After rain, docks become little bass hotels 🏨🎣 — especially if runoff dirties the water, pushes bait to the back pockets, and gives bass a shady edge to hide under. If I had to start with one bait, I’d throw a jig first, then follow with a chatterbait or soft plastic if the fish want a different look.
What to throw first
- Jig — Best first choice when bass are tucked tight to dock posts, corners, and shade lines. A compact jig skips well and imitates a bluegill or crawfish. Work it slowly after it lands: short hops, pause, then let it sit near posts.
- Chatterbait / bladed jig — Great if the rain stained the water a bit and you need vibration. It shines around the outer edges of docks and shade lines where bass are willing to chase.
- Skip bait under docks — If the sun is up or the dock has deep shade, skip a soft plastic or small jig way back. Bass often sit on the inside dock posts or where shade meets deeper water.
- Frog — Use this if docks are surrounded by thick grass, laydowns, or matted cover near the shoreline. It’s more of a “special conditions” bait than my first pick after rain.
How to fish them
- Start on the shady side and the back of the dock first if the water is muddy or the rain pushed bait shallow.
- Focus on posts, walkways, pontoon corners, and rope lines — bass love hard edges.
- If the water is really dirty, go darker colors (black/blue, junebug, green pumpkin with contrast).
- If it’s only lightly stained, natural colors still work, especially around clearer pockets.
- Make quiet entries: skip or pitch accurately; noisy splashes can spook post-rain dock fish in shallow water.
Videos worth checking out
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- How to Catch Bass Fishing Docks - Practice Casting
- In-Depth Look | How To Skip Docks
- Skipping Jig Under Docks with the NEW 2021 OKUMA HAKAI Casting Reel & OKUMA Psycho Stick Rod
- Catch 10x MORE Fish Using A JIG
- Chatterbait Fishing Lure Tips and How They Work Underwater
Products to look at
- FONMANG 126Pcs Fishing Lures Kit — a budget-friendly starter kit with enough pieces to try Texas rigs, jig head rigs, and drop shot style setups.
- PLUSINNO 137Pcs Tackle Box Kit — nice variety if you want a grab-and-go box for bass and other freshwater species.
- TRUSCEND Popobait Topwater Lure — useful when bass are active on top or around shallow dock shade.
- TRUSCEND Rooster Tail Fishing Lures — handy when you want a moving bait with flash and vibration near dock edges.
- 5PCS Topwater Frog Lures Set — for heavy cover or dock stretches with grass.
- TRUSCEND Swimmax Easy Catch Fishing Lures — a good swimbait-style option if the bass want a steady retrieve.
My quick post-rain dock game plan
First 15 minutes: skip a jig to the darkest spots. Next: run a chatterbait along dock fronts and corners. If bites are shy: downsize to a soft plastic and dead-stick it under shade.
If you want, I can also give you a dock-only bass setup with rod, reel, line, and 3 must-have bait colors. Keep at it — post-rain dock bass can be sneaky, but they’re very catchable once you fish the shade right 😎
