Dock Talk

By Michelle Armstrong

Q: Is there a right and wrong way to fish a boat dock?

A: Yes, no, and it depends.

The variables a pretty simple.  Depending on the season, you’ll want to go to the docks that are conducive to the seasonal bass pattern, but what do you do when you get there.  I say over and over, the bass will tell you.

It’s November, Bass are typically relating to main lake areas.  Points, deeper coves, etc… You find yourself near a main lake point with a long row of docks ahead, what do you do? Start at the beginning of course.

When you approach a dock, do so quietly please. First off as to not disturb the fish secondly as to not disturb the dock owner. Typically you’ll approach the front of the dock, taking all of the key parallel shots. Down the side you’ve approached then line yourself up and parallel the front side of the dock.  If you’re using a cast and retrieve technique you’ll want to use a spinnerbait, crankbait, swimjig, something moving, but you can also use a worm or jig.

Next,  it’s time to “pick” apart the key spots where bass will hide.  Pitch a worm or jig by the first piling behind the dock. This area is the first protection to a Bass and it offers shade, depending in the time of day.  Next you’ll move to the walkway that connects the floating and stationary part of dock together. This always offers shade so even though it’s fairly easy to get your bait under, the bass have a sense of security. You can flip, pitch, or skip any number of baits underneath.  This is usually more shallow and I prefer a slower falling bait at this point. You can use this same technique to fish each pilling all the way til you run out of water. Sometimes in colder months, some bass will be sunning themselves under the dock in just inches of water closest to the bank.

Try to get your bait into or under any crevice.  Often this is what will set you apart from other anglers.  The ability to get your bait where the fish are hiding is imperative.

Finally, go to the other side and repeat.  It sounds tedious but you should achieve all of these steps in less than a few minutes per dock.  Pay attention to where you get your bites. For example, if you get a strike on two docks under the walkway, don’t waste your time on the next dock, picking it apart…go straight for the “goods” and only fish the walkway on the next docks.  If your strikes only come on the front making parallel casts with a moving bait, the same applies; Only spend time fishing the fronts. Once you move further down the cove and the bite dies, you can pick apart the next few docks to see if the bass are responding differently as you go in or if the bite dies altogether.  If the bite dies, relocate and look for the next area that matches the previous one and you will likely match the same pattern. The trick is to realize when the bite goes away, then so should you. Many anglers get caught up in “the fish are on the docks” and don’t realize that it’s “where” the dock is that’s the pattern, not the dock itself.

For some lucky ones, there are docks that will produce year after year, no matter the season.  They are just good finds and the fish have literally taken up residency here. In the fishing world, this is called a “milk run” and they come in handy during tournaments.   Basically to find these phenomenons you must visit the same docks you’ve caught fish on for a few seasons until your convinced they live there. It’s all about time on the water.

Now go catch fish.