Thread: Smith Mountain Lake today

Originally Posted by crappiepappy

Sheila ... if I may: here's some posts I've made, concerning "dock shooting", that you might find some tidbits of info from :

http://www.crappie.com/crappie/main-...ecnique-2.html

crappiepappy - thankyouthankyouthankyou! Finally had time to sit down and read these links. Your article on dock shooting techniques was so clear and descriptive that I ran right out and got my rod and a bucket and started shooting in the driveway (don't know what the neighbors thought...). First shot went pppfffftt and, from your article, I knew right away what I'd done; after that, I shot 3 for 3 from about 11 or 12 feet away. Then I backed up another 5 or 6 feet and had to work at that distance for awhile, though the jig was getting beside the bucket just not in the bucket. After making a few adjustments and a slightly shorter 'lead' instead of running the line out to the big eye (the rod I was using isn't very stiff) I finally started hitting the bullseye. Going to keep working at various distances.

Okay, so the bullseye is about 12" round....but that's okay, I'm not trying to shoot miniature docks. (haha). By George (or by pappy) I think I've got it! Can't wait to get out on the water and try it.

Thank you for sharing your expertise!

~Sheila

Originally Posted by Sheilags

crappiepappy - thankyouthankyouthankyou! Finally had time to sit down and read these links. Your article on dock shooting techniques was so clear and descriptive that I ran right out and got my rod and a bucket and started shooting in the driveway (don't know what the neighbors thought...). First shot went pppfffftt and, from your article, I knew right away what I'd done; after that, I shot 3 for 3 from about 11 or 12 feet away. Then I backed up another 5 or 6 feet and had to work at that distance for awhile, though the jig was getting beside the bucket just not in the bucket. After making a few adjustments and a slightly shorter 'lead' instead of running the line out to the big eye (the rod I was using isn't very stiff) I finally started hitting the bullseye. Going to keep working at various distances.

Okay, so the bullseye is about 12" round....but that's okay, I'm not trying to shoot miniature docks. (haha). By George (or by pappy) I think I've got it! Can't wait to get out on the water and try it.

Thank you for sharing your expertise!

~Sheila

You're very welcome, and I hope to hear about you "wearin'em out" shooting docks !!

Not only is shooting a jig "into" a bucket good practice ... but, you might also try to make the jig hit the driveway just in front of the bucket (& skip into it). That's good practice for those occasions where you want to skip the jig off the water, just in front of those hole openings.

I used to practice on a picnic table ... standing off about 15-20' & shooting under the table, then switching to shooting between the seat & top. All I was trying to do was get a feel for the timing of my release, and the trajectory angle of my jig when I "aimed" with the line (from the jig to the rod tip) rather than the rod. Once you get the timing down, and get used to the rod/reel that you're going to be using, use your practice time to make some more difficult shots. Any practice is good practice !!

And if you watch TV shows & online videos of people shooting docks ... believe me when I tell you that they edit out all their errant shots (and they DO have some, on occasion). I've been shooting docks for nearly 14yrs, albeit not on a consistent basis, and I'm still liable to send a jig flying over the ROOF of the dock I just laugh it off & concentrate a little harder on the following tries.

Here's an article I wrote about a method I use : Crappie Pappy Article ... and when I'm shooting docks, I use this method as a last ditch effort to get a few more fish off of it. It's especially deadly on the outer poles of a stationary dock, IF the poles are in the shade or the water they're in is deep. It works really well around bridge pillars and down through the branches of a blowdown tree, too.

... cp

Learning to skip the jig really comes in handy. Especially at Bugg's Island where all the docks are floaters.

also, I've tried a lot of rods an found the Shimano Clarus 6 ft UL rated for 2-6 lb test with 4 lb mono on it to be the best of the lot. and a 2500 size reel keeps ya line from coiling so bad. serves well as a castin an jiggin rod too. and CP's tip for skippin is rite on! we use Bobby Garland Baby Shad bodies on 1/16th oz round heads for this application. used to be that this was THE presentation rite after the spawn, but the last few yrs they seem to gettin under the docks earlier an earlier each yr. I think its the pressure from all the trollers forcin the issue.IMHO.