Simple Game Plan to Catch More Dock Bass

When the sun is beating on you like a hammer, some of the best bass fishing opportunities are hiding under docks, piers and boathouses. These man-made structures provide cover, shade and cooler water, plus they attract enough forage to support the bass chilling in the shadows when temperatures soar.

SIGNIFICANT FACTORS

Not all shady cover holds bass. Its makeup and location are key factors that render each more or less attractive. And while fishing a long stretch with docks, piers and boathouses seems pretty straightforward, just hopping from one to the next is often not the best use of your fishing time. Chances are you’ll have better luck concentrating on those standing over deeper water or located in proximity to some. Yes, bass will position themselves under docks in shallow water; I’ve caught some in the Southeast and elsewhere by pitching jigs and tubes under docks in just a foot of water. But more often than not, depth means more bass and more quality fish.

One of my favorite stretches of docks on a popular lake sits across from where a small creek meets the main lake. The creek channel swings in close to four docks on a point where the depth goes from knee-deep to more than 15 feet. With a bit of vegetation and some current, those docks—and a few others in the creek—often produce several nice catches.

PRIME TARGETS

The construction and position of docks, piers and boathouses are worth considering. Savvy bass anglers know to key on the following:

Old wooden docks, which are likely to have more algae and growth encrusted on the pilings, also attract minnows, crawfish and larger forage like bluegills and other panfish. Their walkways are often lower, thus also offering bass greater concealment. A tube or jig skipped underneath with precision, or a buzzbait, crankbait or spinnerbait worked tight along the edges can be quite effective.

• Floating docks, typically built of metal with large plastic pontoons to keep them afloat, are most commonly encountered in places where the water is too deep to sink pilings or where levels fluctuate considerably with the seasons. Shad tend to feed on plankton and spawn around these docks, especially the older ones, and the shade and abundance of prey invite bass. Just keep in mind that fish under floating docks might adjust their position more frequently throughout the day with the changing angle of the sun and the resulting shade. Pitching soft plastics, like a Texas-rigged worm or tube, into the darkest corners, where the water will be cooler, is a good bet in late summer.
• Dock clusters, where three or more docks (or piers or houseboats) sit tightly in succession, could be more awkward to fish than those with greater space between them. Some anglers, therefore, fish only the outer edge or skip them altogether. Don’t be one of them. If a group of docks is the main source of cover in the area, bass are bound to relate to it, so fish it thoroughly.
• Creek-mouth docks, the few such structures at the mouth of a tributary or on a nearby point, can be true honey holes. On highly-developed lakes, such as Alabama’s Lake Guntersville and Georgia’s Lake Lanier, bass begin following forage from the main lake to the creeks in late summer. Docks situated on the main lake’s points are their first stopping points on the way to the creeks. If the usual dock fishing tactics don’t pan out, consider that bass may suspend out in deeper water in front of those docks and move up to feed during mornings and evenings.
• Boat slips and marinas, unless in a private or off-limits area, should not be overlooked. Even when not in very deep water, many docks and boat slips in most marinas have holes dredged unintentionally by the outboards of countless boats over the years. Those holes and the expanded shade created by boats tied to the docks and those up on lifts will attract bass. Precise presentations with a jig, tube, worm or spinnerbait, or a subtle topwater like the Rebel Pop-R, can pay off big. But look out for ropes and cables before casting, and try not to hit any boats to avoid altercations with marina staff or boat owners.

GEAR UP AND RECON

In all my years of targeting bass during summer, I (and the anglers with me) have had success just keeping things simple. You don’t need a barrel of lures and rods covering every inch of your casting deck to catch fish around docks, piers and boathouses. You can fish the outside, inside or both with a limited but versatile arsenal.

On a dammed lake, water discharges can affect how and where bass position themselves in relation to the docks. Luckily, TVA, Georgia Power, Alabama Power and other groups managing hydro dams post the daily discharge schedules and flow online. Once on the water, use side- or forward-scan sonar to recon the docks. That will provide a detailed picture of what the fish are doing and let you choose the right lure and gear for the situation.

CHOOSE YOUR WEAPONS

To work the edges of docks and boathouses, you may want to start with a topwater to sound the dinner bell, albeit subtly, then follow that up with a more tumultuous buzzbait. Next, try fishing deeper with a 4- to 5-inch swimbait like the Megabass Magdraft (a similar soft plastic on a jig head will do), or deeper still with a crankbait. A square-bill is a superb option if the docks don’t have vegetation around them. Should large shad or herring be present, opt for a spinnerbait with a single No. 6 or 7 willow-leaf blade to mimic the baitfish.

For pitching baits underneath docks, go with baits that depict the prevailing forage. A topwater frog is a solid selection to start. These lures can be subtle or noisy, plus they skip well and will float in place. You can also try a jig in brown-and-chartreuse, black-and-blue or olive swirl to resemble a crayfish, a dark bluegill or a shellcracker. Or fish a white or pearl swim jig to imitate shad or herring. For soft plastics, I recommend the tried-and-true 7-inch, Texas-rigged worm or a 4-inch tube in black. Peg the worm or tube to keep the weight and lure together for a compact presentation. If the dock has vegetation around it, this will be crucial to allow the bait to slip through to the bottom.

---

• This article was featured in the August 2024 issue of Game & Fish magazine. Click to subscribe.

---