Dock shooting

Hey everyone been really enjoying shooting docks and pontoons recently with some decent success. I see a lot of new post bringing up the hot temps causing the fish to go deeper. I figured due to shade they would still be likely to hold up under one. Just curious from some more experienced fisherman who dock shoot if it’s a method used all year? Thanks for any info be blessed


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In the summer they will hold on docks closer to deeper water. Early morning has been better for me in the heat of summer

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

In the summer they will hold on docks closer to deeper water. Early morning has been better for me in the heat of summer

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Thanks Jack for the tip. Plan to be on the water 4:30 am no later than 5 in order to fish first light next trip out.


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I have found before the sun comes up they relate to the structure of the dock. A lot of times they will hold on the outermost pillings. Look for docks with lights over the water. Check in front of and under those for brush or structure placed to hold fish. Those docks would my early morning choice. As the sun gets overhead the fish will move under the docks into the deepest shade. I love to find do ks and pontoons with spider webs under them. Those can be honey holes. Nobody has been fishing them.

we typically target docks here when the sun gets highest, the dark shade groups them in tight , not many fish out of the shade in the heat of the day when you are dock ketchn .
the largest crappie are often close to the bottom in these scenario's , lots of regular size crappie up in the column sometimes right under the bluegill and such .
we also see the dock bite go sideways as the water gets really warm , some places the fish move out to deeper haunts .
if you know the lake well it helps , some dock's have deep water that will hold them all year long . :highfive

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

we typically target docks here when the sun gets highest, the dark shade groups them in tight , not many fish out of the shade in the heat of the day when you are dock ketchn .
the largest crappie are often close to the bottom in these scenario's , lots of regular size crappie up in the column sometimes right under the bluegill and such .
we also see the dock bite go sideways as the water gets really warm , some places the fish move out to deeper haunts .
if you know the lake well it helps , some dock's have deep water that will hold them all year long . :highfive

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Thanks Ketchn! I look forward to possibly being on your level of Ketchn success one day lol thanks for all your free advice on here it has helped improve my time out on the water tremendously


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You need to find docks or pontoons that are close to the river channel banks, then seek out the darkest part of the dock, especially those that are 15-30 foot deep. Are u using colored line? If not you need to invest in some, that the best thing since sliced bread for dock shooting. Learn to watch your line, most all bites you will not feel, you will only see your line twitch, or jump, then set the hook. Make sure you are using a 1/24 or 1/32 oz jig head.

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Originally Posted by Danny Lang

You need to find docks or pontoons that are close to the river channel banks, then seek out the darkest part of the dock, especially those that are 15-30 foot deep. Are u using colored line? If not you need to invest in some, that the best thing since sliced bread for dock shooting. Learn to watch your line, most all bites you will not feel, you will only see your line twitch, or jump, then set the hook. Make sure you are using a 1/24 or 1/32 oz jig head.

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Thanks for the reply! Yes I use vicious hi vis line in 4lb what brand do you like? With that said I still find it hard to detect a bite in time to set the hook unless they just hammer it. Yes I like to use smaller jig heads been having a lot of success on a 1/48 oz throwing Bobby garland itty bitty swim r at 1.25in. After investing in a FF I found that most of the docks I’ve been shooting are at a depth of 10-12 feet but yes they are close to channels. Thanks for all the helpful advice I have really been enjoying learning and bettering my shot. (I am addicted lol)


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It can certainly be addictive