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wanting to start shooting docks but cant get the hang of it. Practicing in the back yard at the pool. Sitting in a chair mimicking boat deck. Need some help on trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. Using a 6ft medium rod with 6 pound test. 1/16 head with bass assassin. Some of the times I am hitting the water too close to me and at other times if I hit it farther it doesn't seem like I am generating enough power to make it skip. Suggestions and tips appreciated.
thanks!
Hold the rod parallel too the water. Load that baby up, and let the rod do the work.
Before you know it, you'll be shooting out the other side of the Dock..
I think a lighter rod would help.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kking
Do you have a fast tip rod? Timing is the key and line to rod tip level with water
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Practice, practice, and more practice!! Start by shootin in a 5gal pail and graduate to a coffee can. I always shoot with 4lb test and 1/32 oz jig until late Spring and then run 1/16 for quicker fall rate. I like the Lew's Wally Marshall
5'6'' rod and their 7fter too. A little stiffer helps for longer shots and my accuracy. Try using softer rubber jigs to allow for better skipping on top. ie. Bob's jigs and Bobby Garlands. It took me quite a bit of time to get good and I know I
can be better. It is a blast when you start pulling them out of them docks and pontoons!! Good luck!
I see nothing wrong with your setup, other than you might consider what "genec" said ... a fast action tip rod will make a difference. But, if that's not in the cards at this time ... take your time at "practice". Don't worry about how far you can shoot the jig at first ... concentrate on lining up your shot with the line that's between the rod tip and jig. You want that line to be "almost" parallel to the water's surface ... just a few degrees higher at the jig end. Then work on the timing of your release. That's the main factor in where the jig lands, once released.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kking
I like to let the jig get just past the rod tip before letting go of the line at the spool. If your line from the jig to the rod tip is pointing at a spot on the water and you let go of the line at the spool once the jig passes the rod tip ... most of your "shots" will land close to where you were aiming. Don't aim with the rod, actually don't even think about the rod ... all it is is a spring board that puts motion behind the jig. Use your line as your sights. You want the jig to hit the water just under the edge of the dock, and with the power behind your shot and the slightly down angled line orientation ... it should hit the water and skip across the surface.
If you're sending the jig high/low or all over the place ... release timing is the problem. You may even want to start out by not loading the rod up fully ... and concentrate on releasing the line as the jig goes past the rod tip. Once you get that timing figured out, increase the load on the rod a little and so on until you have the rod loaded up like you'd have it when actually fishing.
And be aware that, even when you get "good" with your shots ... there's still gonna be times when you shoot the jig completely over the dock :Rofl or have the jig simply drop straight down on loose line. :Doh: It only takes a fraction of a second worth of distraction to make a wild shot. I've been shooting docks for over 15yrs & I still have a misfire now & then. :biggrin
I tried all manner of rods, different lengths (5' - 8') and power (UL - Med/Hvy) ... parabolic bend & fast action tips. I currently use a 6'6" ESP PowerLite rod (very fast action tip). I like it because it "shoots" the jig, whereas the parabolic bend action rods seemed to "sling" the jig ... and I wasn't getting as much "skip" or distance from the parabolic bend rods.
thanks everyone. I looked a little closer at my rod and it is a medium light IM6 pflueger trion rod. I will keep practicing with it for now as well as change up my baits possibly to see if I can find one that skips a little better. I realized that I was prob unintentionally aiming "down" too much because I was trying to keep my rod parallel to the water instead of focusing on the line/bait. I also think this rod may have more of a parabolic bend decreasing the whip at the end. It seems like when I dont enter the water for 15/20 feet, it doesn't have the energy needed to skip. Any other ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.
This guy is "decent" at dock shooting. Good tutorial too :biggrin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tVGJABqGRKw
From what you've written, and what you've read here, My Humble Opinion is that you just need more time on the water trying this for yourself. As you have already found, there's a learning curve that goes with this technique like many others. Pick a rod and don't use any others to shoot with. Keep changing the rod and it's kinda like moving the sights on a gun, just makes it harder. You'll get the timing down, then learn how to get the distance, and the nuances of getting a better skip. A flat sided body skips as good as it gets, something like a Bobby Garland Baby Shad (BGBS). Others do well also but look close at one of those and you'll see the similarities to other baits. 1/16 and 1/32 work best for me, with the 1/32 being my choice. The 1/16 is easier to learn with, I think.
This is the learning curve as I saw it. I started with a 5'6" rod with 4lb line and 1/16 jigs and a flat sided body. I lost a lot of them and went through a lot of line. now I shoot anytime the quarters get tight under trees and such, with whatever rod I have in my hand. Over 8' gets a little dicey. It will be a well used tool in your box in just a little while.
I really like UL rods when I do it. Like to keep the jig about 6 inches below the reel parallel with the water if possible. I use 6Ft Shimano Clarus rods but I'm waiting for the new Ozark Dock Shooter in 7 ft to come out in May nd gong to send those jigs out here hard!! lol Good luck and you will get it with time on the water.
B&M sharpshooter 6 has been the best rod in my arsenal. I drop the jig right down to the big eye of the rod, grab behind the head of the jig hook pointed away from me load the rod holding the jig in line with the butt of the rod keep line parallel with the water for a perfect shot in that perfect gap in between the dock and the floats let go RIGHT BEFORE THE WIND BLOWS ME OUT OF THAT PERFECT SPOT and FORGET TO RELEASE THE BAIL THEN :bash
This is also a technique I have never done before but am going to attempt to learn and use this year to add a new tool to my fishing arsenal.
Realizing that it does have a learning curve and not wanting to question whether it is the way I am attempting the process or whether it is trying to use the wrong equipment as in a rod that is just not properly suited for dock shooting as I try to get proficient in the new method I bought one of the Lew's Wally Marshall Speed Shooter series rods in a 7.0' med/light action and paired it with a new Pflueger President 2500 series reel that I had laying around that had not yet been assigned a home.
The combo balances perfectly at the front of the rod handle, is lightweight and buying both the rod and reel when they were on sale I only have about 85.00 in the combo brand new.
I am for surely not saying this is the only way or the best setup to use dock shooting over others but I do feel as someone new to using the technique that the equipment that I am using is actually designed to work well doing this and pretty much any failures of executing correctly will be on me the operator rather than equipment really not suited to the task I am asking it to perform.
As I learn the ins and outs of something new I would like to feel I can concentrate on what I am doing right or wrong and for a what I feel as a very reasonable price of entry this combo will help me on my journey into an area new to me and increase my confidence as I learn.
Using equipment known to be designed for the job can make the learning and executing the process smoother and easier and something to be considered in my opinion.
Wanted to update everyone. I ended up getting a walley marshall speed shooter rod and it is night and day differant from what I was using before. Has a lot more "snap" to it that will make the jig skip much better. I think the rod I was using before just didn't have enough snap to it. still got to practice but now I feel like I have the right equipment. Thanks everyone for ya'lls help
I use a shakespeare microlite series rod in 7ft. I started shooting docks about 2 weeks ago and am fairly good. Sometimes i send that jig all the way to the front of the pontoon. I am using 1/16 jig heads with BnM jigs. These jigs do not slide down the hook at all. The prior ones I used one slide and tear up easily. Not these jigs.
I feel like I could add on a little advice here. I pretty much exclusively shoot docks for crappie.
1) Focus on the surface of the water where you want the jig to go and shoot your shot. If you focus on the beam that you are trying to go under, you will repeatedly hit it.
2) Try different styles of shooting. Most everyone here probably shoots what I would call a "vertical" style like posted in the video above. Reel pointed down and pulling the jig underneath toward you, holding the rod and line parallel to the water. That how I originally shot, but I've taught myself different ways and it really opens yourself up to hitting different holes at different angles. I can shoot sideways/horizontal. A technique that is my favorite is to almost start out in a "vertical" position and then flip my reel out and point my rod tip down almost perpendicular to the water, load er up, and let it fly. That's my preferred method for lighter jig heads and smaller gaps. Actually I probably shoot that way 95% of the time. It will really send one flying and very low to the water.
3) The jig REALLY matters. The best shooting crappie jig, IMO, is the Charlie Brewer Sliders paired with a 1/16oz head. The Slab Tail jigs shoot well along with the Bobby Garland style jigs. A curly tail does not skip well. Sometimes they are what the crappie want so you gotta go with it, but I much prefer to skip around a Slider. 1/32oz jigs can be shot pretty well, but the extra weight on the 1/16oz really heads with distance and I find I am more accurate. I'll also add that 4lb lines seems to shoot a little easier/further than 6lb. You just have to slow down and try not the horse a fish around a pole.
4) I like a rod that has a limber tip, but a strong backbone. I really flex my rod and get into the backbone to get some power. I don't like the ones that feel like the whole rod is bending when you shake the tip. Length is not as important, but I like a 5'-5'6" rod.
I have more tips if you want them, but that should maybe help a little. Practice makes perfect. I honestly dont believe shooting in your backyard will help you a whole lot. Get on the water and get a feel for getting under a dock and letting your jig skip..
I would gladly make a video outlining those different shooting styles if you, or anyone else, would like.