Mastering Dock Fishing for Bass with Mark Zona | Bass Angler Magazine
Since childhood, Mercury Pro Team member Mark Zona has been passionate about bass fishing beneath boat docks. The thrill of skipping a lure into the darkest shadows beneath a dock never gets old for him.
“When you go poking around in the lion’s den, you might just tangle with a lion,” Zona said. “You must put the lure in the beast’s lair to tickle his ribs for a reaction.”
As the host of “Zona’s Awesome Fishing Show,” Zona fondly recalls wading the shallow banks of small Michigan lakes near his home, where he developed his unique perspective on boat docks. Wade-fishing at water level allowed him to observe how bass relate to dock structures.
“Wading was my primary bass fishing education,” Zona explained. “Being so low to the water, I could skip way back into the hardest-to-reach places. That taught me that getting to the right places was key in getting bit by bigger bass.”
Why Skipping a Lure is Key to Dock Fishing Success
While skipping a lure from a boat is more challenging than wade fishing, Zona emphasizes that the reward is undeniable when a perfectly executed skip-cast results in catching a chunky bass.
Why Bass Relate to Docks in Every Season
After years of fishing across the country, Zona has found that boat docks consistently produce fish in every season. Docks provide bass with everything they need: cover, food, ambush points, and spawning grounds.
“If a lake has docks on it, bass are relating to them,” Zona said. “It does not matter where, when, or even what kind of docks they are. Bass use docks. Period.”
- Spring: In early spring, docks serve as staging areas for prespawn bass. Bass will suspend around poles, pilings, and cables as the water warms up. During the spawn, they move to the backsides of docks to seek the protection of cables and catwalks.
- Post-Spawn: After the spawn, docks become a refuge for bass fry. As the water warms up further, baitfish such as shad and bream also gather around docks, attracting postspawn bass looking for easy meals.
How to Fish Boat Docks Effectively in Each Season
Zona views docks as large strike zones and believes that fishing multiple docks increases the likelihood of bites.
“For me, a dock is basically a large strike zone,” Zona said. “Fish enough strike zones, and you’re going to get bites. It’s the law of averages.”
In colder months, Zona targets the deeper, front portions of docks, moving shallower as the season warms. By summer, he focuses on the shallowest parts of docks that connect to the shoreline.
“Activity doesn’t bother bass one bit,” Zona added. “I’ve watched them eat my lure with people stomping all around on the docks.”
How to Skip a Lure Under a Dock with a Spinning Reel
Zona advises beginner anglers to start with a spinning outfit when learning the art of skipping lures under docks. Spinning reels provide better line control and help avoid backlashes common with baitcasting reels.
For beginners, Zona recommends using 15- to 20-pound braided line with a fluorocarbon leader. Weightless or lightly weighted baits like wacky rigs, Neko rigs, or shaky heads are ideal for learning to skip lures.
“The most critical element to look for in a good skipping rod is a fast action with a soft tip and quick backbone,” Zona said. “The tip must be limber in the first 15 to 20 inches to load the bait properly – almost like a slingshot.”
To practice, Zona suggests finding a calm area and skipping lures over open water to get a feel for the technique before attempting to skip under docks.
How to Skip a Lure with a Baitcaster
Once you’ve mastered skipping with a spinning rod, it’s time to advance to a baitcaster for heavier lures like jigs or frogs. Zona recommends using a shallow-spool reel designed for skipping, such as the Team Lew’s Pro SP, and gradually easing off the brakes as you improve.
“If you keep blowing your reel up like a haystack when trying to skip-cast with a casting reel, be patient,” Zona said. “Trust me, this takes time to learn.”
His go-to setup for skipping with a baitcaster is a 1/2-ounce Strike King Structure Jig with a Strike King Rage Craw, paired with 20-pound Seaguar Tatsu fluorocarbon line.
“The primary difference between the spinning rod and the casting rod is speed,” he said. “A casting rod helps you pick up the pace because you can use heavier lures that cover more water faster.”
How to Unlock Dock Fishing Patterns
Zona enjoys the challenge of figuring out where bass position themselves on dock structures. He advises anglers to fish as many docks as possible to discover the pattern bass are using at a given time.
“If you want to see undisputed proof that bass pattern well, fish boat docks for a couple of weeks,” Zona explained. “When you dial in what part of the dock they want to be on, in what depth, you can run that combination like clockwork to make dock-fishing magic.”
Key dock components to focus on include:
- Swim ladders
- Harnessing cables
- Low catwalks
- Submerged boat lifts
- Shaded swim platforms
“If I catch a couple of bass off a shallow swim ladder, I’ll just idle down rows of docks looking for shallow swim ladders,” Zona said. “It’s amazing how predictable dock patterns can be once you find the right combination.”
Bring the Excitement Back to Fishing
In an age where high-tech electronics are the norm, Zona still enjoys the mystery and challenge of skipping lures under docks. Each cast into the shadowy depths is an exciting opportunity for a thrilling catch.
“Each time I make a perfect skip-cast into the dark shade of a dock, I hold my breath,” Zona said. “You never know what kind of beast lives in those shadowy haunts.”
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About Mercury Marine
Headquartered in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, Mercury Marine® is the world’s leading manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines. A division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE: BC), Mercury provides engines, boats, services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine applications. Mercury empowers boaters with products that are easy to use, extremely reliable and backed by the most dedicated customer support in the world.
The company’s industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury outboard engines, Mercury MerCruiser® sterndrive and inboard packages, Mercury propellers, Mercury inflatable boats, Mercury SmartCraft® electronics, Land ‘N’ Sea marine parts distribution and Mercury and Quicksilver® parts and oils. More information is available at MercuryMarine.com.
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