Over the years, I have fished virtually every type of bass structure imaginable: weeds, rocks, logs, and brush. There's one similarity between all of those-they're all natural structure. Unfortunately, as fun as these are to fish and as much bass as they hold, I missed out on possibly my favorite type of bass-holding structure, and it didn't fall into the water because of the weather. These, of course, are man-made wooden docks. But some docks aren't productive, and some are. Why is this? Which ones are best to fish?? Hopefully, this article will answer those questions and more about dock fishing for bass!
Which Docks To Fish
Let's get this out of the way-I can't tell you what to do. But I can tell you what I do from personal experience. If there is a metal dock or a dock that is floating by big blue jugs, etc., avoid it. Bass like their docks natural-looking. Also, metal legs on the dock usually don't hold fish as much as wooden ones, but this can be stretched if the legs are dark or brown (wood colored).
Also, you may want to avoid docks with boats on them if you aren't an A+ caster. Cottagers or boat owners do not want hooks stuck in their valuable investments. Chances are pretty good they won't appreciate that free lure as much as you would.
If there are people on the docks (this is given), also skip them. The people will probably spook the fish away. Besides, they're trying to enjoy the lake and don't want people fishing at their ankles. So leave the dock and come back later when it's vacant.
Where To Fish When You Find The Right Dock
The general rule for me is always to fish the dock's shadow side first. But there's more narrowing down than that! On the shadow side, fish the wooden legs of the dock first because those are ambush points for bass. Those are good spots to try if weeds are under or next to the dock, pads, tree limbs, or brush.
Do not avoid the sunny side of the dock, but try the shadow side first because your shadow won't be cast on the dock to spook the bass. Also, try to stay a reasonable distance from the dock so as not to spook the fish.
Dock Fishing Lures/Strategies
It all depends on the time of day when you're planning to fish docks. In the early morning, your best bet would be the quietest approach, then probably throwing a topwater like a dark buzzbait or popper worked as slow as possible. As daybreak moves on, you'll probably want to switch to a spinnerbait. First, work the spinnerbait parallel to the dock legs, and if that doesn't entice a strike, try bumping it off the dock legs or other structure.
If the bass still will not bite, or it is sweltering out, you'll probably want to drop a flippin' jig with a trailer. Ensure the jig is as light as possible to make the jig fall slowly. The trailer will add buoyancy and scent (like scented plastics).
Terminator has a line of finesse jigs with titanium brush guards, keeping your jig away from those pesky snags better than standard jigs. An alternative to these would be a soft plastic, but I prefer a jig and trailer in any situation that involves wood.
It is up to you what you use. Just be careful not to hook the dock or any property around it. If you're not a great caster, then maybe docks aren't your best choice.
Hopefully, these tips will help you to catch bass from one of the greatest places to catch them, docks! Be respectful of people's property, and be safe on the water... but most of all, have a good time!
Good luck and tight lines!
"Big Bass" Rich
