Cottage docks will attract fish. Docks can be a high noon refuge for sun shy bass. Just ask, Jeff, about the 2.5-lb smallmouth bass he caught this past weekend.

I watched Jeff, and a friend, fishing with some crank baits off their dock. The hot sun was high in the sky and the only source of shade, in the shallow bay, are several cottage docks of various configurations and shapes.

Jeff tempted this sweet bass to strike from his shaded roost between his dock and boat. After a quick release and photo-op with me, he moved to a second dock further down the bay and hooked a second, large bass!

The lesson:
Narrow the search for mid-day bass for shore structure that provide shaded areas for bass to hide in. Things like docks, boathouses, boats, and rocks or stumps are ideal candidates.

Now here is the rub everyone. Your casting better be better than average when you are fishing around hook-prone boats and docks. How would you like the idea of someone casting a trebled lure at your parked car and bouncing it off your investment? I ignore docks with swimmers, sunbathers or readers. Give them privacy please.

If you get snagged on bottom structure around docks (that also tend to be swimming areas), go above and beyond to retrieve your lure and fishing line.

Nice bass, Jeff! Thanks for sharing the moment!

Bass Pictures, Fish Pictures, Lake Vernon Fishing, muskoka fishing, smallmouth-bass