When my youngest daughter Karlee was about four, she was gleefully pluckingsmall bluegills off the end of our dock while I grilled some Johnsonvillebrats on shore. Then she screamed. I looked up to see her rod doubled overas 6+ pounds of largemouth bass did its best to pull the little tyke intothe lake. Perhaps fortunately, her line broke.
When I tell people that story, they’re usually surprised. “A fish that big?Right off the dock? Really?” Absolutely! The truth is, docks represent oneof the best bass opportunities in a lake system â no matter where you fishin North America.
Like all angling patterns, dock fishing is an artform that must be perfectedby experience, experimentation and dedication. I’ll share some fundamentalsand proven tactics with you today. But then it’s up to you to fine-tune yourapproach and presentation(s) to put more and bigger bass in the boat.
Why Docks?
The first step to fishing docks effectively is to understand why the bassare there in the first place. The answer is pretty simple. They’re therebecause a dock provides bass with three key needs: structure, shade andfood. Dock posts, boat lifts, cables, boat engines, etc. all account forfish-holding structure. The surfaces of these structures are ideal forperiphyton growth that attracts bait and, conversely, predator fish. And thedock surface creates a wonderfully shaded environment that’s perfect for”ambush” fish like bass.
When?
The summer months are prime time for fishing main-lake docks. Does this meanthey can’t be caught under docks during the spawn? Sure they can, as long asthe docks you’re fishing are tucked back in bays, creek channels and otherspawning habitats. But we’re talking mid-summer here. The bass are donespawning and relating to main-lake structures.
As for the best time of day, the afternoon hours are ideal. Sunny days canbe the best. Many bass will move up from nearby breaks and out ofneighboring weedbeds to feed under docks and seek the shade temperature theyoften desire.
Which Docks?
This is the million-dollar question. And a darned good one too. The firstdocks worth trying are the ones in close proximity to classic fish-holdingspots: points, humps, saddles, inside turns, weedbeds, mid-lake islands,steep breaks, channels, etc. The shorter the distance between a dock and aproven bass sanctuary, the better. If the water depth at the end of the dockis 5 feet or more, that’s ideal.
When considering the dock itself, I prefer L- or T-shaped stationary dockswith wooden posts more than any other. Bass are more drawn to wood thansteel, probably because wood is more conducive to periphyton growth. Pluswooden posts have more girth, more “structure” than steel posts. From myexperience, floating docks tend to hold the fewest bass, because there’svery little sub-surface structure beneath the platform.
If given the choice, go for docks with platforms that are close to thewater’s surface, with tight spacing between the platform boards. Bothfeatures create better shade underneath. And because low platforms aretougher to fish, anglers with inferior casting skills won’t be able to getto bass that the skilled “skipper” can reach.
How?
I approach docks with the same general patter every time. I use the word”general” because different factors can affect your approach to a particulardock â such as water clarity and depth, wind, dock shape, weed thickness (ifany), etc.
I start by making long casts to the outside edges of the dock to pick offbass that are hanging near posts and on the shadow line. Shallow crankbaits,spinnerbaits and plastics all work well. When working these edges, try andget your bait to make contact with the posts or other structures. Thatcontact can often trigger a strike.
After fishing the edges, switch gears and begin really picking the dockapart. I always opt for soft plastic baits on spinning tackle for this task.Move in a little closer and pitch or flip the bait under the platform nearposts, boat lifts, etc. Let the bait free-fall to the bottom and be on highalert for a bite during the drop. Dead-stick it on the bottom for severalseconds, then give it a little move. Sometimes a twitch-fall works best.Other times a slow drag is what they want. Experiment and find out whatpresentation is the order for the day.
Most anglers make the mistake of only fishing the fronts of docks. Butyou’ll often find that the bass are positioned under a shallower portion ofthe walkway. So fish your way around the sides of a good-looking dock too.After you’ve covered all the potential ambush points under the edges, it’stime to skip.
Skipping a weighted or non-weighted soft plastic bait is the only way totruly penetrate the darkest recesses of a dock. Good skippers can turn alure into a flat rock and skip it from the front of a long dock all the wayup to shore. Accomplishing such a feat takes a lot of practice. Some can doit with a baitcaster, but most prefer spinning gear. If your initialskip-casts are awkward, don’t give up. Keep at it and soon you’ll beskipping your way to big fish.
When you hook up, take quick control of the fight. There’s a lot of stuffdown there for a bass to wrap into. You can’t give him that chance. Winchhim out fast. This requires strong, abrasion-resistant line. Today’s braidedlines are ideal. I like 12-pound braid because it’s strong enough for anaggressive fight but light enough to intentionally break off if I hang up ona boat lift leg or other obstruction. A lot of anglers prefer monofilamentor fluorocarbon line. It’s all a matter of taste.
A few final things about dock fishing: Be prepared to have lake home ownersgive you a hard time. Some of them will be pleasant and interested in howyou’re doing. They’re the ones who fish, and understand the effectiveness ofthis pattern. Others will walk down to the shore and tell you to move on.They can’t make you do it, but they can ask. Be polite. Be thoughtful inyour casting to avoid injury to others and damage to boats and otherpersonal property. Always void casting to docks that have people on them, nomatter how tempting the target. And finally, have fun!
Good Fishing!
Babe Winkelman is a nationally-known outdoorsman who has taught people tofish and hunt for more than 25 years. Watch the award-winning “Good Fishing”and “Outdoor Secrets” television shows on Versus (formerly OLN), Fox SportsNet, WILD TV, WFN and many local networks.By: Babe Winkelman / Babe Winkelman Productions
