How to Catch Summertime Boat Dock Crappie - by Brad Wiegmann

Boat docks are like crappie magnets during the summertime. They offer shade, protection and forage. Those three things will hold crappie around boat docks all summer long.



Almost every river or reservoir has boat docks, but not every boat dock will hold crappie during the summer months. “There are certain boat docks that will have crappie around them during the summertime. On Beaver Lake or other U.S. Army Corp of Engineer reservoirs, anglers should focus on boat docks that are located close to the old river channel or creek channel. I like to have at least 25 feet deep or more of water depth under them,” explained Jason Piper, a crappie fishing guide on Beaver Lake in northwest Arkansas.

Piper noted that the back side of the dock may have shallow water only 10 feet deep, but drop to 60 feet deep in the channel at the front of the boat dock. “Crappie will suspend around boat docks during the summer months and it’s not unusual to catch them suspending,” said Piper.

Maybe the biggest drawback to fishing boat docks is casting. Some of the best boat docks will have boats and boat lifts in the stall where an angler needs to cast. Piper likes to cast or pitch his lure into the stalls, but pointed out that many anglers utilize the technique of shooting lures around docks.

Shooting lures requires the angler to bow a spinning rod while holding the lure in their hand then releasing it making the lure travel forward. By keeping the rod low and pointed in the right direction, an angler can shoot a lure into small areas or into the back of boat dock slips.



When taking out clients, Piper will often take them to productive boat docks that have open slips for them to cast into. “Open slips are easier for inexperienced anglers to cast into without getting hung up,” noted Piper.

For casting into boat dock slips Piper uses B’n’M Fishing Rods Buck’s Special SP65G or SP75G rod rigged with a spinning reel. “The shorter rod helps keep the clients from breaking the rod around the boat dock. I like fishing the B’n’M Buck’s Special graphite rod with its soft tip, but a strong enough backbone to pull them out of brush or cables,” Piper continued, “everything gets smaller when you are casting into boat dock slips and you really don’t need a long rod.”

For fishing line, Piper rigs up his spinning reels with green Hi-Vis Vicious monofilament fishing line. “I don’t think the crappie care about the line color. I like using a high visible line because it’s easier to see when a crappie bites the lure,” revealed Piper.



When fishing boat docks in the summertime, Piper likes to fish with 1 ½-inch to 2 ¾-ich curly tail or paddle tail soft plastic lures rigged on a jig head. A simple set up that can be easily retied quickly if an angler breaks off.
If the crappie are holding right on the bottom under a boat dock, Piper will switch to a Bobby Garland Baby Shad. The Bobby Garland Baby Shad has less action and allows Piper to work the lure in a more vertical presentation. His favorite color patterns for fishing boat docks are black/chartreuse, chartreuse or pearl colors.

One thing that Piper does to catch more crappie around boat docks is place a small split shot about 14-inches above the jig. “Basically that helps the jig get down quicker by putting a small split shot on the line,” acknowledged Piper.

Another tip that Piper revealed was that to catch more crappie an angler should always keep their lures above the crappie.



Picking a boat dock to fish can seem overwhelming on reservoirs or rivers with numerous boat docks. What makes one boat dock more productive than another boat dock? Piper pointed out the productive boat docks will have light on them. “I look for any kind of light that will bring in bugs and minnows. Once you got the bugs and minnows than the crappie will be there feeding on the minnows,” said Piper.

Sunlight also plays a big part in fishing boat docks during the summer months. Piper likes to fish early or late in the summer. “Shade is one of the keys to catching crappie around boat docks. The crappie will bite really well until the sun starts getting up or again when the sun starts going down,” explained Piper.

Ultimately, Crappie anglers fishing during the summer months should be fishing early and late around boat docks. The most productive boat docks will have deep water under it and some type of light that will bring in forage that crappie will feed on.