How to Dock Shoot Crappies | 7 Tips + Best Docks and Gear‼️

Professional angler Terry Blankenship (wired2.fish/Te...) provides an in-depth lesson in dock shooting (skipping) jigs for crappies schooled up deep underneath docks. The tactic excels at targeting big schools of less pressured crappies that use docks as both structure and cover. Blankenship shares many tips, starting with finding the best fish-holding docks using mapping and sonar. He then shares his preferred rod setup and tackle and how to execute the technique correctly.
FEATURED TACKLE
• JIG - Blankenship Crappie Jig, 1/16-ounce: wired2.fish/Bl...
• PLASTIC - Bobby Garland Minnow Mind'R: wired2.fish/Bo...
• LINE - Vicious Fishing Panfish Fishing Line, Hi-Vis Yellow 6-pound: wired2.fish/Vi...
• ROD - FX Custom Rods Xtreme Angler Series, WMBSH74MF 7'4" Medium Fast: wired2.fish/FX...
• REEL - Lew's Speed Spin Spinning Reel, SS20HS: wired2.fish/Le...
Blankenship’s 7 tips to catch crappies with the dock shooting technique:
1. Find the best docks with mapping and sonar. Blankenship starts his day with a map reconnaissance. Isolated docks on points adjacent to the main river or creek channels are an excellent starting point. Use side imaging to scan underneath the docks, revealing crappies and the physical dock structure. Once he starts fishing, he lines up his casts using a combination of MEGA 360 and forward-facing sonar.
2. Start on the shaded side first. Docks provide crappies with structure and cover. Shade is a huge draw for baitfish and crappies, so Blankenship first focuses his effort around the shady side.
3. Fish shallow to deep. Crappie schools tend to stack vertically, with black crappies riding higher and white crappies deeper. Blankenship reduces spooking by first picking off the top fish, then working his jig progressively deeper - this method prevents pulling struggling crappie through shallower undisturbed fish. Blankenship counts his jig down to the desired depth then gives the bait a pop to trigger a bite.
4. Use a longer spinning rod. A light and sensitive medium-light spinning rod in the 7-foot range provides more power and accuracy for further jig skipping and fish-fighting control.
5. How to shoot the dock. Blankenship walks us through the dock shooting technique, starting with setting the right about of lead line, establishing a consistent anchor point, and how to hold the jig and plastic to prevent hooking yourself. Like skipping rods, a low release point results in a flatter lure trajectory, resulting in a further and more accurate skip.
6. Watch your line. Bites can be hard to detect, so use a bright-colored line to watch for increased or decreased slack or pops to the slack. Set the hook if you notice anything abnormal.
7. Be courteous when fishing docks. Sure, the water is public, but the dock is private property. Blankenship avoids fishing docks when the owners are on them.
FISH FINDERS
• CONSOLE - Humminbird HELIX 10 MEGA SI+ G4N: wired2.fish/HE...
• BOW 1 - Humminbird HELIX 15 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N: wired2.fish/HE...
• BOW 2 - Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI+ GPS G4N: wired2.fish/HE...
• LIVE SONAR - Humminbird MEGA Live Imaging: wired2.fish/ME...
• 360 SONAR - Humminbird MEGA 360: wired2.fish/Hu...
• MAPPING - Humminbird LakeMaster PLUS, Great Plains V1: wired2.fish/La...
BOAT CONTROL
• TROLLING MOTOR - Minn Kota Ultrex: wired2.fish/Mi...
• SHALLOW WATER ANCHOR - Minn Kota Talon, 8': wired2.fish/Ta...
• ENGINE - Mercury 250hp Pro XS FourStroke: wired2.fish/Me...
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[@fishtuationaqua]

This is a very good video. Thank you for showing us a good technique!

[@jimschmitz4821]

Great video dead eye! I need more practice shooting.

[@Wired2Fish]

It comes pretty quick. Fun mixing in a little hand-eye coordination. Good luck dock shooting!

[@jones10121970]

How do the electronics tell the depth without Livescope on side view unless it’s right under the boat?

[@LowBrowFishing]

I always seem to have a harder time targeting crappie than I do bass. It seems the only time I can catch a crappie is on a lipless crank completely by accident, lol.

[@Wired2Fish]

If you're interested in consistently catching crappies, this video should be helpful. We also recommend checking out this recent one with Terry, which focuses more on brush piles --> kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJjTc4Wca7uDaZI

[@LowBrowFishing]

@@Wired2Fish Thanks for the tip. Ill check it out.

[@Steve_Balboni]

You're not the only one, trust me!

[@Steve_Balboni]

I like this guy.

[@Wired2Fish]

super skilled and honest

[@oranpayne9543]

Nice video!! Thanks

[@Wired2Fish]

Our pleasure!

[@randyhopper689]

Thanks for the info !

[@Wired2Fish]

Our pleasure Ben. Terry is a treasure trove of knowledge.

[@wesleyhughes363]

I always wanted to try a 7' rod for dock shooting. I noticed the lure rating for this rod is 1/8 to 5/8 oz., but you were using a 1/16th oz. jig. I would also want a rod that I could even use a 1/32 oz. jig if I wanted to. Any concern regarding lure rating being for larger lure than I would be using?

[@codybertram6122]

He’s using the minnow mindr which is bigger than say a baby shad or typical dock shooting baits. With a thick body I’ve noticed the 16th works better with those. In my opinion any 6-7 moderate action medium light crappie rod will do with 1/32 for shooting. You can use almost any rod when line watching, as long as the tip is forgiving enough for crappie. I run 4# for 32nd jigs and 6# for 16th. I can fish plenty deep with 4# on that jig but you sacrifice strength.

[@chrisjones3375]

The only reason a rod has a lure weight rating is for casting. Too heavy could break the rod. Too light, you're only sacrificing cast range. Also, don't forget to account for the weight of the plastic as well as the head. Lead sinks, plastic really doesn't, but it's still weight in the air.

[@johnwhite7357]

Where is this place at ?

[@midwestcoasttravelers]

Lake of the Ozarks

[@Jekbaron123]

Hadir bos

[@Nazman06]

I can shoot the jig under the dock. I use 32 oz for a slow drop .I also use bigger sizes I let it sink to the bottom and pop it up Sometimes I dont let is sink to the bottom I try all different techniques and sometimes I cant catch much But, my friend that sold his soul to the fishing gods can go to the same dock with the same jig and catch them. It makes no damn sense