Targeting fall transition bass around shallow boat docks is a consistent producer of quality fish. In this video, Casey Scanlon demonstrates his approach to catching bass by skipping tubes and jigs underneath docks in shallow water. With bass taking advantage of migrating shad and using the shade from docks as cover, this method proves highly effective on lakes throughout the country.
TACKLE LISTING
TUBE SETUP
JIG SETUP
LOCATING THE BEST DOCKS FOR FALL BASS FISHING
Scanlon begins by explaining how boat docks with ample shade and cover are prime targets for fall bass. With fish migrating into creeks and feeding in shallower water, docks provide the perfect environment for bass to ambush prey. He looks for docks with flat, gentle contour lines and added structure, such as boat lifts or brush piles. These features create additional cover, making the docks even more attractive to bass.
HOW TO SKIP A TUBE OR JIG UNDER DOCKS
Scanlon mixes his presentation between a Texas-rigged tube or a jig to target bass holding tight to the shaded areas beneath the docks. The tube’s weedless design allows it to glide smoothly with minimal fowling and trigger reaction bites as it mimics the movement of a shad. He also explains how to thoroughly fish each dock to maximize your chances of getting multiple bites from a single spot. Scanlon switches to skipping a jig for greater casting control as the sun rises. He can skip a jig even further back into the darkest parts of the docks than the tube.
ROD SETUPS FOR SKIPPING DOCKS
Extracting bass from piles of metal and wood requires big gear. Scanlon prefers a 7-foot-6-inch heavy-action rod with a 25-pound fluorocarbon line for the tube and a 7-foot-4-inch heavy-action rod with a 20-pound fluorocarbon for the jig. The heavier setups provide enough strength to haul fish out of thick cover without sacrificing sensitivity.
BOAT SETUP
