TAKEOFF
TECHNIQUES
“ SHOOTING ” DOCKS FOR BASS a unique sYsteM fRoM Gene laReW MaKes slinGshottinG Baits undeR docKs easY
By Colin Moore
Afew years ago , pro crappie fisherman Wally Marshall perfected a system of presenting small jigs underneath docks into tiny cubbyholes that seemingly a water snake might have trouble squeezing into . “ Mr . crappie ,” as he ’ s known on the pro crappie circuits , called his method “ shooting a dock ,” and its effectiveness can be measured in the big pile of prize money Marshall has won in crappie derbies . Basically , the texas pro uses a fairly limber spinning rod teamed with a spinning reel to slingshot tiny baits under docks and into tight places . to a lesser extent bass fishermen adopted the technique , and those who have tried it have generally found that it ’ s just as productive for catching bass lurking under docks as it is for slab-sides . any lure that ’ s shaped and suited for skipping docks will work , and now some manufacturers are getting ahead in the game with their own versions of specialized lures and tackle . in 2016 Gene larew lures introduced its Bass shooter , a 3 1 / 4-inch soft-plastic baitfish imitator whose flat , streamlined design makes it ideal for shooting . the response from anglers has been favorable . likewise , lew ’ s is marketing spinning rods designed especially for dock shooting .
When to Shoot according to flW tour pro andrew upshaw , who numbers Gene larew among his sponsors , the Bass shooter is effective any time bass are holding in the shade of docks or overhanging bank cover to ambush passing shad or juvenile crappie and bluegills . it enables an angler to present a bait in clear-water conditions without moving too close to a dock or other cover and spooking fish .
upshaw believes it ’ s a bait with a tendency to get big bites , and it has a lot of potential for offshore schooling bass , or bass suspended on ledges .
“ it has a fluttering , ‘ dying shad ’ action if you let it just fall on its own ,” he says , “ or you can twitch it upward in a darting motion once in a while for reaction bites .”
How it ’ s Done the key to shooting baits such as the Bass shooter is to lower it about halfway off the tip of a spinning rod , snub the line with the reel hand , pull the jig back so that the line is parallel with the water ’ s surface , point the rod at the target and let it fly . depending on how low the angler crouches when he releases the bait , and his accuracy , the bait will either skip across the water or fly straight and true to the destination . for safety ’ s sake , Gene larew also sells small Bass shooter pull tabs ( shown below ) to use with the soft-plastic shiners or any other single-hook bait used for shooting . the elongated
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FLWFISHING . COM I JULY 2018