Throw a skipping jig first—specifically a 3/8 oz black/blue or green pumpkin jig with a compact trailer, pitched or skipped to the darkest back corners, shaded dock posts, and the first deep edge under the dock. After rain, bass often slide tighter to cover, and the rising pressure + light drizzle here means the bite can be a little cautious, so start with a lure that stays in the strike zone.
First move
- Skip a jig under the dock and let it fall on a semi-slack line.
- If you don’t get bit in 3–5 casts, switch to a soft jerkbait/wacky-style bait and let it glide on the pause.
- On windier banks or stained water, a spinnerbait or chatterbait is the best follow-up because it calls fish out from under the dock.
Why it should work
- Late spring bass are still keying on docks as shade, ambush cover, and bluegill/shad edges.
- After rain, docks collect runoff and shaded bait movement, but the water can get a touch dirtier, so bass may prefer thump and flash or a bait they can eat by feel.
- With mainly clear water and 7.8 mph wind, you can still fish precision around posts and crossbars before switching to louder moving baits.
Videos to look at
- How to Skip Docks
- How to Catch Bass Around Docks with Wacky Rigs
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- Dock Fishing for Big Bass
- Chatterbait Fishing Lure Tips
Products and lures to check out
- Blackwake Spinnerbait — good for dirtying water and covering dock shade fast.
- Davy Jones’ Buzz — better for low-light or shallow dock edges if fish are active.
- Bass Mafia Custom Balsa Squarebill Crankbait — use around outer dock corners and hard cover.
- 4.75” Twitch Jerkbait — excellent if fish are suspended under docks.
- Amazon starter kit: FONMANG 126Pcs Fishing Lures or PLUSINNO 137Pcs Tackle Box for basic jig, Texas, and drop-shot pieces.
Adjust if
- If the water looks dirty or the dock is shaded heavily, move to black/blue and fish slower.
- If you see bait flicking or missed swirls, go to a spinnerbait or chatterbait and make longer casts past the dock.
Backup plan
Make your first 10 casts to the shade line, dock posts, and the deepest corner closest to open water; if nothing happens, rotate to a chatterbait, then a soft jerkbait.
