Shooting Docks

[hawgdog]

All the replys are good info. Were you able to shoot it and just couldn't find fish , or did you have trouble shooting? I would have to say this time of year, if you think you are retrieving to slow....slow down even more. I would try to stay with 1/16 or lighter this time of year as well, any heavier and it may be falling to fast out of their strike zone and as stated before they dont really like to chase to much right now. Watch your line real good as it falls and SLOW SLOW SLOW!!

I tried this today, it was my first time and I had no luck what so ever. I was using a 55 sharp shooter rod w/4lb line. What is the ideal bait to use with this set up. I tried 1/16 tubes, grubs and shad. Any help would be great. I'm gonna try again friday

[mbhutton]

I was able to do a cross between shooting and skipping, each one allowed me to get the jig to the back of the docks. I was looking big boat house's that were low to the water. I guess it was more i could not find fish. also i should add that i have only been crappie fishing for about 6 months so there was probably multiple things wrong in my approach,

[hawgdog]

Ok cool. Keep at it. If you ever get on em or figure out how they like it on your particular waters, its very addicting!! Just try to let your jig fall naturaly. Also when it hits, try to feed it some slack so it falls more straight down under the dock rather than falling more towards you with tighter line. This goes back to watching your line closely with the slack given. Good luck!!

I was able to do a cross between shooting and skipping, each one allowed me to get the jig to the back of the docks. I was looking big boat house's that were low to the water. I guess it was more i could not find fish. also i should add that i have only been crappie fishing for about 6 months so there was probably multiple things wrong in my approach,

[genec]

All had good advice and looks like you parically were doing right by looking big docks and getting bait way back. I would use 1/32 for a slower fall and less hang ups. I would idle by docks and then go back to the deeper ones and had some age. Also were you increeks or main lake and are fish in your creeks or main lake? How far back in creeks ? Did you take in mind water temp forfish to be in that area? Try to get a understanding of where fish will relate to the time of year you are fishing. Ask people from that lake what part of lake and depth are the fish hanging out,not their spot, butsomeinformation to get you headed in right direction,most will give you some information if they see you are not trying to fish their spot,and as already said slow,a good way to tell if you are going slow is whenyou have reel 1/4 of the way to stop and count how long it take bait to hit bottom again, this will let you know if bait is near bottom or coming up near top

[agruss]

If your lake is pulled down in the fall and winter, a slip bobber works well. It will allow you to keep the bait under the dock longer. You can make your jig do some nice things under a bobber. Find a styrofoam bobber with a very small hole for your line and a bead will not be necessary. I do like the 1/32 jig or 1/24. All docks do not hold fish this time of the year on the lake we fish, but when you find them dock shooting is the best. I like dental floss with wax for the bobber stop.

[ricky]

MidWest Crappie TV Show and Guide Service

Check this out, go to #8. We went to Grizzly jig seminars and heard Russ Bailey talk about this. He gave out a few dvd's and this show was on them. Those little floats are ice floats....Grizzly has them.

[MDCrappie]

MidWest Crappie TV Show and Guide Service

Check this out, go to #8.

I click on #8 and get message "Stream not found"

[mbhutton]

This is the bait i was using.

[Hocky]

Just search youtube shooting dock for crappie and you will get a fair number of hits.

shooting docks for crappie - YouTube

Being so new to crappie.com I am not sure if that link will work or not, but give it a try.

[ToddB]

What rod do you guys use for dock shooting?????