Lure recommendations for dock fishing

Beukeboom · 08-09-12, 03:23 PM

Due to not having a boat, I'm limited to fishing from public piers and docks at public boat landings. I'm arguably the world's worst fisherman but thought I'd request recommendations for the best lures to use from those structures.

WaffleJaw · 08-09-12, 03:48 PM

1/4-3/8oz jig (depending on depth) giving it a slow ROF (rate of fall)
Shaky heads
Spinnerbaits/Swim jig
Buzzbaits........These are my top go-to for dock fishing.

Highhawk1948 · 08-09-12, 06:06 PM

Drop shot with 1/8 oz. sinker, light line. Look at some of Aaron Martins Youtube stuff.

Tavery5 · 08-09-12, 07:27 PM

I would let the structure and cover around these docks/piers help determine which baits I would use. I can't think of any bait that I own that would be impossible to use from a dock or pier.

A good bait to start out with in allot of pressured areas is a Senko. Wacky rig it, Texas rig it, weighted, weightless any way you want. There is a good chance that if you can't get bit with a Senko it is going to be a long day.

bamabassman · 08-09-12, 07:51 PM

sorry buddy...but I AM THE WORST FISHERMAN....KING OF THE DINKS!!! HAHAHA!!!

evryone ahs given oyu some sound advise pal. give them all a chance and report how it worked for oyu.

keithdog · 08-09-12, 11:04 PM

My favorite lure choice for most piers is a jig. My second favorite lure would be a spinnerbait. Sizes would depend on the dock, depth and time of year. I also like a t rigged soft plastic, such as a lizard or a worm. Sometimes weightless, sometimes weighted depending on the waters depth. And if the pier is surrounded by vegitation like lilly pads or grass, I'll be chucking a frog in there too!

joedog · 08-10-12, 05:38 AM

I probably don't fish as much as I should but when I do, it's from shore.
I also spent many, many years boat fishing.
Here's my take on things.
Advantage of boating:
1) can carry a bunch of pre-rigged rods
2) can move easily to different locations
3) can fish different angles at same structure
4) electronics are handy...but only if you really know how to use them
5) you can use a HydroWave

Agvantage of shorebusting
1) inexpensive to actually go fishing (gas to get to and from water plus motoring around lake will run you like 30-50 dollars an outting)
2) you have a tendency to really know the waters you fish from the bottom up. You learn where hidden structure, weed growth, bottom composition and where and when it changes
3) you meet new people on a regular bases, you can't hide from them but you can ask questions. Start with, on thier way in with, "How the fish treat you today?' good? "What you throwing plastics?" you will be amazed how much they will tell you cause they feel you can't get to thier spot so what the heck.
4) boaters spend over 80% of thier time in a boat tossing lures AT THE SHORE

Finally, you can fish any lure or setup from shore that can be fished from a boat,.
Get some waders, opens up alot of area you can't fish as well from pier. Opens up a huge opportunity to expand areas that were unreachable to you

Lures to start Worms. wacky or texas rigged...wieghtless works well if alot of water vegatation other wise experiment.
Jigs....as said and I agree 1/4 to 3/8 oz. cause you can swim them as well as hop bounce, drag traditionally. I convince myself that the jig is used early to help you learn the bottom structure...this forces you to fish slow and methodical and will drive the fish to bite alot of times.
Cranks...lippless are easiest from shore cause you can rip them through the vegitation and vary fishing depth and retrieval speed easily

topwater...Frogs, hollow bodies and some form of a 'Ribbit' plastic type. If the vegitation allows poppers and walk baits are highly productive.

Lastly there is no almighty secret lure that only works in boat or on shore.
They all work IN WATER. Boat or not, your fishing in the water

Remember, your there to have fun and enjoy nature, so do Exactly that!
HAVE FUN!

Frequent here and after your outings run it by the forum, they will help you tweak and adjust presentations according to that days challenges.

Marty · 08-10-12, 07:51 PM

Quote:

I would let the structure and cover around these docks/piers help determine which baits I would use. I can't think of any bait that I own that would be impossible to use from a dock or pier.

Agree 100%.

Hoosier · 08-12-12, 12:22 AM

I own a boat and still love to hit the banks. I fish banks on a regular basis. I feel like my best success is to get some Strike King/Yamamoto senkos wacky rigged no weight and let em fly. I like to take quite a few colors. My best tip would be to get a plano (or whatever brand you have) 3700 large box fill it up with senkos and spend a good day fishing them i think that you will be amazed at how well they work.No need for a huge box to lug around throw some weights and beads and mix up the way you rig them. Give it a shot you wont be let down. One of the BF members here said that 80 or so % of fish are in 8-12 feet of water. Thats right in your wheelhouse.
BTW- Strike King Senkos are 1/2 the yamo price and work just as well
Welcome to the site.

08-09-12, 03:23 PM	#1
Beukeboom BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Florida Big Bend region Posts: 1	Lure recommendations for dock fishing Due to not having a boat, I'm limited to fishing from public piers and docks at public boat landings. I'm arguably the world's worst fisherman but thought I'd request recommendations for the best lures to use from those structures.

08-09-12, 03:48 PM	#2
WaffleJaw BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Dallas,TX (DFW) Posts: 2,212	1/4-3/8oz jig (depending on depth) giving it a slow ROF (rate of fall) Shaky heads Spinnerbaits/Swim jig Buzzbaits........These are my top go-to for dock fishing. __________________ [nelsoncustomrods.com]

08-09-12, 07:27 PM	#4
Tavery5 BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 2,427	I would let the structure and cover around these docks/piers help determine which baits I would use. I can't think of any bait that I own that would be impossible to use from a dock or pier. A good bait to start out with in allot of pressured areas is a Senko. Wacky rig it, Texas rig it, weighted, weightless any way you want. There is a good chance that if you can't get bit with a Senko it is going to be a long day. __________________ They call me Ishmael

08-09-12, 07:51 PM	#5
bamabassman BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: cedar bluff, alabama Posts: 15,292	sorry buddy...but I AM THE WORST FISHERMAN....KING OF THE DINKS!!! HAHAHA!!! evryone ahs given oyu some sound advise pal. give them all a chance and report how it worked for oyu. __________________ so many lures, so little time.

08-09-12, 11:04 PM	#6
keithdog BassFishin.Com Premier Elite Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: IN Posts: 8,308	My favorite lure choice for most piers is a jig. My second favorite lure would be a spinnerbait. Sizes would depend on the dock, depth and time of year. I also like a t rigged soft plastic, such as a lizard or a worm. Sometimes weightless, sometimes weighted depending on the waters depth. And if the pier is surrounded by vegitation like lilly pads or grass, I'll be chucking a frog in there too! __________________ Just one more cast, and then some!

08-09-12, 06:06 PM	#3
Highhawk1948 BassFishin.Com Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Lake Panasoffkee, Florida Posts: 86	Drop shot with 1/8 oz. sinker, light line. Look at some of Aaron Martins Youtube stuff.

08-10-12, 05:38 AM	#7
joedog BassFishin.Com Super Veteran Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: JANESVILLE,WI. 53545 Posts: 3,415	I probably don't fish as much as I should but when I do, it's from shore. I also spent many, many years boat fishing. Here's my take on things. Advantage of boating: 1) can carry a bunch of pre-rigged rods 2) can move easily to different locations 3) can fish different angles at same structure 4) electronics are handy...but only if you really know how to use them 5) you can use a HydroWave Agvantage of shorebusting 1) inexpensive to actually go fishing (gas to get to and from water plus motoring around lake will run you like 30-50 dollars an outting) 2) you have a tendency to really know the waters you fish from the bottom up. You learn where hidden structure, weed growth, bottom composition and where and when it changes 3) you meet new people on a regular bases, you can't hide from them but you can ask questions. Start with, on thier way in with, "How the fish treat you today?' good? "What you throwing plastics?" you will be amazed how much they will tell you cause they feel you can't get to thier spot so what the heck. 4) boaters spend over 80% of thier time in a boat tossing lures AT THE SHORE Finally, you can fish any lure or setup from shore that can be fished from a boat,. Get some waders, opens up alot of area you can't fish as well from pier. Opens up a huge opportunity to expand areas that were unreachable to you Lures to start Worms. wacky or texas rigged...wieghtless works well if alot of water vegatation other wise experiment. Jigs....as said and I agree 1/4 to 3/8 oz. cause you can swim them as well as hop bounce, drag traditionally. I convince myself that the jig is used early to help you learn the bottom structure...this forces you to fish slow and methodical and will drive the fish to bite alot of times. Cranks...lippless are easiest from shore cause you can rip them through the vegitation and vary fishing depth and retrieval speed easily topwater...Frogs, hollow bodies and some form of a 'Ribbit' plastic type. If the vegitation allows poppers and walk baits are highly productive. Lastly there is no almighty secret lure that only works in boat or on shore. They all work IN WATER. Boat or not, your fishing in the water Remember, your there to have fun and enjoy nature, so do Exactly that! HAVE FUN! Frequent here and after your outings run it by the forum, they will help you tweak and adjust presentations according to that days challenges. __________________ "Fishing isn't life or death... it's more important than that."

08-12-12, 12:22 AM	#9
Hoosier BassFishin.Com Active Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vincennes, Indiana Posts: 128	I own a boat and still love to hit the banks. I fish banks on a regular basis. I feel like my best success is to get some Strike King/Yamamoto senkos wacky rigged no weight and let em fly. I like to take quite a few colors. My best tip would be to get a plano (or whatever brand you have) 3700 large box fill it up with senkos and spend a good day fishing them i think that you will be amazed at how well they work.No need for a huge box to lug around throw some weights and beads and mix up the way you rig them. Give it a shot you wont be let down. One of the BF members here said that 80 or so % of fish are in 8-12 feet of water. Thats right in your wheelhouse. BTW- Strike King Senkos are 1/2 the yamo price and work just as well Welcome to the site.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)