Join the Discussion "Do you fish bridge pilings? Have any tricks to share? Tell us about some of your catches around bridge pilings." Ronnie
More of this Feature
• Part 1: Why bridge pilings are good • Part 2: Bass, crappie, white bass and bream
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Over the years I have caught a lot of fish off bridge pilings. Bass are my main targets, but I have also caught crappie, bream, hybrids and white bass on them. There are some tricks to fishing them for all species.

Bridge pilings are excellent structure and cover. They rise up off the bottom offering vertical structure and many have cross members that provide horizontal structure. The face of the pilings and angles formed in it offer game fish cover.

Algae growing on the pilings are food for many bait fish, so fish that eat them are drawn to pilings for food, too. Bridges often have current around them, the most current in an area since they are usually on the channel and the riprap and causeway concentrate any current. That also brings food to fish waiting there.

I fish pilings with all kinds of baits. At different times crankbaits, Texas rigged worms, spinnerbaits, jigs and topwater will all work for bass. For crappie and white bass jigs and live bait are best. For bream it is hard to beat an earthworm, cricket or mealworm but little jigs and beetlespin lures work well, too.

A crankbait run beside the piling can imitate feeding baitfish. I always try to throw upstream and work my bait back with the current since that is a more natural movement. Keep the lure as close to the piling as possible. One trick is to bend the eyelet on the plug so it runs to the side a little. Have one bent each way and you can work each side of the piling, making the lure bump into the piling as you retrieve it.

Spinnerbaits can be buzzed just under the surface or slow rolled at any depth the fish are holding. Again, get them right beside the piling and keep them close as you bring them in. Count them down, starting shallow and working deeper, until you find the depth the fish are holding and feeding.

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