Throw a 3/8 oz spinnerbait first, then a skipable jig if the fish won’t chase. After rain, bass around docks often slide tight to the shadier posts, cable ends, and the darkest back corners. With steady pressure and overcast/stormy conditions, they’ll usually eat a moving bait better than a dead-sticked one.
First move
- Bait: Spinnerbait in white/chartreuse or bluegill colors
- Target zone: outside dock corners, shade edges, and the first post line on the windy side
- Retrieve: slow-roll it so it ticks cover, then pause briefly when it hits a post
- If they miss it: follow with a 1/4–3/8 oz compact jig skipped under the dock and hopped twice
Why it should work
- Rain + cloud cover pushes bass shallower and makes docks more usable cover
- A Colorado/willow spinnerbait gives flash and vibration when the water is a little off-color
- A jig is the better backup when fish are tucked up and won’t move far
Videos to look at
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- How to Catch Bass Around Docks with Wacky Rigs
- In-Depth Look | How To Skip Docks
- How to Catch Bass Fishing Docks - Practice Casting
- Chatterbait Fishing Lure Tips and How They Work Underwater
Products and lures to look at
- Blackwake Spinnerbait — great first throw for stained water and docks
- Davy Jones’ Buzz — for calm low-light dock edges
- 4.75” Twitch Jerkbait — good for skipping and darting under docks
- Bass Mafia Custom Balsa Squarebill Crankbait — for banging dock corners and posts
- Bass Mafia Money Bag — if you want a mixed bass kit
- FONMANG 322-Piece Fishing Lures Kit — budget all-around bass kit
Adjust if
- Water is muddy: go darker, slower, and use more vibration
- Water is clear: downsize to a more natural green pumpkin or shad pattern
- Fish ignore moving baits: switch to a skip jig and target the deepest shade
Backup plan
Work every dock with two casts: one to the outer edge, one skipped deep. If a dock doesn’t produce in 30 seconds, move on.
