When fishing a lake with floating docks, how do you approach them? Are you letting a jig or soft plastic sink to the bottom under the docks? Are you running moving baits just below the styrofoam? Do you even fish the lake side of the end of the dock if it doesn't have brush off the end? Are most of your fish coming between the shoreline and back of the dock? Let's hear tactics that have produced more than just a random fish or 2.

i go reaction baits (Spinnerbaits, Crankbaits, LiplessCranks, Jerkbaits) and if not actions, then i Finesse the area.

that's a secret

Cast net.

Well probably not what your asking, but I fish'em with barking dogs at times,
dock owner yelling "This is a Private Dock, NO FISHING ALLOWED", entire dock full of Mud Martins or Swallows. LoL

I approach docks in 3 different ways: corners, perimeter, and underneath.

You'll be able to catch fish on one of those approaches throughout the year. Where to throw all depends on the time of year.

Corners: in the Summer and Winter, bass like to put they're backs up against the corners along the dock so they can ambush baitfish or bluegill that swim by. I usually look for deeper dock with corners during the Summer and Winter. They don't want to move much, so make accurate casts!

Perimeter: in the Spring, Summer and Fall, I'll throw along the perimeters of the dock, hitting each side. Bass are active these times of year and they'll chase your bait along the perimeter of the dock. Be sure to get your bait as close to the dock as possible. The deeper the dock, the further back I cast; if the dock is shallow I'll only pitch or cast to the first few posts or edges. Sometimes the bass are on the outside posts, sometimes they're in the middle, sometimes they have their back up against the bank

Underneath docks: I pitch underneath docks during the Summer because it's shaded and cooler under there. I also pitch under docks during the Winter because bass typically like a lot of cover that time of year.

As far as baits go I use 5 different baits:

Yamamoto Senko 6"

1. During the Spring, I love to throw a senko around docks. It's just a great bait to throw that time of year and I've caught some hawgs on it. Everyone knows that the Yamamoto senko has the best action. Pay the extra and get a few packs, you'll end up catching more fish!

Revenge Swim Jig

2. My favorite bait to throw in April and May is a bluegill colored swim jig. Bluegill love to spawn around dock pilings, so it only makes sense to throw a bluegill swim jig around docks. In the Fall, I throw a shad colored swim jig. This is the best swim jig on the market if you ask me, and it's made in the USA!

6th Sense Crush 50X

3. Another great bait during the Spring and Fall around docks is a squarebill. I tune a Crush 50X to the right or left and bang it off docks, creating a reaction bite. These squarebills are super easy to tune and have a cool custom paint job.

Missile Baits Warlock Head

4. During the Spring, bass will spawn around docks. One of the most effective techniques to catch those fish is a shakey head. I thread a trickworm or a baby brush hog on there and get to work. When you thread a craw or creature bait on the back of this shakey head, it presents a defensive crawfish position because this shakey head stands up so well.

Roboworm Alive Shad

5. During the Summer and Fall, baitfish will congregate around docks and bass will suspend. Probably the most effective technique for this situation is a drop shot. You won't believe how effective this technique is around docks! I use the Roboworm Alive Shad becuase it mimics a little shad really well and they have a good action.

These are the techniques that I use around docks. I hope this helps you out!

good job bigbass94!! if I had anything to add, I would. but I'm no good at fishing docks, so I'm going to take this information and give it a shot.

Not that it really matters but I think this statement may be false. I'm almost positive the last 6th sense stuff I picked up said made in China on the box. Not trying to take anything away from them, they are great baits and I buy a bunch of em. I just don't think they are made in the USA.

This is a really good question. To add on, Is there any method to picking the docks to throw baits? for example, If you are on a lake without much cover, and it is mostly boat docks as the cover (visual anyway), is there something that makes ones dock or set of docks better than another? Do you mainly fish docks in a creek or cove vs the docks out on the main lake? I am not a huge fan of fishing docks, but a couple times a year we visit my in-laws at Grand Lake OK and there are tons and tons of docks, so trying to get better at fishing them.

I like docks with a good depth change nearby, if it has brush under/around it that is a bonus. Secluded docks always get a look as well.

Senkos

All your methods listed could work at any given time I would think. Docks around points have worked well for me especially one that sticks out just a bit farther than the others. As far as bait I try and assess the activity level and try to decide if I need a moving bait or something much slower. In the morning and evening I will throw all over the dock. When the sun gets high I target shady areas and skip under the dock more. I keep a bladed jig on deck for overhangs and significant cover in between docks. They are not all under the docks.

As quite as possible, and I won't fish the ones with hot chicks laying out on them.

I like to swim a job right under the floats. But I fish them from the top all the way to the bottom until I find out where the fish are holding then I duplicate that at all the other docks

Slowly, most people will be looking at the next dock before they fish the one in front of them.