dock fishing

[RossT]

Um no. Incorrect, docks are not an exstension of private property.

Arrested for what exactly?

Tresspassing? That is a citation only.

Most LEOs do not even know the laws they are suppose to enforce.

RRR - Can you post the statute about this? Then we can arm ourselves with knowledge.

[Search Function]

I don't see the point of fishing docks. I see it all the time at my cabin and have never seen anyone catch a bass bigger than a pound around the docks. The weed flats are way more productive.

On a side note, I put my dock in the first weekend of May this year, that afternoon there was already a guy flipping a plastic worm under it. I don't understand some people...

When I was young and dumb in the early 80's I thought pretty much the same thing. Docks were for fishing off of, not casting lures too. Then I started reading Bassmaster Magazine and joined a fishing club. I learned real quick why the magazine wrote articles on fishing docks. Some lakes are better dock lakes than others and some docks are better than others but pretty much any dock in a lake can hold bass at some point during the year. If your not fishing docks because you think only little bass use them than the jokes on you.

[M1dwestF1sh]

I know fishing docks can be good. You can win tournaments on just fishing docks sometimes but what I don't understand is what lure/jig to use. I feel like throwing a big football head jig scares the bass. Do you guys always skip up under them too because when I skip the bait after about 15 times I get backlash. Any tips or pointers? Maybe I'm doing it wrong because I've never had huge success fishing docks.

[Search Function]

I use a Zoom Super Fluke on spinning gear for most of my dock fishing. Occasionally I'll pitch jigs or skip hollow belly frogs or Zoom Horny Toads on a baitcaster.

As far as tips. I'd say having the sun out can help push them under the docks. Be methodical in how you fish them. A big mistake lots of guys make is fishing them to fast and not making sure they get their lure in high percentage area's. If your going to fish dock's fish them right.

[steiger]

Totally agree with search function. Most of the time I throw a jig up there on heavy braid. find a dock that is different then most one that has multiple ladders or PVC pipe around the legs or try the shaded sides of the boat lifts. As for your backlash the more you practice the better u will get, try and aim for your lure to hit 4 to 5 feet in front of your target. Depth is another big one for docks check your maps find some deeper ones and practice. SLOW DOWN! When u think your going slow enough cut that in half multiple casts in the same areas.

[bucketmouth64]

I like fishing docks, but I pass over the ones that have home owners near them and maybe comeback when they're gone. There have been times I've caught multiple fish off one dock, best is 6 and they weren't dinks either. I've found that if the dock is near deep water the better and on windy days they can be anywhere along the dock even in a foot of water. I like to use jigs, worms(wacky and t-rig no sinker), spinner and cranks along straight docks.

[EBass]

I've seen it go both ways. I've been yelled at plenty and even had a compliment from a guy that was watching from his house. I haven't seen a bikini top fall off like RK though.

[river rat316]

Was out on a local lake and fished a dock, the surrounding area had duck weed growing every where, the homeowners had cleared it out and good green coontail was growing up around the dock, I had caught like 5 or 6 fish from around the dock and I looked up and there was a lady video taping me, I though she was gonna start complaining about me fishing the dock so I asked her if she wanted me to leave. She said " no I am video taping this for my husband, he always says there isn't any fish in this lake" so I started laughing and caught a few more fish for the camera, they were getting progressively smaller though so I moved the boat like ten feet and threw my swim jig past a little clump of isolated pads, reeled up to the pads and bounced the swim jig off the stalks and bam, a 5lber crushed the jig and instantly after the hookset comes screaming out of the water and gave the camera a nice show, after I landed the fish, I held it up for the camera and told her there wasn't any fish in this lake, she started laughing and told me her husband was going to hate me...lol. I have had people start complaining me out though, and even had one guy come down run on to his dock and start swearing at me when my kids were in my boat with me, karma caught up with him though and he ended up slipping and falling down as he made it to the dock, we got a good laugh out of it. I hardly ever spend more than a couple casts on a dock unless it is just to good looking to pass up.

[Chemlight]

If I was lucky enough to own property and a dock, I would place a sign on the end of the dock that read:

"Please remove any hooks, bait or line that you lose on the dock."

With another sign:

"Please send all pictures of fish caught from this dock to xxx-xxx-xxxx"

But that's just me.

[IcePro]

Last weekend I watched my dock being fished by six different boats during a tournament and all these boats hit docks along the shore with their lures. One boat I watched hit my pontoon, boat and dock at least 4 different times. On their last cast to my dock they got hung up on my dock with their lure. They cut their line and moved on to the next dock and again I could hear them hit the next dock and boat with their lures. I went down to the end of my dock and retrieved a Spro frog with about 50 feet of braided line. Since the boat was close I asked him if he wanted casting lessons or his Spro frog back. If I did not see this the line would have been wrapped into the prop of my pontoon or boat.

The whole issue with me as a home owner that has a dock is having my property (dock, boat, etc.) being hit consistently by dock fisherman with their lures. I have thousands of dollars sitting in the lake (108’ of Floe dock, 2012 Premier Pontoon & 2008 Ranger boat) and it does get frustrating having my personal property hit.

As a fisherman fishing docks how would you feel if all dock owners casted and hit your boat?

Yes I know fishing docks is 100% legal and I fish them myself but with the upmost courtesy.

Inside tip for you dock fisherman……learn the different dock manufactures designs on wheel placement and cross beam supports, the fish you thought you missed was probably the wheel or support. Once you know how different docks are assembled you will approach them differently.

Bottom line is that all people are protective of their personal property and we should all be respectful of each other’s property.

[Basschaser]

The whole issue with me as a home owner that has a dock is having my property (dock, boat, etc.) being hit consistently by dock fisherman with their lures. I have thousands of dollars sitting in the lake (108’ of Floe dock, 2012 Premier Pontoon & 2008 Ranger boat) and it does get frustrating having my personal property hit.

As a fisherman fishing docks how would you feel if all dock owners casted and hit your boat?

I have been a homeowner on a lake for the past 30 years and have experienced the same. I put my dock and boat in a PUBLIC LAKE every year knowing very well that they are going to get hit many times over the course of the year and just accept that that's the way it is. I try to make a positive out of it by asking how the fishing is. Some fisherman will give you a lot more information than you asked for.

[Search Function]

Quote:

As a fisherman fishing docks how would you feel if all dock owners casted and hit your boat?

If they are using a Spro or some other weedless hollow body frog I could care less. Same goes for a Zoom Fluke or any other plastic lure fished weightless. The chances of those lures doing any damage is minimal.

[leech~~]

Our campground has a pretty big dock area with about 50 boats, 25 in the outside line and 25 on the inside. We get guys pulling up and casting a lot and the only thing that [PoorWordUsage] me off is when you come out to your lift and find a Rapala hooked to the side of your $1500 canopy!

I don't mind someone bunching a lure off my boat but the canopy is 6 feet or higher off the water!

Learn how to cast if your going to be throwing sharp objects at other peoples property!

[Duffman]

I find it hard to believe that leech~~ doesn't have a 'tard cast from time to time.

[Pherris]

I was fishing last night not even throwing at docks just hitting reeds in between and some clowns dog is watching from shore up a hill from the dock. He proceeds to tell his dog "get him boy go get him" which results in his dog running down to the end of the dock stars barking like crazy. This clown continues to say "good dog get him" encouraging his dog to continue to bark and growl at me. I did not say a word but a boat that was fishing walleye about a hundred yards out drove over to this guys dock and told him what a donkey he was. I had to laugh thinking of this thread. It takes all kinds to make a world.

[reed1969]

It is against the law for home owners or anyone else harrass you fishing. The dock is on public water and you can retreive your lure if it gets stuck. I have told the home owner to call the sheriff and see who gets the best of that call. FYI.

[Igor Drackenwolf]

There is no airtight solution, so both sides of this equation are only obligated by courtesy. It boils down to the individual and his character.

A courteous fisherman will:

a) practice casting accuracy and hone his skill in order to minimize the likelihood that he will damage property

use common sense about when and when not to cast at shoreline property

c) be sensitive to the presence of a homeowner enjoying his shoreline

d) apologize when it is due

A courteous homeowner will:

a) understand that his property is located in a public place, and that he has no right to expect that his structures/toys will never be hit

be tolerant of the inevitable reality that his property will occasionally be hit

c) accept an apology graciously, and swallow his instinct to retaliate when no apology is offered

If everyone would just abide by simple courtesy, we could all just enjoy the water side-by-side - fishermen suffering the embarrassment of an occasional "oops" and homeowners suffering the annoyance of the occasional property ding.

[bassfshin24]

+1