How To Fish Docks (Everything You Need To Know)

From which docks hold all the fish, to which baits you should you throw, we're covering everything you need to know about dock fishing! Don't waste time fishing the wrong docks. Don't fish the pilings in the wrong order and catch less fish! Dock fishing is full of subtle nuances that really matter and today we're going to help you eliminate all the guess work. 

The next time you're going to fish around docks remember the fine details in today's video. Fish older docks. Fish corner docks and docks at the ends of long runs of similar structures. Focus on docks that are up off the water so you can skip back under them. When it comes to pilings, focus on the closest pilings to you first, then work your way to the farthest pilings.

Fishing docks requires some very unique gear. Below you'll find links to the exact baits we recommend. We've also included details like our favorite sizes, colors, and any rigging components you'll need. All the links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

LARGE SWIMBAITS...

-Osprey 6" Tournament Talon: http://bit.ly/2bqsLS0

Colors: Chartreuse Shad, Gizzard, TW Shad

-Storm Arashi Glide Bait: http://bit.ly/2nHdrL1

Colors: Threadfin Shad, Green Gill, Bluegill

WEEDLESS UNDERSPIN...

Bait- Big Bite Baits Pro Swimmer 4.8": https://bit.ly/3AeQsaS

Colors: Albino Shad, Smoky Gold Clear Silver

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/4 oz 5/0: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

SHAKY HEAD...

Worm- Netbait T-Mac 6.5": http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

Colors: Junebug, Green Pumpkin

Head- Canterbury 3/16 oz Shakey: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

WEIGHTLESS SENKO... 

Worm- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk Flake, Green Pump Watermelon Lam

Wacky Hook- Owner Jungle Wacky Weedless (1/0): https://bit.ly/2VKZl9U

NEKO RIG... 

Worm- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Green Pumpkin Blk Flake, Green Pump Watermelon Lam

Hook- Owner Sniper Finesse Neko Size 1: http://bit.ly/2kfdv37

Weight- Swagger Pagoda Nail 1/32: http://bit.ly/2iGNSFW

JIGS.... 

Bait- Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig: http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

Colors: Brown Craw, The Go To

Trailer- Reaction Innovations Smallie Beaver: http://bit.ly/2dR6CkP

DROPSHOT... 

Worm- Roboworm 6" Fat: http://bit.ly/2awYSxM

Colors: Desert Craw, MMIII

Hook- Owner Cover Shot 1/0: http://bit.ly/2ISr7bR

Weight- Swagger Tungsten 3/16 oz: http://bit.ly/2UY7cgx

BIG SWIMBAIT COMBO... 

Rod- Dobyns FURY 806H: http://bit.ly/2bGvlVV

Reel- Shimano Tranx 300: http://bit.ly/2kYsvRw

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 65 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline FC-100 30 lb Shock Leader: http://bit.ly/2O4UElB

"BANG FOR THE BUCK" SENKO/NEKO RIG COMBO...

Rod- Shimano Expride 7' Medium: http://bit.ly/2osaj3q

Reel- Shimano Vanford 3000: https://bit.ly/2PDlKlB

Line- Power Pro Braid 15 lb: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- Maxima Ultragreen 8 lb: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

BUDGET JIG COMBO...

Rod- St. Croix Bass X 7'4" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2r0xWAs

Reel- Shimano SLX 70 MGL (HG): https://bit.ly/3gIUCgJ

Line- Sunline Assassin 15 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

WANT TACTICALBASSIN GEAR? 

We have a variety of apparel items and custom lure designs available! Everything from hats, to hoodies, to crankbaits! Its all available direct through Tackle Warehouse with fast shipping. See it here... 

TacticalBassin Apparel and Lure Designs: http://bit.ly/38YpPIz

How To Catch BIG Bass On Ultralight Tackle! Senko And Dropshot!

Battling big bass on ultralight tackle is amazing! Come along for a day on the water as Matt and CC battle big fish with light gear! The water is crystal clear (25+ feet of visibility!!!) and the fish are angry! Learn the tricks they use to build a pattern, get the right bites, and slow play those fish to the boat on tiny hooks and light line. 

These Great Lakes smallmouth love to fight! With the incredible water clarity on Lake Michigan, light line is a must. When you hook this big fish on light line, you know a battle is coming! In today's video Matt and CC use a combination of dropshot, senko, and dark sleeper to build a pattern and catch a huge limit of smallmouth on a place they've never even seen before! 

Consistently catching fish isn't about knowing secret spots. Its about understanding how fish position and when they move. After that its about making the best presentation possible and being willing to cover water as you build patterns. Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment used in today's video. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Dropshot Components... 

Matt's Worm- Big Bite Baits Smallie Smasher (Chick Magnet): http://bit.ly/2ZpCOCY

CC's Worm- Missile Baits Bomb Shot (Green Pumpkin): https://bit.ly/2YYBipr

Hook- Owner Mosquito Light (Size 2): http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Weight- Swagger Tungsten Tear Drop (3/16 oz): http://bit.ly/2V2B63h

Senko Components... 

Worm- Yamamoto 5" Senko: http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

Colors: Natural Shad, Electric Shad, Baby Bass

Hook- Gamakatsu Finesse Wide Gap 1/0: http://bit.ly/2aKGmHM

O-Ring- O-Wacky Rings (Size 9): http://bit.ly/2MolpRD

Swimbaits... 

Megabass Dark Sleeper 3" 1/2 oz: http://bit.ly/2TyR1GT

Colors: Wakasagi, Haze, Donko

Matt's Senko Combo... 

Rod- Megabass Destroyer Flyssa: http://bit.ly/2B7NyFj

Reel- Shimano Exsence 3000: http://bit.ly/2iMtscV

Line- Sunline Xplasma Asegai Braid 8 lb: http://bit.ly/2OR5i2j

Leader- Sunline Sniper 6 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

Dark Sleeper Combo... 

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Light +: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Shimano Aldebaran MGL 50 HG: http://bit.ly/2uQ4oH8

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

Budget Swimbait Alternative Combo... 

Rod- Shimano SLX 6'10" MH: http://bit.ly/2L3wppO

Reel- Shimano SLX DC 150 HG: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Line- Sunline Assassin 12 lb Fluorocarbon: http://bit.ly/2h4LNjm

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

How To Catch Fish Around Docks: Summer Fishing Tips

If your lake has docks, the fish are under them right now! From bass and catfish down to the smallest baitfish, everything that swims relies on the shade of docks for safety and comfort in the Summer heat. Today Tim goes in-depth showing how to approach dock fishing, explains which docks are most likely to hold fish, and demonstrates some of his favorite ways to target them. 

You can spend years dialing in which pilings on which docks consistently hold fish. Anglers make entire bass fishing careers out of doing exactly that. But if you just want to go fishing and consistently catch fish there are some simple tips that will help you choose the right docks quickly. Focus on docks that stand alone. A dock by itself will often hold large numbers of fish that would otherwise spread out along a row of docks. Focus on docks with quick deep water access. If the dock is in deeper water than those around it, there are likely to be bigger fish underneath. 

Lastly, choose docks based on the type of fishing you plan to do. If you're fishing slowly with finesse baits target single docks or areas with limited numbers of docks. This will give you the confidence to fish methodically and really pick the docks apart. If you're fishing fast moving reaction baits then areas with a lot of docks will give you endless targets to throw to. While you'll make more casts per fish, the reaction bite is so fun that it often outweighs the alternatives. 

Our final tip is about skipping docks. You may have noticed Tim is able to do this effortlessly. While a skilled angler who practices can do this with virtually any reel, the "DC" reels make it simple for almost anyone to do. If you want to get serious about fishing docks, don't be afraid to try a DC to shorten the learning curve and make the fishing more fun from the start. 

Below is a breakdown of the baits and equipment Tim recommends for Summer dock fishing. Of course you can dial in subtle details on your local lake but these baits and this equipment is what we use anywhere we go in the country when its time to target fish under docks. We've broken down the baits into reaction baits and slow moving baits to help you make the best choices. The links go directly to Tackle Warehouse where you can see detailed photos and descriptions of each item. 

Tim's #1 Bait Today... 

Swimbait- Keitech Fat Swing Impact 4.8" (Electric Shad): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Hook- Owner Flashy Swimmer 1/4 oz with 5/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Fast Moving Baits... 

-Damiki BTC Squarebill Crankbait: https://bit.ly/35yagXK

(Threadfin Flash, Moss Back, Real Shad)

-Teckel Kick Knocker Topwater: http://bit.ly/2nvxkoA

(Bone, Bluegill, Chart Shiner)

-River2Sea Bully Wa 2 Frog: http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

(Ghost, TW Gill, Little Allen)

Slow Moving Baits... 

-Dirty Jigs Pitchin' Jig (1/2 oz): http://bit.ly/2amL3of

(Molting Craw, Hematoma, Go To)

-Reaction Innovations Sweet Beaver Jig Trailer: http://bit.ly/29W3RZW

(Green Pumpkin Red, Hematoma, Tramp Stamp)

-Yamamoto Senko 5": http://bit.ly/2axAmNS

(Green Pumpkin, Watermelon/Green Pumpkin, JuneBug)

-Gamakatsu Superline EWG 4/0 Hook: http://bit.ly/2ac92XG

-Netbait T-Mac Worm 6.5": http://bit.ly/2jndwj9

(Bama Bug, Green Pumpkin)

-Dirty Jigs Canterbury Shaky Head 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2aFOs0V

DC Reels work great at every price point. As you move up to higher end equipment the reels become stronger and smoother but the technology that aids your ability to skip works throughout the line. Also, when dock fishing it is recommended to use an HG (high gear 7:1) or XG (Extra High Gear 8:1) to help you pull the fish out of the docks quickly before they tangle in the pilings. 

High End DC: Shimano Metanium DC: http://bit.ly/2qrSZvs

Mid-Range DC: Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Budget DC: Shimano SLX 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2LWzw2Q

Excellent All-Around Combo For Docks... 

Rod- G Loomis IMX Pro 853C JWR: http://bit.ly/2R4f2Ud

Reel- Shimano Curado 150 DC: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- Power Pro Maxcuatro 40 lb Braid: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- Sunline Sniper Fluorocarbon 14 lb: http://bit.ly/2p7fxju

NEW Tactical Bassin Apparel... 

TacticalBassin Reaper Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2TwBWs7

TacticalBassin Shadow Hoodie: http://bit.ly/2FVD9Rs

TacticalBassin Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/2TvFMBD

TacticalBassin Hooded Sun Shirt: http://bit.ly/38cVi9G

Catching Bass In The Fall Transition On Frogs, Jigs, and Dropshot

Come along for an awesome topwater morning! We launched the bass boat in total darkness so we'd be ready for first light. As soon as you could see, the bass began exploding on our frogs! Once the sun was up we headed to the docks in search of bass with jigs, dropshot, texas rigs, and an old faithful curly tail grub. Ross England has filmed several finesse videos with us in the past but today you really get to see him approaching docks. Hop in the boat and enjoy a great day of fishing on Clearlake!

During the Fall transition, low light is a critical time for catching big bass. These fish are adapting to changing conditions and will often feed heavily at first and last light when their odds of success are the highest. Once the sun is up they'll sit in the shadows and wait for their next feeding opportunity. Understanding when its time to fish reaction baits and when its time to slow down and finesse is the key to consistent success.

In today's video we began by targeting the active morning feeding period with three different frogs (linked below). Once the sun hit the water the active bite vanished. If we had stayed in this are it would have been a struggle all day to get bit so we opted to move across the lake to an area covered with docks. By switching to hard cover (dock pilings) and shadows we were able to consistently catch fish the rest of the day.

Ross England has made a career targeting bass in docks. He loves to finesse fish amongst the pilings and today we got to see it in action! He used a combination of dropshot and curly tail grub to coax midday bass out from under the docks. It was a pleasure to watch him methodically approach each dock and successfully locate the bass within.

Below is a breakdown of the equipment we used during today's video. You'll also find links to the videos we've done with Ross in the past as well as a link to his guiding website.

Videos Featuring Ross...

-Dropshot Fishing Tips: How To Catch Fish All Winter : http://bit.ly/2kCiNFZ

-Dropshot Tips For Big Bass! Ft. Ross England : http://bit.ly/2k7U9Na

Ross England's Clearlake Guide Service Website: http://bit.ly/2mb7DIP

Matt's Baits In Order Of Appearance...

Frog- River2Sea Bully Wa 2 (Little Allen, Ghost): http://bit.ly/2axyR2a

Creature- Keitech Crazy Flapper 4.4 (Green pumpkin Fire): http://bit.ly/2c3cXrp

Jig- Dirty Jigs Finesse Jig 5/16 oz (Green Pumpkin Craw): http://bit.ly/2eJinXo

Jig Trailer- Yamamoto Double Tail 4" Grub (Watermelon): http://bit.ly/2db9w1p

Underspin- Owner Flashy Swimmer 5/0 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2e8O4Y7

Underspin Swimbait- Keitech 4.8" Fat Swing Impact (Pro Blue Red Pearl): http://bit.ly/2ab7s8v

Ross's Baits...

Frog- Jackall Kaera (Glitter Bluegill): http://bit.ly/2Fz6SA3

Grub- Yamamoto 4" Single Tail Grub (Smoke Blk Flake): http://bit.ly/2kFzGPZ

Grub Hook- Revenge Darter Hedz 1/4 oz: http://bit.ly/2cHMZbm

Dropshot Worm- Roboworm 6" (Margarita Mutilator): http://bit.ly/2asZyH3

Dropshot Hook- Owner Mosquito Light (Size 1): http://bit.ly/2zQVKx3

Matt's All-Around Dock Combo...

Rod- Shimano Expride 7'2" Medium Heavy: http://bit.ly/2nTq9FL

Reel- Curado DC HG: http://bit.ly/2yHtsp4

Line- 50 lb Power Pro Maxcuatro: http://bit.ly/2clBRiQ

Leader- 12 lb Maxima Ultragreen: http://bit.ly/2ae97J9

Ross's Finesse Combo...

Rod- Powell Endurance 7'3" Medium Light: http://bit.ly/2QyFvNk

Reel- Shimano NASCI 2500: http://bit.ly/2g278cC

Line- 8 lb Power Pro Braid: http://bit.ly/2aFg46b

Leader- 8 lb Seaguar Red Label: http://bit.ly/2LOVEwA