Throw a green pumpkin jig or a skipping jig first. Around Lake Austin docks after rain, start with a 3/8 oz jig or a green pumpkin soft jerkbait and work the shady back corners, dock posts, and cable gaps. Use a skip, let it fall, then 2-3 short hops retrieve. The falling pressure and cloud cover can help the bite, but the SE wind with gusts near 20 mph means fish will often tuck tighter to dock shade and the most protected side.
First move
- Bait: jig in green pumpkin / brown or a weightless soft jerkbait
- Target: the darkest shade, especially inside corners and the first dock line off deeper water
- Cadence: skip it in, pause 2–4 seconds, then crawl it back with small pops
Why it should work
- Late spring bass are still using docks as shade and ambush cover.
- After rain, bass often slide a little tighter to cover, especially when the wind and clouds make the bank more comfortable.
- If the water got a little stained, a jig gives you the best mix of profile + bottom contact.
Videos to look at
- How to Catch Bass Around Docks with Wacky Rigs
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- In-Depth Look | How To Skip Docks
- Catch 10x MORE Fish Using A JIG
- How to Catch Bass Fishing Docks - Practice Casting
Products and lures to look at
- Blackwake Spinnerbait — good if the water is stained and you want to cover water
- Davy Jones’ Buzz — only if they’re very shallow and active in the low-light window
- Bass Mafia Custom Balsa Squarebill Crankbait — bump dock posts if bass are reacting
- 4.75” Twitch Jerkbait — good for skipping under docks and letting it glide on slack line
- FONMANG 322-Piece Fishing Lures Kit — decent starter bundle for bass dock tactics
- 4.75” Twitch Jerkbait
- Blackwake Spinnerbait
- Bass Mafia Custom Balsa Squarebill Crankbait
Backup plan
If the jig gets no bites in 10–15 dock targets, switch to a white/chartreuse spinnerbait and slow-roll the outside edges, then return to skips on the most shaded docks.
Next cast: skip a green pumpkin jig to the darkest back corner of the nearest dock and let it sit before the first hop.
