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Boat docks are some of the most abundant structures
on lakes and rivers, yet many anglers never fish them. It’s
a shame because docks are fine bass-holding structures.
Docks in some lakes hold bass year-round, particularly
those in the South where temperatures remain moderate throughout
winter. Summer is the best time of year to fish boat docks. The
reason is because docks provide shade, which is key for shallow
bass.
Bass use shade as an aid to their ambush style
of feeding. Lying in shade and looking into brightly lit water,
a bass is hidden from baitfish in the sunlight.
In addition, water beneath a dock is often a few
degrees cooler and thus more comfortable to bass. In fact, a dock
usually allows bass to remain shallow in the heat of a summer’s
day. Also, bass are object-oriented creatures, and docks typically
provide the cover they need.
On the other hand, don’t expect all docks
and piers to hold fish throughout summer. To locate the best ones,
a little detective work may be needed.
Look for docks near deep water. If a sudden depth
change is beneath the dock or a drop-off is nearby, the structure
will probably hold bass. Watch for docks built low to the water.
They offer more shade and a better habitat. Cover such as brushpiles
and discarded Christmas trees, in addition to the cover provided
by the dock structure, will greatly enhance the dock’s productivity.
To determine whether cover is present beneath or
around the dock, scan the area below with a sonar unit. You can
also tie a Texas-rigged worm to the line and feel your way around
the dock.
I’ve discovered that floating docks supported
by barrels or foam blocks will hold fish, but they are seldom
as productive as those built on pillars.
My favorite lures for fishing docks and boathouses
include plastic worms, jigs and pork-rind trailers, spinnerbaits
and crankbaits.
The first cast should be parallel to any line of
pilings, supports or walls. Keep the lure close to structure,
bumping it periodically if possible. Next, work the lure beneath
the dock’s platform to cover all shaded areas.
One way to place a lure beneath a dock is to skip
it over the surface, like skipping a flat rock on the water. Hold
the rod tip low to the water and make a firm sidearm cast so the
lure hits the water in front of the dock then skips underneath
it. Be sure to use spinning tackle with this technique to prevent
those nasty backlashes.
After fishing the dock thoroughly from a distance,
move in close and work individual pilings and other structures.
In most instances, bass holding to a dock will rarely chase a
lure far, especially if they have to move into sunlight.
For this reason, position the lure precisely and
keep it in the strike zone. Flipping and pitching a worm or a
jig-and-pig is one way to work a dock’s pilings and support
beams.
Suppose you’re working a worm through Christmas
trees around a dock and you accidentally run the boat above a
shallow brushpile. More than likely, the bass have been spooked.
Make a mental note of the brushpile’s location and visit
it later in the day. Any frightened fish will return before long.
Back away from a depth break or ledge around the dock and make
casts to these areas with a worm or jig.
Don’t overlook bass that suspend in the shade
of a dock. One way to catch these suspended fish is to use a crankbait,
typically a model that runs 4 or 5 feet deep. Swim a soft-plastic
grub or worm, or let a spinnerbait free-fall through open water.
Remember that productive docks often remain
productive. Bass have a reason for holding around a specific dock
in the first place. Those same factors will attract bass in the
future.
Learn the docks on your favorite lake. Try to determine the most
productive ones and mark them on your map. You’ll always
have a reliable pattern because docks and bass simply go together.
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