Dock fishing article...

[Gus]

My guess, and this is partially from people I know who do this to fishermen , is that they have had holes put into their boat lift canopys, boat seats, etc and they are sick of flipping the bill to pay for damage dock fishermen do. Don't flame me! I'm just offering my opinion based on the person I know!

[rosspj59]

I'd say keep fishing the docks and tell them thank you for adding a fish attractant to the water. Maybe help them realize that the dock is in and on state owned property, the lake. They may own the land next to the lake but not the water, you can fish any where you want while on the water. Yes, there are some inexperienced anglers out there that hit docks and boats, but most people are pretty good about casting. I remember last year people posted that White Bear Lake dock owners said they were going to call the cops on the person fishing.

[driftboat]

Dock fishing is a blast. I tried a baitcaster, flipping stick for awhile this summer, but quickly went back to a spinning outfit. For me its alot easier to skip under a dock and it does take some practice.

I've had a few encounters with dock owners, and I remember one in particular. We were fishing a nice dock that we knew had fish on it. After catching a few big bass, the owner comes out and starts yelling that we weren't allowed to fish his dock and catch his fish. Huh? His fish...

I told the guy we're not keeping them and you don't own the fish. We keep fishing and my buddy has another fish on. The dock owner goes on his dock and starts stomping on it. I just shook my head and told my buddy I think it's time to go.

I've also had the opposite experience with dock owners. I had a dock owner come out tell us that there are some big fish under his dock. He told us to get a little closer to get our baits (plastics) a little further under the dock. What do you know, we caught some fish. He didn't mind people fishing his dock, but he did thank us for letting the bass go

I do quite a bit of dock fishing. You can't always tell if a dock is going to hold fish or not by looking at from a distance. So while your scouting for potential good docks, get close to them to really look them over. A couple of days ago, my pops and I tried a local bass lake going down the shore line looking for some good docks, 1 dock from a distance looked like a play dock, weedy and gets used alot (water slide, shallow, uncovered pontoon). But we got a little closer, the top side is full of bird dump, and not used much at all. Under the dock is a little deeper than the surrounding area, and the dock itself sits close to the water. We starting throwing Senko's to test it, and CR'd about 20 bass off this one dock alone. It's just amazing how 1 dock has that 1 extra ingredient to hold so many bass.

Peace.

[Bobby Bass]

Plus and minus of dock fishing, On the same lake I was once had a lady who got into her rowboat and put herself between me and the shoreline of docks that I was trying to fish. As I moved down the docks she would try and put her boat as close as she could to the docks so that I could not fish it. I would move to the next dock and she would follow. After several hundred yards I asked her just what she thinks she is doing. She told me that I was "casing the docks and boats and they did not like people fishing their docks" and she was protecting them. I felt like a mini greenpeace adventure, I was in good humor that day and I chuckled to myself as we continued to get pushed down the lake by the wind. Me trying to sneak a few casts in and her pretending she was just out rowing her boat. We got to the point and started to go out into the main lake when I smiled at her and started my 40. I left her far behind as I zipped up to the start and began fishing with her rowing aganist the wind trying to get back to me... Same lake I was fishing a section of docks and I am off one and just landed my 2nd bass in as many casts when an old guy coming bouncing down the hill from his cabin headed straight at me and his dock. I'm thinking this guy has a problem with me. No, he stops at the end of his dock and says" you are catching fish off my dock, yes I say. what are you using? I show him a grape power worm. " I'll be damm he says My grandson and I never catch anything in this lake. So I pull over to his dock show him what I am using. As a matter of fact I clipped my line off so he could see how to rig up Texas style and told him to go to Walmart and pick up what he needed there. Now when ever he sees me on the lake there is always a couple of cans of pop sitting on the end of his dock for me and a wave from his picture window. Go figure..

[rosspj59]

Bobby bass, the lady rowing story if hilarious! Good to hear you were able to make a connection with the dock owner too! Way to go!

[delmuts]

i have to agree !! when i read that i busted laughing out loud!

[HawgMan]

My brother & I have fished countless Bass tourneys around the area and have only run in to a few lakes where the people were as you described.It does seem that if one person yells at you on one dock,you can bet the next guy will do the same.We've been kicked outa areas because the cabin owner threw out marker buoy's and claimed it was a swimming area!I didn't know cabin owners also owned the water in the lake by there dock...

Granted,if there are children swimming there we would skip the dock and move to the next.But good grief,to get up outa your lawn chair just to come down and yell at you! Come On!

We never did confront any owners(not that we didn't want to)because we didn't want any problems with having another tourney on the lake,or getting our club in touble.

But no doubt, they're probably the (Contact US Regarding This Word) who follow you around the lake on there jet skis jumping your wake when you just pulled into your honey hole! ><>