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Frustrating lighted dock at night
#11822640
09/11/16 02:20 PM
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Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 110
Jigflippa
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 110 |
Last night I stumbled across a dock with an underwater green light. I could see dozens of bass in there chasing very small shad. Some were huge. We only caught two. One on a hair jig, the other on a small spoon. We tried everything in the book from tiny drop shot minnows to a 1" grub. They would look at it but not bite. Any suggestions? Should we throw crappie lures? We also threw larger worms and such
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11822720
09/11/16 02:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,417
BigLeslie
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 6,417 |
Fish around lights can have a short window when they go off, and sometimes it's only at dusk or dawn, sometimes it's all night. I haven't found any rhyme or reason but they seem more cooperative when it's windy, when it's cooler, when it's not a full moon. You used the correct baits, I like to add a crankbait (char or sexy shad), junebug finesse worms on my dropshot, big spoon, swimbait, flukes.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11822898
09/11/16 05:26 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,347
Bobby Milam
TFF Team Angler
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TFF Team Angler
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,347 |
The light is an attractant but generally, the feeding bass aren't the ones in the light. Try fishing the edges of the light in the dark areas. They like to sit up there and ambush. Sometimes, the lights just don't produce even though you see the fish. I've put it right in front of their noses before and they won't take it. Dropshot will work if anything is going to.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11822924
09/11/16 05:50 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,711
Lou r Pitcher
Extreme Angler
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Extreme Angler
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,711 |
Bass were mesmerized by all the light attracted baitfish and willing to have fun chasing a few, but likely most had already had their fill.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11822989
09/11/16 06:31 PM
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,623
361V
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,623 |
Small white shallow diving crankbait(bomber is great) worked slowly through the light has always been great for me. Never get on top of the fish/light. Stay well off in darkness. Cast to the other side of the light and crank it down till it reaches its depth(2-3') then work it slowly across the light in a stop and go fashion. Sometimes they want it so slow I'm actually almost working it like a worm. They hammer it, often while it's not even moving. Works well through the typical white lights.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11823027
09/11/16 07:00 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,162
9094
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,162 |
Something very fast lkke a speed reeled spinnerbait. It gets a reaction bite.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11823819
09/12/16 01:33 AM
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Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 862
Rog
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 862 |
Try a chatter bait. Run it through fairly fast first cast and I garantee one first cast if they are stacked on it. My experience is that first catch will spook the others and they get more spooked with repeated casting right in or near the light so cast way past. After the first one if they are not biting but still there. Pump the chatterbait bait off the bottom on the edges. This is where the big fish will be. Like I said they seem to turn off after a couple are caught so let it rest and come back if they eave the light. Btw I have seen giants run up and grab and spit the bait numerous times on the same night on repeated cast and tried jigs worms etc with no luck as well. Frustrating!! Makes me wonder how many times I think I bumped a stump and it was a fish during the day........
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11823934
09/12/16 03:02 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 811
bbassfishes
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 811 |
Try yo-yoing a lipless crank bait.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11823937
09/12/16 03:09 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 591
teambassmanager
Pro Angler
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Pro Angler
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 591 |
I have had luck dead sticking in the docks believe it or not <-- caught some giants like this
Bass Manager Staff 🎣 Live Action 24/7 🎥 ⬇️⬇️ SIGN UP FREE ⬇️⬇️ "ᴀ sᴏᴄɪᴀʟ ɴᴇᴛᴡᴏʀᴋ ғᴏʀ ᴀᴠɪᴅ ʙᴀss ғɪsʜᴇʀᴍᴇɴ" www.bassmanager.com
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11824066
09/12/16 10:05 AM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 163
hairball
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 163 |
I've really learned a lot about fishing those things over the last year from someone who was able to understand the process better than I initially did. Very good advice has been given but I would add the following:
As noted, stay as far away as possible and even more importantly be very quiet. That was my biggest mistake. Turn the electronics off, don't slam the deck lids. Be fanatical about being quiet.
Only 2 baits have consistently produced bites, a big worm fished incredibly slow and a very small crankbait.
There are times of the night where they aren't go it to bite no matter what you do.
Some docks, due to their relationship with structure, consistently hold more fish than others do.
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11824215
09/12/16 12:55 PM
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,671
Slide_R
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 5,671 |
Inline spinner like a Mepps, matches the bait profile and gives off good vibration in the water.
Robert Oleson aka Slide_R
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11824500
09/12/16 03:47 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,300
JD/76708
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 6,300 |
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11824914
09/12/16 07:14 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559
Jarrett Latta
TFF Guru
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TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,559 |
Underspin with super fluke jr
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Jigflippa]
#11824931
09/12/16 07:22 PM
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,532
Bruce's
TFF Celebrity
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TFF Celebrity
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,532 |
Bruce's Sprinkler Repair 817-798-7246 52 years experience State Licensed Irrigation LI0017483
Fishing Texas lakes one at a time
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Re: Frustrating lighted dock at night
[Re: Bruce's]
#11824950
09/12/16 07:32 PM
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,200
Kay Dyson
HOT Mess!!!
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HOT Mess!!!
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 16,200 |
Swim baits, and a wacky worm is my go to..
Many of the guys that own grn lights around me, all have perch traps, and they brag a lot about the big fish they catch. Then the phone pictures come out, sur-nuf they catch'm...
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