Throw a green-pumpkin jig or a skipping soft jerkbait first, aimed deep under the shady side of the dock and the first cross-brace posts. After rain, bass usually slide tighter to cover and the slight stain lets them feel a bigger meal. On Lake Austin in late spring, the steady pressure means the bite should be pretty predictable, and the SSE wind can push bait onto the more wind-blown dock rows.
First move
- Bait: 3/8 oz jig with a compact trailer, or a 4.75” soft twitch jerkbait in green pumpkin/watermelon or pearl if the water is clearer.
- Target zone: dock shade, cable sides, ladder bases, floaters, and any dock with deeper water nearby.
- Cadence: skip in, let it sink, then two short hops + long pause. If using the jerkbait, use twitch-twitch-pause and let it glide back under the dock.
Why it should work
- Late spring bass are often shallow and dock-oriented.
- After rain, they use docks as shade + ambush cover.
- 10+ mph wind with some gusts gives you a little chop, which helps if you need to show a moving bait first.
Videos to look at
- How to Catch Bass Around Docks with Wacky Rigs
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- How to Catch Bass Fishing Docks - Practice Casting
- In-Depth Look | How To Skip Docks
- Four Best Lures for Skipping
Products and lures to look at
- 4.75” Twitch Jerkbait — best first cast bait under docks.
- Blackwake Spinnerbait — good if the fish are active or the dock edge is stained.
- Davy Jones’ Buzz — first-light option if they’re busting shallow.
- Bass Mafia Custom Balsa Squarebill Crankbait — for banging outer dock posts and deflecting off cover.
- Bass Mafia Money Bag — handy mixed soft-plastic bundle for dock work.
- Amazon kits with usable basics: FONMANG 126Pcs kit or PLUSINNO 137Pcs kit.
Backup plan
If the dock bite is slow, switch to a spinnerbait or underspin and swim it along the outside edge, then skip the jig only on the darkest docks.
Make your next cast a 3/8 oz jig skipped to the darkest back corner of the nearest dock.
