by JOHN N. FELSHER

On almost any lake, anglers find a multitude of boat docks, fishing piers and other manmade structures jutting out from shorelines to provide excellent places for bass to hunt.

As the weather warms, bass move up under docks to take advantage of the cool, shady waters beneath them. With multiple pilings, bracing and other structure, docks give bass outstanding cover where they can ambush prey. In addition, the overhead structure protects bass from ospreys, pelicans and other birds looking to swoop down and snatch a fishy meal.

To attract bass, bluegill and crappie, many dock owners create additional cover by building brush piles within casting range of their docks. Any dock with rod holders attached to the rails and lights positioned to shine over the water probably faces a good brush pile or two and could make a great fishing spot. In addition, dock owners may toss leftover bait or food scraps into the water. Minnows and panfish gather to feast upon the scraps; bass gather to feast upon the baitfish.

“The best docks are usually the oldest because they have more cover and fish are more accustomed to using them,” said Alton Jones, the 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion from Waco, Texas. “I like old, crusty wooden docks with large diameter pilings the best. I also look for secondary structure, like brush piles. I also like docks near pathways that bass use, like creek channels or little ditches. I look for some type of bottom structure that funnels fish into a particular spot, like a creek channel or little ditch that swings in close to a dock or even under it.”

Since docks regularly attract bluegill schools, crankbaits make good choices to throw there. Always run the baits directly into the dock pilings. The sound and vibration may attract some attention from a big bass lurking in the canopied lair. After hitting a piling, pause for a moment, allowing the crankbait to hover or slowly rise in the water as if a fish stunned itself. Few bass can resist gulping a stunned, crippled or disoriented shad or bluegill.

When banging baits into dock pilings, some anglers rig two rods, each with an identical crankbait. By slightly twisting the eyehole with needle-nosed pliers, they can “tune” the baits to run either right or left. As they approach a dock with good pilings, they use one crankbait to smack into pilings from one side and then switch rods to hit the other side. Sometimes, bass may lurk on one side or prefer either the front pilings or back pilings for whatever reason.

Two anglers fish docks in a canal off one of the lakes in the Harris Chain near Tavares, Fla.
Mike Wurm, a professional bass angler from Hot Springs, Ark., and Jonathan Newton, a professional bass angler from Rogersville, Ala., fish near a dock on Reelfoot Lake, Tenn.

While Steven Felsher watches, Shaw Grigsby, a professional bass angler from Gainesville, Fla., tries to skip a lure under a dock to fish a bass bed on the Withlacoochee River near Dunnellon, Fla.

“I’ve done well around docks Brush piles out in front of docks with crankbaits,” said David Fritts, also make great bass holding struca former Bassmaster Classic cham-tures. Position the boat to be able to pion from Lexington, N.C. “Usually, make long casts, especially off the all it takes is a slight touch on a front of docks, and cover the entire pole to knock on a bass’s front door. dock. Don’t ever forget about the Debra Hengst lands a bass that struck a Strike King Pure Poison swimming jig. Since docks regularly attract bluegill schools, crankbaits make good choices to throw there.

Always run the baits directly into the dock pilings. The sound and vibration may attract some attention from a big bass lurking in the canopied lair. Ones in back that hold the boats in position. People hang ropes on them and they start to grow up with grass. That’s good cover for bass.” Soft plastic baits also work extremely well around docks, especially when lethargic or non-aggressive bass don’t want to chase down fast-moving baits. At times, anglers almost need to hit bass on the head to make them bite. Position the boat fairly close to the end of the dock and flip a Texas-rigged worm, tube, jig or creature bait next to a piling. Let it flutter to the bottom and jig it up and down a couple times before hitting the next piling.

If that doesn’t work, skip a tube under the dock with a sidearm cast and work it out toward the deep water. Many docks sit on the edge of deep water. Often, bass hover just over the drop-off lip. Drag a bait over the edge.

Don’t forget boats tied to docks. Sometimes, moored boats sit unused for long periods. Algae may grow on the hulls, trim tabs and lower units. That growth feeds minnows and other morsels that attract larger fish. Run spinnerbaits or crankbaits as close to the lower units or even under the hulls if possible.

Early in the morning and at dusk, topwaters, spinnerbaits or buzzbaits often work well around dock pilings. Frequently, bass suspend under piers and rise to strike a bait worked around the outside posts or between structures.

In places, bass may hang around docks all year long. Generally, docks attract the most fish from the late spawn through early fall and make excellent places to toss baits in the post spawn. In the summer, shady docks on shallow lakes often provide the relief from a brutal sun, so fish congregate under them.

John N. Felsher is a professional freelance writer and photographer with more than 1,400 articles in more than 100 magazines to his credit. He’s also the National Fishing Writer for Examiner.com and arranges fishing and hunting trips to Lake El Salto, Lake Mateos and other places in Mexico. If you want to fish or hunt in Mexico, contact him through his web-site at www.JohnNFelsher.com.