Dock fishing article...

[Deitz Dittrich]

I thiought it might be time for another article... read at your own risk....

Fishing Docks as Cover

If you have fished for any period of time, you have realized by now that our

competition in fishing, the Largemouth Bass, like and feel comfortable

relating to cover. Fish use cover much like people do. Have you ever noticed

that people will migrate near the edges of and near other people before they

will venture out on their own? I am not saying that people and fish do this

for the same reasons, but it is something to think about. Docks can be the

ultimate jackpot when talking about cover, mostly because more than one kind

of cover can and, usually, will be in the area at the same time. In this

article, I hope to share a few techniques that will help you pick out and

learn to dissect the great cover that lines so many of our most popular

natural lakes. You will see far fewer docks in reservoirs due to the flux in

water depths in areas controlled by dams, but regardless of where you are

fishing, keep this in mind: Docks are cover. Any strategy that you pick up

from this article should be able to be adapted to the variety of cover that

you are fishing. To begin, let's talk about what makes the best dock.

THE BEST DOCK

If you look with an untrained eye, most docks can very easily look alike, but in

truth, they are very different. Some are higher off the water than others.

Some are used more often than others. Some have large canopies, some

are made of wood. Some are located in deep water, while others are in

shallow.

With a little knowledge, you can pick out just which docks will be most productive.

If I were to design a perfect dock and its location, it would be this:

A wood, permanent dock. Why? A dock with wood legs will usually have moss or

some kind of weed growing on it which will attract plankton, minnows, and

the rest of the food chain. Furthermore, wood dock posts usually need cross

members to reinforce the legs in order to keep them upright and strong.

These cross members provide diagonal cover in addition to the horizontal

cover provided by the dock. The legs of the dock supply vertical cover. The

closer a dock is to the water's surface, the better it is. Close proximity

shades the dock's underside more and, if the water is clear, it helps to

conceal your movement which may spook the fish.

My utopian dock would sit as close to the water's edge as possible yet still allow me a chance to get a cast underneath it. It would also have a bend of some type in it, perhaps a 'T' created when two dock sections intersect. This perfect dock would

undoubtedly have some kind of emergent vegetation nearby as well as access

to deep water ("deep" being a term relative to any given lake), and a point

or channel would be near it. Unfortunately, if you live anywhere near me, the beautiful dock I've just described is practically unheard of. You will find very few wood docks because the ice will destroy it as it leaves the lake on a windy day during the spring thaw. But if you look at a dock, and it has any of these characteristics, it's a fishable dock.

On to fishing the dock

There are two different ways to attack a dock. One is with the finesse approach of a vertical presentation, the other the more aggressive horizontal presentation. Depending on the weather, I will chose one of the two to begin with and redefine my approach from there. When pre-fishing for a tournament, I will almost always chose a horizontal approach because I can cover more ground and hit more docks during a given time period. This allows me to find the areas of the lake in which the fish

seem to be using the docks most. It also keys me in on the docks with the most potential, the ones that are most like the optimum dock. With those thoughts in mind, let's begin by examining the horizontal approach.

The two best horizontal lures when fishing docks are the spinnerbait and the crankbait. Choose colors and weights that best suit the cloud cover and water clarity as well as the depth that you which to achieve. When using this approach, try to remember that you are striving for a reaction strike from the fish. To prompt this reaction strike, try to make contact with the dock posts. You can achieve this easily by using boat

position to your advantage, but you can also tune your baits to help in the

cause. To do this, purposely tune two identical crankbaits to run slightly

off center in each direction. When making your cast, choose the bait that

will run into the post. When the bait comes in contact with the cover, stop

it for an instant and then continue the retrieve. It's during this brief stop, or shortly thereafter, that the strike will occur. You can get a spinnerbait to hit a dock by using the rod tip to drive or direct the spinnerbait so that it comes in contact with the dock. If you are noticing a lot of fish coming out to chase the baits but not hitting, you should switch

to a more subtle horizontal lure or switch or approach entirely to a vertical approach. Some examples of more subtle horizontal approaches include the floating worm or R.T.Slug (fluke) type lure. These lures are nice because they can be skipped into areas that the crankbait and spinnerbait cannot reach. I will discuss skipping a little later in the article. Vertical lures can be any kind of jig. It may be a soft plastic Texas rig, a

drop shot rig, or a jig and pig. These lures are usually easier to skip and can be fished rather slowly if not at a total stand still. Try to keep in mind that the more smooth and uninhibited the jig, the better it will skip and the further under the dock it will go. A perfect example of this is a tube jig. A tube is probably the best skipping bait ever designed. It is a go-to bait around docks.

I like to fish the Exude tube on a 2/0 hook with an 1/8 oz worm weight pegged in front. I have used the Shaw Grigsby HP hook and do like it. However, I think it takes up way too much of one's valuable fishing time to re-rig when one of these baits is chewed up by the large amount of bass you are pulling out from under docks. When planning to skip vertical lures under docks, it's important that they are rigged weedless because most docks have chains and other fun fish holding stuff under the dock. On many days, I will use these underwater treasures to my advantage to help me get more fish. If you can skip a bait under a dock and over a chain just under the surface, you can get the bait to vertically jig in place thus staying within the strike zone longer which will result in more fish. A motto I like to carry with me is this: "Don't worry about getting the fish

out of where it is until after it is hooked."

I say this because many anglers won't cast into scary places because they are afraid of not being able to get the fish out. Yes, you are going to lose some fish when using

this more daring approach, but its the fish that you will get that are going to help you place higher in your tournaments. When approaching a dock, have a plan. Take notice of the wind so that it wont blow you into the dock. Keep adequate distance depending on water clarity, if the water is muddy you can get really close to a dock without

spooking fish as long as you keep your movements and boat noises to a minimum. Observe where your shadow falls. When at all possible, make sure your shadow is nowhere near where your cast is. Places where you want to cast on a dock include:

Dock posts (hit them all, you never know where they

will be, too many angers will only hit the outside ones, it's the inside

ones that can be killers)

The "T's" where two or more dock sections

intersect, ladders(ladders can be great fish holding structures because they

have multiple rungs)

Boat lifts(boat lifts usually contain cross members

that hold fish)

Always try to cast at a boat engine (if the boat owner

lets the engine run in place, there could be a small drop off right at the

engine creating cover that can hold fish).

I have talked about a skip cast before. Many can do it , but few have

mastered the technique. I have the best luck with a 6' MH Spinning Rod with

a soft tip(many may want to start with a shorter rod, I am 6'3" and have met

with much success using a 6' rod, but I know many others who skip best with

a 5'6" rod) with #10 test CXX-Xtra Strong P-line. I have found P-line to be

the most abrasion resistant mono filament on the market, which is important

when working with dock posts and chains. With an underhand roll cast, you

can achieve great skips. It just takes a lot of practice. Most importantly when skipping docks, respect the dock and boat owner. Make sure you practice around open water first and use lures that are weedless.

There is nothing more harmful to the reputation of our sport than to make

property owners mad at us by scuffing their nice boats and allowing our

lures to hang up on their docks to get stepped on or otherwise. Play it

smart and abide by a variation of the golden rule: "Do unto other's property

what you would like done to yours", or something like that. The fishing of docks is an extensive subject, and I have left a lot uncovered that perhaps could take the form of an advanced dock fishing article in the future.

Regardless, I hope these few pointers will head you in the right

direction. Have fun, and happy skipping!!!

[Oldtyme]

Great read. Thanks for the info.

The lake I frequent often has plenty of docks, but the water they are in is no more than 2-3 feet.

I've never really targeted these as thought they'd be too shallow. Am I wrong? Should I be shooting the docks as well?

Thanks again.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

Good read.

Two and Three feet is plenty deep for a bass. Like stated in the article, try to find the docks that are deeper than most the others.

[Stratosman]

Shallow can be good as well. We have done well on docks on a sand bottom that was no more than 3' deep, with at least 30' to the inside weed line. The lack of adjacent cover or depth is the reason they might be holding underneath them. Especially on bright sunny days. There have been docks that I have fished that I thought would never hold a fish, and to my surprise I'd yank out a four pounder in two feet of water! As a matter of fact one of the biggest bass I have seen came from a dock on Gull Lake on a sand flat in no mare that 3 feet of water, had to be 6.5 lbs or better. So don't automatically rule out shallow water docks.

Dietz it sounds like you have experimented with many types of baits as well. I'll give you my favorite set-ups for dockin' also. I also like a MH shorter rod, 6' is a nice length, this year I spooled the spinning reel with Transition, I like the visibility and abrasion resistance, still not sold on the performance however. I like a 1/16 oz pegged weight, Hook selection varies for me and most worm hooks do the job well. Baits, I like a meaty bodied creature bait, the large profile makes skipping a bit easier and the size of the body allows for a little lighter wieght, wich also allows for a slower fall, which I prefer. Baits like Berkely Pulse, YUM woolly hawg craw and creature baits seem to work quite well also. Even 7 or 10" worms work well, I just prefer the bigger bodies for skipping purposes.

But, just like Dietz stated, respect is the most important tool you can use when dock fishing.

[Matt Johnson]

Good read Deitz! Now I know how to beat you at the Mystery event

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[ZOKU]

AWESOME article!!

I really appreciated reading that kind of information. Very cool... I love fishing docks. I mostly use a weightless rig set-up Texas style. Most other articles I've read on dock fishing also mentioned the location is primarily most effective when the dock is adjacent to deeper water... *shrug*

[Deitz Dittrich]

Thanks all for the kind words. I am a bit of a dock rat, for those that know me. Although I do tend to really enjoy fishing deep as well. I hope to pen an article soon here on "Stupid Rigging"...

Matt J- You may never use my own words to beat me.. You know the rule!!!!

Thanks again everyone!

[Matt Johnson]

I know

Stupid rigging? I think you told me about that one time too. Can I use that technique then?

Good Fishin,

Matt Johnson

[Captain B.R.K]

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES

Good read Dietz!

[friendlyfisher]

I do have one question that was not addressed in the article. What time of day is the best to attack the docks. I fish them all day long and seem to do fairly well in the middle of the day. What part of the day are your guys favorites? Sunrise, midday or evening? thanks, ff

[ZOKU]

Good question... I've found mid-day to be fairly effective, too. I know the fish use the docks to beat the heat of the sun... it provides cover, shade, and another means of ambushing prey.

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I prefer to fish docks in the midday when there is alot of sun. Early morning and dusk (cloudy days also) I will still fish docks but I wont spend as long at each dock and will spend time throwing a spinner or crank around the area between docks or adjacent weed flats.

[FishinBill]

does anyone skip plastics/jigs with baitcasters?

[fish'n 4 fun]

I try w/ little to no luck. How can you not when you're targeting a perfect dock w/ the perfect platform to water clearance and you're holding a weightless worm of some sort rigged on a baitcaster. My advice... if you know you're going to be fishing docks..... rig up the spinning rod. It's the only way!! Good question, I'm curious to here the others.

[Deitz Dittrich]

I can, it took a good summers work to be able to skip with a baitcaster... and I probably went threw about 4 spools of line in the process of learning.. With all that being said.. would I teach myself again.. probably not!... I can still get further under with spinning gear and with todays braid lines and a good 7' MH spinning rod, I can get the fish out just as easy!....

[TurnUpTheFishing]

I fish my plastic jerkbaits on a baitcaster and am getting the hang of skipping them. I cant seem to get the hang of skipping jigs on baitcasters so I use a spinning rod. Ill be trying to learn though. I prefer the feel of baitcasters over spinning rods.

[ZOKU]

*nod*

I would assume a spinning rod is a must... or at the very least, a lot easier!!

[Captain B.R.K]

I too use a spinning outfit for fishing around docks w/ plastics. Actually it is my favorite way to fish. Though reading above has opened up my eyes a bit about fishing the whole dock instead of just the post in the front of the dock.

I find it tough to fish around some docks in my area w/a crank bait because of all the vegetation. I just stick with a senko (weedless) and have fun w/ it.

[FI Guide]

Yes fishing the whole dock is key. On days when I am out fishing docks I can follow some of the other fishermen and do very well since most of them only fish the front side of the dock.

When fishing docks I always keep my sunglasses on so that you can see what type of cover is under the "whole" dock.

Also I haved tried using a baitcaster for skipping lures but I have found out that using spinning tackle with lighter line helps me get into the smaller places much easier. And Dietz keep the good articles coming.

[carlcmc]

HAving just returned from fishing North Long in brainerd (see here for my report) i love fishing under the docks. I had never skipped under the docks until i went up, and in that week i taught my self with a spinning rod and PP line to skip under the docks as far back as 15 foot at times. Although I do have to say most times fish were caught along the edge up to about 2 feet in. The largest, a 4lb bass was caught 1/2 foot from the edge as I twitched it away from the dock. The 4lb was under a dock that had 2 foot of water!

[ZOKU]

Dang - I can't wait to do some more dock fishin'!!

[Bobby Bass]

I'll add two more fun ways to fish docks, using a prop bait like a smithwick devil horse cast alongside docks and pontoon boats, slowly working your way back. When you find docks with over hangs cast to the far side and work your lure under the dock and let her sit and twitch. Get a hit under the dock and it is like the 8 second ride at the rodeo! you don't know which way you are going to go. Another dock trick is for one person to throw the very very large Jitterbug alongside a dock or pontoon and have your partner ( my daughter ) throw right behind with a small 1/4 version. A lot of times you get the swirl on the large one and a smashing hit on the smaller one trailing. I don't know who makes more noise, me, my daughter or the sound of the strike.. Try it with a friend next time you go out...I fish topwater in and around docks any time of the day. An advantage is to be able to keep your lure in the "hot spot" just by shaking your rod and making the lure quiver with out any forward motion. Of course there is always a power worm in grape or green to be tossed in as a follow if you don't hook up. I didn't see it mention but if you do pick up a fish off a dock don't just move on. Give it some attention, many many times I have caught 5-6-7 fish off the same dock and just when you think you have fished it well the big old girl comes out of no where to give you a kodac moment. Ain't nothing better then the sound of line going out when you are eyeball to eyeball unless it's the sound of your fishing partner

[Mr. Twister]

I enjoy dock fishing as much as the next guy. In fact, as the article above states skipping under the right types of docks consistently puts bass in the boat as well as any other method. I prefer a weedless tube(YUM) with a 6' meduim action spinning rod.

There is something that I am noticing lately that unfortuneately has been discouraging me from dock fishing in the twin cities as much as I would like. My most recent episode occured on Forest Lake last night.

Before I went out I had decided that there were some docks that I had to fish. As I approched the first dock I thought to myself. Hey these are just what I am looking for. I made a few good cast with nothing then I looked at the next dock and saw someone walking out to the end of there dock to great me. Only thing he did not say anything when I nodded at him. In fact he scowled at me. As I could see, he did not want me to fish near his dock so I turned the trolling motor up and scooted down the shoreline. It seemed as though about every third dock that I approched the land owners came out of their houses and wanted to be darn sure that I was aware of their presence. A few people even went as fare a telling me not to cast near their boat or under their docks. Funny thing was, I decided with all of the attention I was getting that I would not throw near them. Instead I was throwing a buzz bait in the open areas between the docks burning it over the tops of the weeds and covering alot of ground quickly.

I am sure some of you are going to ask if was bouncing my lures off their boats and docks. The answer is no. Not even close.

After about 1 hr of feeling like I had eye's burning holes right through me I decided to go look for some deeper fish.

It seems as though this type of thing seems to be happening more and more and unfortunately I am for some reason feeling almost intimidated to the point that I just don't want to put up with it anymore.

Does anybody else get hasseled while fishing in and around the docks? If so how do you guy's handle the situation.

I know it is not all lakeshore owners but it seems like it is getting to be more and more common.

Sorry about the rant.

Thanks for the great article!

[Lunker]

I have had a few "encounters". One thing I have noticed that is also discouraging when fishing a metro lake, is that some, actually many of the dock owners had attached chicken wire that runs all the way around the dock and is down into the water, so it prevents you from being able to cast under them.

My family owns land with lakeshore and a dock, and maybe it's because I am a fisherman, but I have absolutley no problem with people casting my dock or the shoreline in front of it. I often have nice chats with the people as they pass, plunking lures in front of me as I am working down by the lake. O well, I guess us fishermen are just a nicer bunch of people

[friendlyfisher]

I too have had the same problem you speek of. I have decided that if im going to fish bass under docks, i will only do it early in the morning when the homeowners are still sleeping. ff