On 3/14/2022 at 7:54 AM, GANGGREEN said:

I've spent most of my adult life up north fishing permanent docks that have wood (or metal) structures that are anchored to the lake floor.  We've recently moved to South Carolina and the land owner (typically Duke Energy) prohibits anything but a floating dock.  The docks are anchored to the bank by cables and anchored in deep water by cables, but otherwise they're wooden or aluminum structures built onto plastic floats.   They create shade for sure and on my home lake, there's very little shade to be had, but they create next to no structure (other than the cables which are definitely a bigger PIA than a benefit).  

 

I know that many/most of the locals fish the docks a lot and in my limited time on the lake, I've definitely caught some fish on docks, but in my experience, they just don't relate as tightly to these docks as the ones up north (or elsewhere) that have structure associated with them.   Admittedly, I've never fished these lakes in the summertime and I have to believe that the shade the docks create become a huge attraction then, but what are people's thoughts about fishing the floating docks from fall through spring (when I'm down here on the lake)?

 

(my apologies to the OP, I had intended to post this as a stand alone thread, not sure why/how it was posted here, but I'm sure it was because of my own stupidity).

I was wondering why I kept getting stuck on all those cables in hartwell! 
 

on my home lakes/rivers, there are both floating docks and wooden post docks galore . My favorite thing for the floating docks is a Texas rig believe it or not. Zoom U tail with a 1/16 oz or 1/8 oz sinker. Throw it ONTO the dock. Then slowly drag it into the water and watch your coils of mono floating on the surface. When it stops abruptly, reel in your fish! 
 

for the wooden docks, I’ll throw about anything 

The floating docks around here have never done jack for me lol 

3 hours ago, NoShoes said:

The floating docks around here have never done jack for me lol 

 

My suspicion is that they'll be much better in the heat of the summer, because there's almost no cover on this lake and they'll need to get out of the heat and direct sun, but so far, my experience hasn't been much better than yours.   Don't get me wrong, I've caught some fish off of the docks, but my suspicion is that I would have caught at least as many if I never cast to a dock so far.

2 hours ago, GANGGREEN said:

 

My suspicion is that they'll be much better in the heat of the summer, because there's almost no cover on this lake and they'll need to get out of the heat and direct sun, but so far, my experience hasn't been much better than yours.   Don't get me wrong, I've caught some fish off of the docks, but my suspicion is that I would have caught at least as many if I never cast to a dock so far.

Last year I got “passable”, and I do use that term loosely, and skipping a bait. 
 

First dock I came on I skipped under and nailed a 3 lber. Thought I was on to something and fished docks rest of the morning. Not one other bite lol. 
 

That was last July. 

 

My daughter lives on a 700 acre private lake in Milton Ga.  The lake has very limited pressure, with no motors allowed, and only a hand full of kayaks from owners.  They have  one of the few docks on the entire lake.  I have fished it summer, fall, winter, and spring and have caught bass all year long.  You do have to change up techniques during different months.  I usually use plastics all year, but painfully slow during colder months.  It is not NY, but it does get cold in north Georgia.   I also am not fishing under the dock, but fishing from the dock.

Docks are always good here. Better in warm/hot weather after 10 a.m though.

Too cold for bass to be shallow?

Too cold for bass to hit topwater?

 

It's bass fishing and there are always exceptions