Throw a 3/8 oz spinnerbait or chatterbait first and work the shady dock edges, corners, and the first post line with a steady retrieve. With falling pressure, cloud cover, and a little chop, bass often slide up to docks and eat moving baits before they settle down.
First move
- Start with a white/chartreuse or shad-colored vibrating jig or spinnerbait.
- Cast past the dock, then bring it so it bumps posts, cables, and floats.
- Use a slow-roll to medium steady retrieve; add a short pause when it deflects.
- If the water is dirty from rain, go louder and bulkier; if it’s fairly clear, downsize and go more natural.
Why it should work
- Late spring means bass are still comfortable cruising shallow structure and shade.
- Rain + falling pressure can trigger a feeding window.
- On Lake Austin, docks with shade, hard shade lines, and nearby depth are the best starting spots.
Videos to look at
- Dock Fishing Bass With Underspin Jigs
- How to Catch Bass Around Docks with Wacky Rigs
- How to Catch Bass Fishing Docks - Practice Casting
- In-Depth Look | How To Skip Docks
- ChatterBait Comparison Underwater: Look and Sound
Products/lures to look at
Backup plan
If they won’t chase, flip a green pumpkin jig or wacky rig to the darkest dock corners and let it sit longer. If the rain stained the water hard, stay on the wind-blown docks first.
Next cast: make it to the shadiest dock corner with a spinnerbait, then let the lure deflect off the first post.
