Floating dock question....

I recently moved (seasonally) to a lake that has a relatively small Crappie population, but some real slobs. The local fishermen suggest that it's not really worth pursuing crappie here and that they're considered a bi-catch when you're fishing for Spotted bass or other species. I don't accept that and have vowed to figure the lake out and learn how to fairly reliably go out and catch at least 8 or 10 Crappie when I needed or wanted to. Folks do occasionally plant some brush, but it's not like the other nearby lakes that have tons of brushpiles and other cover for Crappie. It's a deep lake and there are tons of docks on the lake, but they're almost all floating docks (requirement of the energy company that controls the shoreline). It's a river run reservoir in the southeast and I'm typically down here from Dec 1 until April 30th or thereabouts.

My question is how to handle the floating docks and whether they really hold many Crappie (compared to the anchored docks with pilings on most lakes). The docks all have some cable system of anchoring them, but very few have any anchored posts or other structure. So, is the shade provided by the docks enough to hold Crappie? I've only caught a handful of Crappie on the lake so far (including some really, really nice ones), but as of now, I've only caught ONE on a dock. Do I need to just work harder and find a honey run of those docks that might reliably hold Crappie or should I ignore the docks and look for brush elsewhere? I do feel like I'm a competent dock shooter with small jigs, so I don't think it's an issue with my technique or inability to present a jig.

Just really curious what the dock guys do with these floating docks, particularly on a lake that only has floating docks.

I have caught some nice ones by shooting jigs up under the docks between the floats. The floating docks offer a lot of shade for the crappie to hide in. Algae growing on the floats attract minnows. Find a floating dock with a little brush under or around it and you have yourself a hot spot for sure. Look for docks with lights pointed down into the water. It is a good indication of fishermen using them. Also a good indication that some structure has been placed as well. Good luck. Hope this helps

Thanks. It's simply going to take me a while to find these places I guess. There really are very few other Crappie anglers on this lake, so even if they were willing to help me out with specific locations (I wouldn't ask), I'd get few responses from the locals. Like I said previously, I have tried to look with sideview (haven't really figured it out very well and don't have the success that some guys do with it) and I've shot quite a few docks thinking that eventually I'd find them, but so far only ONE Crappie from under a dock on this lake. I'll keep after it though. I also look for docks that have "fishing boats" in them and on this lake, 90% of the boats are pleasure boats and almost all of the other 10% are bass boats. I'm in the extreme minority on the lake who are running multi-species type or aluminum fishing rigs.

The other issue is that a lot of these docks have metal lifts on them and even when they're empty (a lot of people on this lake remove their boats in the wintertime) the homeowners tend to leave them down in the water, so it's often hard or impossible to shoot those docks because of the "junk".

What lake if you don't mind me asking?

Don't like talking about it, but like I said, there's not much interest in Crappie on the lake and some MUCH better options nearby, so it's Lake Keowee in SC. I consider myself to be a pretty experienced and accomplished fisherman, but I acknowledge that I'm not an expert Crappie angler, so if anyone really knows this lake and was willing to take me out and show me the ropes someday, I'd be happy to run my rig, burn my gas and buy lunch.

The other issue is that I don't have a livescope system yet and I'd presume that would help a lot. I really want one and will eventually get one, just can't justify the cost right now.

For docks I use side scan.

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Originally Posted by DockShootinJack

For docks I use side scan.

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Which is another issue. I have sidescan, but I have yet to really figure it out and can't really see well on it. I'm watching some Youtube videos currently to figure out how to get better contrast and sensitivity out of the sidescan, because I have yet to look at a dock and say, "Wow, look at those Crappie on my sidescan". So either this lake doesn't have any Crappie on the docks I've looked at with sidescan (unlikely) or I haven't figured out how to set it up and interpret what I'm seeing (I've seen plenty of videos where it was patently obvious that they were looking at Crappie, so I think setup is my issue, not necessarily interpretation).

Some real helpful folks here in the electronics section.

I have dangling objects under our floating dock so to mess with people.

With you already catching crappie proof of there being a population is there. I say don’t listen to the bass fishermen and keep learning the crappie there you’ll get into them for sure.

The place I frequent I was told the crappie are hard to get after except in the spring but I decided to try and learn it. Short story I have found they can be caught year round and I primarily dock shoot (including floating docks). I believe you will key in on some really good docks sounds like you have a lot of options. Good luck to you and tight lines.


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Thanks, that's really my hope. The DNR acknowledges a Crappie population and everyone knows that there are some big ones, but they also acknowledge that the population isn't nearly as strong as it used to be. I'm sure that there are enough there to be able to figure them out and pattern them, but a lot of the game fish do get VERY deep on this lake in the summer and often times in the winter. Last winter I took a couple of Crappie jigging spoons in nearly 90 feet of water on the bottom while I was bass fishing.

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Originally Posted by Brag

Don't like talking about it, but like I said, there's not much interest in Crappie on the lake and some MUCH better options nearby, so it's Lake Keowee in SC. I consider myself to be a pretty experienced and accomplished fisherman, but I acknowledge that I'm not an expert Crappie angler, so if anyone really knows this lake and was willing to take me out and show me the ropes someday, I'd be happy to run my rig, burn my gas and buy lunch.

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Drop a pin and give us the coordinates. Alot of guys here can find the crappie just by looking at a map. My first guess is shoot the docks. Takes a little practice to hit the cracks between some of them but man is it worth it

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Drop a pin and give us the coordinates. Alot of guys here can find the crappie just by looking at a map. My first guess is shoot the docks. Takes a little practice to hit the cracks between some of them but man is it worth it.

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I'm one of those guy's who's a bit tech challenged and I'm not exactly sure how to do so. I presume I could link or copy a map of the lake, but it probably wouldn't show hydrography and I'm not sure how one might go about finding Crappie without more data than a simple 2-D map.

I intend to get out a couple of times this week and hopefully I can get the sidescan dialed in and then spend at least a bit of time cruising around and trying to find a dock or three that might hold some fish. I do appreciate everyone's help.

Shoot the docks frequently and remember which ones are worth visiting often is my suggestion :highfive
Some docks are never very good and the one right beside it is about always the bomb ,not sure why ,but it tends to be that way

Don't forget between the tubes of the pontoon boats left in the water

That’s a decent size lake!
it doesn’t list crappie as one of the species in it but you have caught them so that means they are their !
time on the water will be your friend .
i”d shoot every dock on every point and all those in between also I’d look for downed trees on steep banks and give them a try !
A puzzle is mastered 1 piece at a time stay at it and it will come together for you!
maybe reach out on your state forum to see if anyone on c.c lives in the area that might be willing to help ya search it out .it may become a treasure to you both! :twocents

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

That’s a decent size lake!
it doesn’t list crappie as one of the species in it but you have caught them so that means they are their !
time on the water will be your friend .
i”d shoot every dock on every point and all those in between also I’d look for downed trees on steep banks and give them a try !
A puzzle is mastered 1 piece at a time stay at it and it will come together for you!
maybe reach out on your state forum to see if anyone on c.c lives in the area that might be willing to help ya search it out .it may become a treasure to you both! :twocents

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Well said Mitch

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Originally Posted by Brag

The other issue is that I don't have a livescope system yet and I'd presume that would help a lot. I really want one and will eventually get one, just can't justify the cost right now.

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Those things are awesome toys. But are absolutely not needed to catch crappie..no.no.no.

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Originally Posted by Brag

I'm one of those guy's who's a bit tech challenged and I'm not exactly sure how to do so. I presume I could link or copy a map of the lake, but it probably wouldn't show hydrography and I'm not sure how one might go about finding Crappie without more data than a simple 2-D map.

I intend to get out a couple of times this week and hopefully I can get the sidescan dialed in and then spend at least a bit of time cruising around and trying to find a dock or three that might hold some fish. I do appreciate everyone's help.

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I found your water it's a little bit South East of Salem. There is plenty of contour and structure on that water. Actually when I first looked at it I was overwhelmed. Beautiful place for sure.

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Short story

I sometimes fish with a friend who takes a very electronics approach to fishing. We were fishing Bear Creek in North East Alabama. It's a BCDA lake so Navionics hasn't mapped it. It was his second trip to this lake and my first. We began by using Garmins Quickdraw feature and rode for an hour at 10-15 mph mapping the water. As we rode we used Si set at 70 ft each side to mark structure. Then we rode back to some of the marked spots and passed over it with DI looking for fish. If we liked it we dropped the TM and the LS and began the Ketchn windmill approach till they stopped biting and we moved to the point of interest. I know I said LS isn't needed and yeah we could have used DI but LS just speeds things up if you have it.

34.280399322509766,-87.67259979248047

Fish On.

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Originally Posted by Brag

Don't like talking about it

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I have the answer but

Really don’t want to talk about it! :Rofl

Used to fish Lanier a lot shooting docks pre-livescope and pre- good side imaging and the knowledge to use it. Lake has 10,000+ docks of which 1% hold fish consistently. That changes a little in the spring as fish move shallower. If you don't have or know how to use good electronics it's about spending time to learn your lake. I guarantee you you will find some docks that consistently hold fish and a hundred others that look just like it but don't. If you have side imaging as I read turn your range down so that when you scan the dock you can see the water in the black area not trying to pick them up on the bottom, if this makes sense. If I'm scanning a dock in 20' of water I will have my range at 30-40' and make a close pass, even less range on shallower docks. You will see them if they are there. Scott

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Originally Posted by ultraslab

Used to fish Lanier a lot shooting docks pre-livescope and pre- good side imaging and the knowledge to use it. Lake has 10,000+ docks of which 1% hold fish consistently. That changes a little in the spring as fish move shallower. If you don't have or know how to use good electronics it's about spending time to learn your lake. I guarantee you you will find some docks that consistently hold fish and a hundred others that look just like it but don't. If you have side imaging as I read turn your range down so that when you scan the dock you can see the water in the black area not trying to pick them up on the bottom, if this makes sense. If I'm scanning a dock in 20' of water I will have my range at 30-40' and make a close pass, even less range on shallower docks. You will see them if they are there. Scott

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I was watching some videos this morning and came to the conclusion that this MAY be the issue with my failure to really be able to see them on sidescan. I often have it set at 100 or 120 feet in 20-30 feet of water and I think I need to set it to a lesser range. I'm going to work on it some this week, but greatly appreciate the help.

Yes sir and I also forgot to mention an important part in breaking down a big reservoir. I haven't even looked at your lake but try focusing on the feeder creeks coming into the lake vs. lower lake as the water will usualy have some color to it. I don't find near as many on average on docks with gin clear water. Since I don't fish there any more google Lake Sydney Lanier and look up 3 of the better feeder creeks or river from Clarks Bridge upward and Little River and Wahoo creek. Plenty of deep docks 25+ but lake almost always has some degree of color up that way. Only thing that will hurt you is when you get 3" of rain and water changes drastically overnight. Scott

set the si range at 40 or less and pass the dock very slowly at about 3 or 4 foot off the dock , as stated, simply deadly way to hit docks .

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Originally Posted by ultraslab

Yes sir and I also forgot to mention an important part in breaking down a big reservoir. I haven't even looked at your lake but try focusing on the feeder creeks coming into the lake vs. lower lake as the water will usualy have some color to it. I don't find near as many on average on docks with gin clear water. Since I don't fish there any more google Lake Sydney Lanier and look up 3 of the better feeder creeks or river from Clarks Bridge upward and Little River and Wahoo creek. Plenty of deep docks 25+ but lake almost always has some degree of color up that way. Only thing that will hurt you is when you get 3" of rain and water changes drastically overnight. Scott

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Yep, so far I've concentrated on two of the longer creeks on the reservoir, one in the upper lake and one in the lower lake. I've caught some crappie on both of them, but not nearly enough to satisfy me or to think that I've got them figured out. I think I'm going to try to check out another of the longer, upper-lake creek systems this week as well and will start looking at hundreds of docks when time permits to see if I can find a few "good ones". Really appreciate everyone's help. It's not anything that I may not have in time figured out for myself, but getting some feedback and confirmation of some ideas is encouraging and helpful to me.

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Originally Posted by Ketchn

set the si range at 40 or less and pass the dock very slowly at about 3 or 4 foot off the dock , as stated, simply deadly way to hit docks .

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I understand what you're saying and I'm reasonably well convinced that I've been setting my sidescan range way too long, but keep in mind that this is a deep reservoir and there would be places where I'd be in 30-40 feet of water (maybe more) as I passed the docks. My understanding is that if you are in 20 feet of water and you set your range/sidescan to 40 feet, that you get 20 feet of downscan until you hit the bottom and then 20 feet of sidescan after that. So hypothetically if I were in 40 feet of water and had my sidescan set to 40 feet, I wouldn't be able to see anything under the dock as I drove past, right? In that scenario, I'd need to set it to 50 feet to get 10 feet of scan under the dock or to 60 feet to get 20 feet of scan under the dock. I'll have to look when I'm on the water, but I think my Hook 2 Reveal unit goes in 20 foot increments, so I think only 40, 60, 80, 100, etc. as options, although I could be wrong.

I do really appeciate everyone's input, advice and thoughts. I had a lot of people tell me to just go fish Hartwell, Russell, Clark Hill or one of the other lakes (all primo Crappie lakes and not terribly far away, though not in my backyard either) and to forget about the Crappie on my "home lake", but I've been pretty stubborn and have refused to do that because I'm confident that for a really dedicated and smart angler, that Crappie CAN be caught here fairly regularly and some big ones. Now I'm even more excited to get out and get after it again. The only problem that I have is that I sometimes fish with other guys who don't particularly care about Crappie and just want to catch something (the lake is a very good Spotted bass lake), so they aren't as inclined as I am to patiently plug away for hours, hoping to catch a Crappie or three in the hopes of learning something on that particular day. I'll keep after it; I'm not going anywhere.......

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

I found your water it's a little bit South East of Salem. There is plenty of contour and structure on that water. Actually when I first looked at it I was overwhelmed. Beautiful place for sure.

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You're correct that there's plenty of structure in this lake and I should have said that COVER, not structure, is pretty limited. They cleared the trees before impounding the lake and other than junk that's thrown in there, there's not a lot of other cover (there are still a lot of stumps, but even those aren't available by the thousands). Not a ton of anglers residing on this lake, so there aren't anywhere near the number of brushpiles places as on other lakes in the area, for whatever reason.

Lots of contour maps and even this structure map online. This is very useful and provided by the SC DNR. I would pop these coordinates into your fishfinder/gps and do some dropshotting or slip bobber fishing on top of them depending on the depth.


SCDNR - Fish Attractor Maps

Lakes and Waterways

I vividly remember the day I learned the difference a d importance between structure and contour. I had spent several hours breaking off relying and loosing wrapped up fish. I backed off a little to let em calm down and to re tye. After tying I cast my jig out to the side of the structure to get the slack out of my reel and a fish inhaled it. They were sitting on the particular contour I was fishing and the structure that was so irritating had almost nothing to do with it.

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Originally Posted by Opie1

Lots of contour maps and even this structure map online. This is very useful and provided by the SC DNR. I would pop these coordinates into your fishfinder/gps and do some dropshotting or slip bobber fishing on top of them depending on the depth.


SCDNR - Fish Attractor Maps

Lakes and Waterways

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I have a decent contour map. I've tried to find several of those structures and most I haven't found, the couple that I have found were not terribly impressive when I checked them out, but I'll continue looking for them and fishing over them when I find them.

Do you have access to Active c
Captain..

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Originally Posted by catchNgrease

Do you have access to Active c
Captain..

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I don't really know what it is and I don't have a subscription if that's required.

For what it's worth, I did just spend 20-30 mintutes tweaking my sonar unit and hopefully I'll see some improvements. I changed some data blocks on the screen, changed frequencies, changed color palletes, etc. etc. in an attempt to make it more sensitive and easier to interpret for me. I hope to get out on the lake tomorrow and I'll get a pretty good idea whether the changes were all beneficial or not.

(Edit: I did just install the free Activecaptain app on my phone, but as I said before, I'm not much into tech stuff and don't know whether I'll learn to use it and whether it will be beneficial to me. Maybe I'll see if I can find some videos or other tutorials and try to teach an old dog some new tricks).

start building and sinking your own brush to fish

and yes, crappie will congregate on floating docks..have caught many on them

that's a clear water lake so fish may be a little deeper than you're used to

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Originally Posted by Foxy Jig

start building and sinking your own brush to fish

and yes, crappie will congregate on floating docks..have caught many on them

that's a clear water lake so fish may be a little deeper than you're used to

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This is my goal. Unfortunately, I'm at my "winter home" and I don't really have a good shop, many tools, etc. so it won't be as easy as it might be if I were at home with my shop and plenty of room.

I got to the lake yesterday and really tried to work the docks some with sidescan but was horribly disappointed in the functioning of my unit. I posted a thread/question in the sidescan sub-forum if anyone is pretty good troubleshooting these things.

Only caught one Crappie on a muddy, fairly shallow flat. That said, I don't know that anyone was catching them yesterday. I did briefly talk to a guy that was flatlining and he hadn't taken any.