No President bashing here. I have had to run a few and there's no way to make everyone happy. Just be fair at all times and keep the playing field level and all rules and decisions in the open and in front of everyone.
KEJ, we certainly do a lot of bass fishing and most is away from docks. Starting at the docks with plastic is a good place to start, but when you want more and bigger fish, back off them and work the weeds, weededges, pockets, different types of weeds, rock, etc. and read everything you can about them. Have you noticed that in the FLW, Bass Masters, etc. tournaments, they are seldom seen pitching docks for all their fish. Oh some times, but they are moving and they are sometimes in the middle of no where.
My favorite was the time Kevin Van Dam told the field, if his spot is on, he'ld make it a big statement with his basket. HE DID.. And on camera, in the middle of a bay, a long ways from shore and docks. He had a specific structure change that is not easy to spot and he worked it. It was a great thing to watch. He crushed the competition and said he would, if it was going. Awesome thing to watch.
Bass are all over, but finding out what makes them tick is the game, and how to take advantage of that habit to catch them and more and bigger ones too. All in a quicker and quicker time. To me, winning or losing doesn't matter, as long as I do my best and learn from it. I am learning and becoming a better angler, so I have already won.
Learn on the docks, then step out to other locations. It will be worth it.