Anybody have any tips on fishing for bass from a dock? I am a boatless angler who is stuck with fishing for sunnies unless i go for a boat launch which gets expensive after 2 trips. Any help would be appreciated!!

Many boatless anglers do well with bass, although most fish from the banks of ponds or lakes as opposed to docks. My personal best is from the shore of a small pond.

 

I would start by using faster-moving search baits to see if there are active fish near the dock. I'm talking lures like topwaters, crankbaits and spinnerbaits. After that, switch to slower baits like jigs and soft plastics and work each area more thoroughly. You should learn after a while if those docks are worth your while. I'd also try and find other waters that can be fished from shore.

 

Good luck.

It depends on the dock or how big the dock is and what it has to offer if it is worth fishing at all. Some docks are near boat ramps which could mean that there might be a depression at the boat launch where boats have dug the bottom and bass hang out. Other docks might come out far enough or near enough to a drop off or other change in depth that's worth fishing. Sometimes the dock itself is worth fishing. Bass like corners, pilings, overhead cover, hard to reach areas, edges, transitions,  It just depends.

You might try fishing a jig vertically next to a dock piling. 

You fish a dock like you are in a boat. No difference other than you don' move unless you walk around and you are limited to the area you are fishing.

 

Here are some tips:

1.  Can you see or does anyone know of any brushpiles, rocks, drop-offs, grass, wood, etc. by or within casting distance of the dock? it is worth your time to use a tungsten weight and cast all around the dock to try to find any structure you can fish.

2.  What is the bottom?  Hard, grass, slop? This will determine the validity of throwing bottom plastics. You can figure this out when you throw the tungsten weight.

3.  Try to find a drop-off. The bass will hang out along the drop-off and also use it as a "road" to follow as they move around.

4.  Can you fish from the bank adjacent to the dock? If so, skip your plastic under the dock.

5.  Be as quiet as you can. Bass will hear you walking on the dock and you may spoke them. But it depends on how sturdy the dock is constructed.

6.  Is the dock low or high to the water? Low to the water docks are better than high docks.

7.  Throw anything you want. Start with a buzzbait or other topwater thrown in a "fan" pattern left to right and then back right to left. Do this at least five or six times, if not more.

8.  Then throw any other baits you want until you find out the pattern of the day. Any bait can work so don't limit your self to only a few presentations. And try a lot of colors, too. Just be sure to check out the water clarity. Throw your search baits and always have a Senko rigged to follow up if the bass misses your topwater.

9.  Fish any grass, pads, wood, pilings, moored boats or rafts, etc. where the dock extends out from the bank. Hit the far back corner, even if you have to cast backwards or as stated above, drop the bait straight down.

10. Bring your needle nose pliers, scent, cell phone for pics, water and anything else you want to tote along. Keep majority of baits, snacks, drinks and food in the car.

 

Act as if you are on a boat. Fish all over the place, starting at sunrise and throughout the day until sunset.

 

Have fun and take all the money you will be saving from your monthly loan payment, gas, oil, insurance, licensing, cleaning, housing, repairs, winterizing, electronics, power poles, props, electricity to recharge the batteries, replacing the batteries and more to Bass Pro Shops or Cabela's and buy a bunch of tackle!!!

I feel your pain. I used to be a big dock angler and I would do as the others have said. Start fast and slow down. Look for likely bass hangouts etc. My advice would be to get a kayak or a float tube. You can pick up a pretty good float tube for around $100-$200 and now you've just expanded your area! Even with the expanded area, the same tactics hold true. Good luck!

hit the banks man i do very good from them... and it good excerise walking thru the woods and around the lake instead of just sitting on the dock hoping the fish swim by... find cover alond the banks you'll do better than you think..