a spinnerbait to the edge, letting it fall, and moving the boat 20 feet so that I can slow roll the spinner under the dock and hopefully bump the brick that anchors it.

I don't spend much time on floating docks. I don't think I've ever caught more than one fish from a floating dock at one time. Fish prefer docks with posts.

[Casca]

"Also there is normally some cement blocks or something anchoring the front in place. Don't overlook these."

   have caught some of my biggest fish fishing these blocks especially at night. great tip,backwater4.