Dock fishing FRUSTRATION!

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02-09-2015, 11:44 AM
callmecamo

Dock fishing FRUSTRATION!

I have access to a nice boat dock on a large, rock bottomed lake in Oklahoma. The front of the dock sits in about 15 FOW and the back is around 35 FOW. I have dropped about 20 spider blocks to the bottom around the edges along with hanging Bois d'arc and other types of brush from the support poles at around 10-15 ft depth and also sinking some in the middle of the boat slip. This was all done about this time last year and I STILL have not caught any crappie off of it! I have caught several nice spotted bass though. What am I doing wrong?!!!??!?! The only thing that I can think of is that the dock is not enclosed. Would this make that much of a difference? Any help or knowledge would be appreciated!
02-09-2015, 12:06 PM
lowe175

It's hard to say what's going on can you post some pic. Of the dock sounds like you did what you can I would recommend a green monster dock light to if that doesn't work I don't know what will.
02-09-2015, 01:17 PM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowe175

It's hard to say what's going on can you post some pic. Of the dock sounds like you did what you can I would recommend a green monster dock light to if that doesn't work I don't know what will.

I'll see what I can do on the pics. I've tried with lights before and nothing. My next step will be a submerged IED!
02-09-2015, 03:27 PM
lowe175

Submersible light is what I was talking about the green light are the best. You will have fish on them! they are a lot of money but they are worth more money.
02-09-2015, 06:34 PM
vic n

How does your dock compare to spots you do catch crappie on this lake? Can you catch fish on other docks? It seems like you have at least the beginnings of a good fishing hole....all you need are some fish! Crappie will come into a spot looking to feed, so you want your cover to be attractive to either baitfish or bugs, or both. Do you mainly catch white crappies, or blacks? Hopefully in the time your cover has been in place, algae has grown on it...that will attract zooplankton which will attract minnows and shad and even bugs, I would think. If you don't already have some, put in shallow cover all the way from the front (15') depth to the bank....this will encourage spawning and provide cover for fry as well as spawning fish. As an alternative, maybe there ARE crappies there....and you just haven't caught any? Rocky lakes are usually very clear, so a very small minnow or jig on very light line and fished very slowly from bottom up might find out. Keep trying with the cover! Add more at all depths from about 5' and down. Add some really dense cedar branches for cover too if you can....Is there a channel nearby? Maybe you could put brushpiles all the way from the channel to your dock? Like a crappie super highway that leads right to your hot grease!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Maybe you could post this in the lake management and cover forum....those guys have been building their own brushpiles for years and they might know exactly what to try
02-09-2015, 07:23 PM
BuckeyeKdog

Is your structure still there. Sounds lile a dumb question but I've seen cover disappear around docks, Not everyone using the docks likes structure and will drag it out just to make the dock area clean for swimming or whatever. No, I;m not being a wise crack its happened to me more than once.
02-09-2015, 08:01 PM
lowe175

Vic n.may have the answer if you lake has mostly white crappie they don't use docks as much as black crappie. Not to say that want use docks but I can count on one hand how many white crappie I have caught on docks.
02-10-2015, 09:35 AM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by BuckeyeKdog

Is your structure still there. Sounds lile a dumb question but I've seen cover disappear around docks, Not everyone using the docks likes structure and will drag it out just to make the dock area clean for swimming or whatever. No, I;m not being a wise crack its happened to me more than once.

That is certainly NOT a dumb question. I've started to wonder too! I have seen brush disappear too when you're on a really steep bank close to the channel. I'm pretty sure its all still there though as this is not the case in this particular area. Very little boat traffic too as its a dead end cove and no wake the whole way.
02-10-2015, 09:53 AM
Woodworker42

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowe175

Vic n.may have the answer if you lake has mostly white crappie they don't use docks as much as black crappie. Not to say that want use docks but I can count on one hand how many white crappie I have caught on docks.

Lowe175, that may be true in your area, but in OK I have caught a lot of white crappie in docks. In fact, it's more common to catch white rather than black crappie in some of our lakes!
02-10-2015, 09:54 AM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by vic n

How does your dock compare to spots you do catch crappie on this lake? Can you catch fish on other docks? It seems like you have at least the beginnings of a good fishing hole....all you need are some fish! Crappie will come into a spot looking to feed, so you want your cover to be attractive to either baitfish or bugs, or both. Do you mainly catch white crappies, or blacks? Hopefully in the time your cover has been in place, algae has grown on it...that will attract zooplankton which will attract minnows and shad and even bugs, I would think. If you don't already have some, put in shallow cover all the way from the front (15') depth to the bank....this will encourage spawning and provide cover for fry as well as spawning fish. As an alternative, maybe there ARE crappies there....and you just haven't caught any? Rocky lakes are usually very clear, so a very small minnow or jig on very light line and fished very slowly from bottom up might find out. Keep trying with the cover! Add more at all depths from about 5' and down. Add some really dense cedar branches for cover too if you can....Is there a channel nearby? Maybe you could put brushpiles all the way from the channel to your dock? Like a crappie super highway that leads right to your hot grease!!! GOOD LUCK!!!

Maybe you could post this in the lake management and cover forum....those guys have been building their own brushpiles for years and they might know exactly what to try

It's on Grand Lake so there are plenty of crappie to be had but I seem to mostly catch white crappie here. I don't really know what the difference would be in my dock vs others except that mine isn't enclosed. The water isn't overly clear but its much clearer this time of year than normal. You can see your jig at about 6 ft down right now. The water is always green and thick when the boat traffic picks up. I'm very familiar with the food chain theory and that's what I've been trying (and failing) to do. Guess I'll have to explore the "nuclear" option and drop a bunch of cedar trees. I'm sure folks around here wouldn't mind a little fencerow cedar removal around here.

As far as there being crappie there but just not catching them, I really couldn't tell you. Unfortunately, I don't have any electrofishing equipment to find out! I went out yesterday and only caught one spotted bass and I fished slow and methodical for 2 hrs until dark.

The dock is on an arm off of the main channel by about 300 yards so it is not exactly handy. It is also quite deep in the middle of that arm (40ft+) so I'm not sure why that would affect things that much.

Another thing that popped into my mind yesterday (while not catching fish) was if anyone else in the area catches any crappie. There are plenty of docks but I don't see many at all that are enclosed or look like they get fished. Mostly owned by the city folk, weekender types that only come during the summer for pleasure boating. Maybe my dock is in the infamous "Nospecksforyou Cove" and I don't even know it. Sounds like a horrible dream! :hatchet:

Thanks for the reply vic!
02-10-2015, 10:02 AM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowe175

Vic n.may have the answer if you lake has mostly white crappie they don't use docks as much as black crappie. Not to say that want use docks but I can count on one hand how many white crappie I have caught on docks.

White crappie are just about all I catch here in the main lake. I've loaded up on them in other docks too. I seem to catch the black crappie mostly on the tributary streams around stumps and such. Our docks are a little different than docks I've seen in the south too since there is almost no wood structure on them. They are all steel and foam. I wish we had some of those wooden ones to fish like you all have! Keep in mind I'm only assuming here. I've only been to Alabama 2x and neither time was I fishing (for fish anyway). I'm posting a pic of the scene of the crime for you to see.
02-10-2015, 10:10 AM
callmecamo

1 Attachment(s)

Here is a picture of what I'm working with. The red circles are where I either have brush tied from the support poles or sank in the middle. There are also about 15 spider blocks dropped around the inside perimeter of the slip.Attachment 189928
02-10-2015, 10:22 AM
lowe175

I would go with the c.trees and a submersible lights. The green light will let you know for sure you will see crappie on them
02-10-2015, 10:42 AM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowe175

I would go with the c.trees and a submersible lights. The green light will let you know for sure you will see crappie on them

Thanks lowe. Not sure I can swing the $300+ price tag on those that you posted. They sure look like big ol' good'uns though! Do you do a lot of fishing at night?
02-10-2015, 12:00 PM
lowe175

Ok I think your dock probably doesn't have a lot of shade. Can you put a roof over it.
02-10-2015, 12:10 PM
lowe175

Yes I fish at night all summer and late spring the lights are a lot of money but they work.
02-10-2015, 12:26 PM
Fish on Line

I saw a post on U-tube last week making those lights for $35 each -- The light strip is cut in half that makes two lights,Total costs about $70
02-10-2015, 01:29 PM
Cmj

Looks like a good Summer hole to me. May just be that the bait fish arent using that area this time of year. Wait until the water warms a little and the Crappie are looking for somewhere to stage for the spawn. Should be good through the Summer, as they will be looking for shade. Thats when i would hit it.
02-10-2015, 01:50 PM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowe175

Ok I think your dock probably doesn't have a lot of shade. Can you put a roof over it.

It has a roof, its just about 14' to the eave.
02-10-2015, 01:53 PM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cmj

Looks like a good Summer hole to me. May just be that the bait fish arent using that area this time of year. Wait until the water warms a little and the Crappie are looking for somewhere to stage for the spawn. Should be good through the Summer, as they will be looking for shade. Thats when i would hit it.

Last year, we had a VERY cold winter and consequently, a threadfin shad kill. There were little shad in the ice all around that dock so surely they should be using it? I'll definitely be expecting better results when it warms up a little. I'm going to get some cedars down there in the meantime.
02-10-2015, 01:53 PM
callmecamo

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fish on Line

I saw a post on U-tube last week making those lights for $35 each -- The light strip is cut in half that makes two lights,Total costs about $70

Would you happen to have a link to that???
02-10-2015, 04:40 PM
vic n

DIY Lights here
02-10-2015, 05:01 PM
callmecamo

Thanks vic.