Bass NC Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Made a trip to lake tillery North Carolina today. It was warm and poured down the entire time. The water temperature was about 49-52 degrees and I threw everything in my tackle box at these fish. Jigs of every size and color, jerkbaits, lipless cranks, square bills, and all sorts of soft plastics. And came up empty handed. It's been a long time since I was completlyskunked so I was wondering if anyone has any tips so I can avoid this in the future? Quote
fishva Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I am the master of getting skunked, as I mostly get to fish for only an hour or so at a time and don't get to pick my times or days very often. Best I can say, is embrace the skunking that's being handed to you and find another element of the experience you can enjoy. Work on a casting technique, enjoy the cadence / rhythm of the casts or water, and take time to appreciate not being stuck doing something you hate instead. Edit: sometimes I'll just go for some crappie or bluegills instead. 1 Quote
macmichael Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I thought I was the skunk master. Just gotta keep on keeping on. 1 Quote
ABW Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I skunked both days I went fishing this week. Air temp was about mid 40 low 50's both day, but the water was still cold. I tried jerk-baits and finesse baits. Absolutely nothin'. I'll just wait till it gets warmer because I never get any luck bank fishing this early. Quote
fishva Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I thought I was the skunk master. Just gotta keep on keeping on. I hereby challenge you to a skunk-off. 3 Quote
Bass NC Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 Hahaha now I got guys bragging over who is better at being skunked! This forum is awesome! Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 There is only ONE way to avoid the skunk: Stop Fishing Roger 1 Quote
macmichael Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 There is only ONE way to avoid the skunk: Stop Fishing Roger Never 1 Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 Never Me too There's always room in my boat for another skunk Quote
macmichael Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I hereby challenge you to a skunk-off. I accept. Since there are prizes for the best, why shouldn't there be a prize for the worst? I challenge all the members of BR to this contest. The winner will receive a one,(1), month subscription to either UnLucky Tackle trunk or MiseryTackle crate on me. But wait. If you enter in the next 2 seconds, the winner will also receive as a bonus, a full 1/2 pair of dirty socks, 2 chicken drumsticks from last nights dinner, a magic rock , an opened box of cracker jack, and a piece of ABC bubble gum, flavor of your choice. Rule # 1. Macmichael has the last word in this contest and makes up all the rules. Rule # 2. When in doubt, refer to rule # 1. lol 1 Quote
fishva Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I'll put up a $25 BPS gift card for the skunk master competition, assuming we can get some good rules in place. Quote
Super User geo g Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 Go for it guys. The Classic Skunkarama, and a Skunker of the Year Award. Competition should be tough, but I'm sure someone will stink up good! Bad luck and may the best man fall. Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 Made a trip to lake tillery North Carolina today. It was warm and poured down the entire time. The water temperature was about 49-52 degrees and I threw everything in my tackle box at these fish. Jigs of every size and color, jerkbaits, lipless cranks, square bills, and all sorts of soft plastics. And came up empty handed. It's been a long time since I was completlyskunked so I was wondering if anyone has any tips so I can avoid this in the future? What were you targeting as far as cover/structure? Quote
plumworm Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Skunked? I just got back from 15 days of fishing Guntersville. $1800 later, I caught 5 bass. My buddy got his PB, but his total was 7. We had a great guide for two days and we still couldn't catch a fish. The polar vortex got us. 2 days warm: 60 and 3 days cold 45. Two nights warm: 45 and one night 19 and the next 23.Top water temp: 58. Wind: topped out at 35,gusts to 50, most days 10-15 out of the wrong direction for Guntersville. Not complaining, There is still 40" of ice up here and it was great to be fishing, but I think, I would rather have been totally skunked than to catch 5 fish in 15 days. This has to have been the most goofy weather over 15 days I have ever seen. Couldn't get 2-3 days of the same weather. However, Knob Creek and VO and bloody Mary's kept us from suicide. Will go back next year. Quote
Super User Oregon Native Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 For me when off the bank or even in a boat if I want to limit my skunking ability I use a spinning rod with eight pound braid with a eight pound fluro leader and a #5 silver/black shad rap. This bait catches just about anything including some dandys and is good for that one hour stop on almost any body of water. Tight Lines Quote
Super User SirSnookalot Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 This thread could go hand in hand in the motivation to fish for bass thread. I fish for bass during the times I can go 4 or 5 days without getting a saltwater strike, certain times of the year it's real hard. Sure I get skunked once in a while bass fishing, just the way it goes, there is always tomorrow. When I do get hard up, the senko is about the closest to a magic lure. 1 Quote
skeeter1980 Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 Skunked,I never ever get skunked.But then i'm a fisherman,and I lie.lol 1 Quote
jhoffman Posted March 30, 2014 Posted March 30, 2014 I knew going into this weekend it would be tough, its basically frontal or post frontal, on and off all weekend. I didnt get to fish this weekend but sounds like I didnt miss much. Buddy called me last night to tell me a 20 boat tournament at the lake five miles down the road... results.... not a single fish between 20 boats. Quote
Super User RoLo Posted March 30, 2014 Super User Posted March 30, 2014 What's a "Guide"? It's YOUR knowledge...Use it when YOU need it. The next time you & your buddy head to the Big-G, lose the guide but remember the Knob Creek Roger Quote
Bass NC Posted March 30, 2014 Author Posted March 30, 2014 What were you targeting as far as cover/structure? I fished all sorts of structure from sunken trees near the bank to rip rap and a variety of offshore structure. Depth I fished at was between 2 and 40 feet! Quote
Super User WIGuide Posted March 31, 2014 Super User Posted March 31, 2014 I fished all sorts of structure from sunken trees near the bank to rip rap and a variety of offshore structure. Depth I fished at was between 2 and 40 feet! Ouch, that's rough! Sounds like you covered a lot of water. I can only speculate given that I've never been there before, but from looking at the navionics web app I would have picked a few of the smaller arms of the reservoir and fished from the point of the main river channel all the way to the back targeting anywhere from the bank out to about the first break line. If that worked, you could run that pattern on multiple branches. If that would have failed I probably would have tried the longer arms (looks like there's about four of them) just to see if there was anything going on in there. 1 Quote
mjseverson24 Posted March 31, 2014 Posted March 31, 2014 when the fishing is really tough I pick up about five different lures. 1) dropshot with 4-7 inch finesse worm, GYCB shad tail worm, gulp alive leech/minnow 4-5" senko 2) Spinnerbait slowrolled (color and size depend on when and where) 3) C-Rig (yeah i hate to throw them, but they freaking work) 4) flick shake 5) shakey head with 4-7 in finesse worm My advice when you are in jeopardy of a skunk pick one or two spots that meet all of the requirements to hold active fish for the conditions, then just fish the crap out of these areas leaving no rock unturned so to speak... if you dont catch in these prime areas going slow and methodical, at least you know you gave it all you had... Or you can run and gun with reaction baits the choice is really yours... Good luck... Mitch Quote
jhoffman Posted April 1, 2014 Posted April 1, 2014 I think running and gunning gets guys moving too fast. You almost have to be what I would consider a local pro or higher level tournament angler to run and gun. Its possible to pull it off on a river, but on a lake if youre not methodical while running and gunning you miss too much. Grass is always greener type of scenario. You really have to have a pattern nailed to run and gun successfully, if you junk fish it, you might pick up a couple, you wont win. Quote
Super User Bankbeater Posted April 1, 2014 Super User Posted April 1, 2014 I fished all sorts of structure from sunken trees near the bank to rip rap and a variety of offshore structure. Depth I fished at was between 2 and 40 feet! When that happens to me I take out the camera and start taking pictures. Quote
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