Good day on the water!

[Lund]

Today was cloudy and sun finally started breaking through about 1pm with a high of 77 degrees air and water was 61 degrees. Third time on the lake, second time fishing here in AL. I trolled 1/8oz jigs and got a single bite but gone before I touched the rod.
So many on this bridge that wouldn't bite for 5-6 boats. (I think thats crappie around the horizontal beams of the bridge


Got tired of battling the wind, so I tried dock shooting. Tried quite a bit of docks ranging from 8-16' using hi-vis line. 1/8oz jig was too heavy or least I couldn't skip it ha so I tried 1/32oz minnow head.
Beside a dock and can't tell if anything is valuable as I don't see stacked fish.


Got the 15" bass. Not a crappie but not skunked!! Got another bite but the jig's eye failed (loop knot was still there just no jig ).


I really want to catch crappie but I know I am learning the area and just being out on the water with such a warm beautiful day was a major blessing. Still beats working haha!

For those that dock shoot what advice do you have for jigs? minnow head or round? size of jigs?

Thanks!

[BuckeyeCrappie]

Awesome images. Thanks for your report

[DockShootinJack]

I usually use 1/32 . All of them a re ball heads. I trim the collar off so it is lighter than the 1/32 original weight.

[Lund]

I usually use 1/32 . All of them a re ball heads. I trim the collar off so it is lighter than the 1/32 original weight.

I meant to ask in original post, how do you pick docks? As in what are you looking? spiderwebs? a certain depth?

[CrappiePappy]

I meant to ask in original post, how do you pick docks? As in what are you looking? spiderwebs? a certain depth?

I've done most of my dock shooting down in Tenn, and a little bit in Ala. What I've always looked for was depths over 10ft at the front of the dock, fishing poles or holders visible, fishing boat in the slip, minnow buckets, and ropes or cables running down into the water off the frame of the dock. One other tidbit is when you see a dock with rod holders attached, search the area out from those holders at least 50ft away. Some dock owners plant brushpiles out away from the dock, but still within the reach of a good cast.

And yeah, cobwebs (esp. around the motor of a pontoon) are a good indication that the dock hasn't been fished (that day) by other dock shooters.

Most times dock shooting I'd be using a 1/16oz ballhead weedless jighead with 1.5" to 2" plastics.

[Lund]

I've done most of my dock shooting down in Tenn, and a little bit in Ala. What I've always looked for was depths over 10ft at the front of the dock, fishing poles or holders visible, fishing boat in the slip, minnow buckets, and ropes or cables running down into the water off the frame of the dock. One other tidbit is when you see a dock with rod holders attached, search the area out from those holders at least 50ft away. Some dock owners plant brushpiles out away from the dock, but still within the reach of a good cast.

And yeah, cobwebs (esp. around the motor of a pontoon) are a good indication that the dock hasn't been fished (that day) by other dock shooters.

Most times dock shooting I'd be using a 1/16oz ballhead weedless jighead with 1.5" to 2" plastics.

Thank you and that answers a lot!! I saw a dock like that today! But odd enough line were in the water, 3 rods in rod holders but not a soul to see so I didn't fish it. (Don't know if I should have, like what is acceptable)

[thill]

What did you try to entice those fish on the structure. Nice images, by the way!

I like to use jigs, but sometimes the minnow guys are slaying them, and I've got a skunk. Often, I will switch to a bigger or smaller jig, USUALLY a smaller one. Maybe add a crappie bite or spray on some slab sauce.

The other thing is how are you working the jig? I've found that they typically like very little movement, often just the slowest of reeling, with no twitches. That is my #1 catching retrieve.

You have found the fish, and that's 1/2 the battle. The fact that they had lockjaw for everyone else too lets you know it wasn't you.

[Ketchn]

from what I can see in those images , it is likely those fish will bite if the presentation is to their liking , i see clouds of bait and clouds of crappie in several images , mind you this , they may be inactive until the sun settles or before it gets high ,one thing for certain you are on a herd , don't give up on them .
put your jig right at their level and or amongst them and VERY slowly rise it away from the crowd , they might be biting really light and not very noticeable if they have that much food to choose from .

[Lund]

What did you try to entice those fish on the structure. Nice images, by the way!

I like to use jigs, but sometimes the minnow guys are slaying them, and I've got a skunk. Often, I will switch to a bigger or smaller jig, USUALLY a smaller one. Maybe add a crappie bite or spray on some slab sauce.

The other thing is how are you working the jig? I've found that they typically like very little movement, often just the slowest of reeling, with no twitches. That is my #1 catching retrieve.

You have found the fish, and that's 1/2 the battle. The fact that they had lockjaw for everyone else too lets you know it wasn't you.

Thank you! Some 2" straight tail Bobby Garlands, don't know why I didn't just stop and vertical jig it I trolled by it I do have some 1" paddle tails and 1.5" gulp minnows so I'll try downsizing. For someone who takes so many notes from this forum, I should sometimes read the notes I will try that.
Ketchn had posted something similar on another post:

slow rise and slow fall are 2 of the 5 ways I try first every visit to the docks
(unless of course) I find what they want before 5 different presentations.
3 pitch and let sink diagonally, 4 dead still on the bottom, and 5 slow dragging horizontally
not in any particular order every time , that depends on the season and etc etc ....

Guess I need to slow down and keep after them. Thanks again. Most people left within 5-10 minutes of trying.

[Lund]

from what I can see in those images , it is likely those fish will bite if the presentation is to their liking , i see clouds of bait and clouds of crappie in several images , mind you this , they may be inactive until the sun settles or before it gets high ,one thing for certain you are on a herd , don't give up on them .
put your jig right at their level and or amongst them and VERY slowly rise it away from the crowd , they might be biting really light and not very noticeable if they have that much food to choose from .

Do you just keep after them until they bite? or do you find others that might bite and then come back?