Bassology: Man-made structure means reliable ambush points
Mike Yurk
Much is written and talked about by bass fishermen concerning natural structure and cover in lakes. But what about man-made objects that draw and hold fish to them? I would guess more bass are taken by anglers off docks, boat lifts and other items man has put in and on the water.
Docks and boat lifts like this young fisherman is approaching offer the most consistent patterns to finding bass throughout the year.
When I hit a lake for the first time, I look at what is around the lake and how many docks, boat lifts and other man-made water-structures wait around the lake. Certainly, bass can be found in deep water off banks, points and weed beds, but you can always count on docks and boat lifts.
Many of our lakes are developed. It is tough to find natural wilderness-type lakes unless you are fishing in the far northern counties. Lakes developed to various degrees are what we normally fish, especially lakes around metropolitan centers where there is little or no undeveloped lots or land around them. Many of those lakes will still have great bass fishing thanks to the structure man has put there.
Bass are perhaps the most tolerant fish when it comes to water temperatures, subsequently, they can be found throughout the year in fairly shallow water. Docks, boat lifts and other man-made objects provide shade to protect them from the sun. This is critical in clear water lakes where the only relief from the sun for fish is under a dock or boat lift. These areas will additionally provide cover for game fish to ambush bait fish. Where there is bait fish, there will be game fish.
There is much talk in bass fishing circles about skipping baits under docks and boat lifts. It does work and I know one angler who spends the winter skipping baits under the furniture in his living room to keep in practice during the off season. If a bass is under a dock and spies a bait close by, its natural aggressiveness will kick in and it will attack. Some docks are so close to the water, it is impossible to fish under them, but you can still catch bass next to them. Getting baits as close as you can to the object is good enough.
How to fish them
As I approach a dock or boat lift, I start casting to the near side, around to the front and then another cast or two to the other side. If there are two people fishing, you can split up the dock. Your partner, in the back of the boat, can fish the first half of the dock while you fish the other half. It works out perfectly, giving both people the opportunity to catch fish. You will be amazed how often both fishermen will catch fish from the same dock.
Boat lifts, whether they have a boat on them or not, will hold fish. Another good spot is swim rafts. Anything floating on the water will hold fish. On a lake in northwestern Wisconsin, I found a bunch of bass under a sail boat tethered to a buoy on a clear water lake. We slowly moved around the boat, pitching tube jigs to the side of the boat. As the jigs dropped, we saw fish come out to hit them. We caught and released half a dozen fish from around that boat.
Best Baits
Any number of baits will work well around docks. Crankbaits and spinner baits cast towards and retrieved past the edges and sides of docks and boat lifts will catch fish. Perhaps the most popular baits for catching fish from man-made objects in the water are plastics. Sinking worms and finesse baits such as Ned rigs are perfect for fishing docks, boat lifts and swim rafts.
No matter the water temperatures, the weather or any other variable one can think of, bass will be found around, under and near docks, boat lifts and anything else man has put in or on the water. It is the most consistent pattern found on any lake.
Mike Yurk has published more than 600 articles in national and regional outdoor publications. He has published five books on outdoor subjects. He is a retired Army officer and lives in Hudson, Wisconsin. Contact Mike at bassinmajor@yahoo.com.