2020 is proving to be a tough year.

[JediAmoeba]

Beyond the curveball life has thrown at us this year, it is proving to be really tough for me fishing wise - I have fished more this year than almost all the years of my life and the number of fish I have caught is terribly low...  235 bass and sitting around 1 bass for every 1.5 hours fished. Nothing really big either.  

 

Is anyone else having a tough year or am I just crapping the bed?  Maybe I need to take up golf again?

 

 

[Spankey]

Everyone situations are different. My numbers are certainly not there. Oh well what can I do. I’m an essential worker in the drilling field so I have not had any down time due to corona virus. I would be fishing more. 
 

But I have caught some nice fish this season. Not a new PB. I’m not concerned about it but where are the dink’s and runts. Thought for sure I’d have gotten are real lot more of them. 
 

I’ve had my grandsons out. I for the most part don’t fish than. Don’t care to. Takes away from my fishing but it’s fun watching them. They gotten a full mixed bag this year. They need to catch a striper  Then it might be full cycle for them at the lake. They need a Musky also. 
 

I just recently fished a new to me lake. Had nothing to go on but the State Park Map from online. Blind. Sort of went into it with a plan. Plan didn’t start out too well but when I got to a piece of structure I knew I was gonna hit I caught a 13”, 14” and 16” fish off of it. Gonna hit there in the fall again. I feel I had to be satisfied with my results. 
 

I use to keep a journal like you when I was a lot younger. I use to be a river Smallie addict. Still am. Use to fish for the numbers. 40-60 fish days. Some nice ones. A lot of dink’s and runts. Heck you could really only fish 3 different lures and do it. But next year will be different, so will the following. You might catch a 7 1/2 pounder tomorrow and all your woes will be non existent. 
 

But there are guys on here and out there who may not catch 235 bass in their life time. Let alone in one season. And they may be fishing as hard as you are.  Sometimes you have to be happy with what it is. Not too sure how sympathetic they will be. I hope you catch a nice one for your efforts. I wouldn’t concern myself with the numbers. 

[TnRiver46]

Everything is all normal down this way, fishing wise. River rolling downhill, bass eating plastic worms. Here’s hoping for better luck the rest of the year 

[browne762]

Hasn't been a high numbers year for me either. I get out pretty much every Saturday and Sunday assuming no rain. Going back to April/May when I could first get out (no more ice) it was slow. Got a bit better early June. Lots of heat, wind and rain I only got out two days in July. 

 

I am sure the fish are more pressured this year due to COVID bringing out way way way more people then in years past. Normally now there are 3-5 people waiting in lines at a full parking lot to launch were as last year the parking lot was never full. 

 

All the extra people are making it less entertaining/relaxing/fun for me this year too so I spend less time on the water. 

[roadwarrior]

Hmm...

Started the year 1/05/20 with my Personal Best at Lake ToHo.  Then the numbers got better!

 

[gim]

I have had the best season that I have ever had so far, and I've still got another 2+ months to fish.  I really can't say why though because I have pretty much fished the same lakes/rivers that I have for the past 15-20 years.  There is noticeably more people fishing this season too, which adds more pressure, which usually results in tougher fishing.  Its not just a numbers game either, its big quality size fish too.  I often have poor outings and what I would call mediocre outings mixed in with a couple of great days during the season, but this year every time I have gone it has been at least satisfactory and 9 out of 10 trips have been in the category I would call "great."  In a normal season, the bite would often slow down around the 4th of July when it gets super hot out and then stay poor until September when the water cools down - definitely not the case this season either.  Additionally, almost all my success has been on moving lures.  Tactics I would call power fishing.  I haven't really haven't had to resort to finesse fishing with plastics which is also very different from other seasons.  Even if the next 2 months of fishing is poor, its going to be my best season ever.

 

Jedi, you inspired me to try some night fishing too this season, something I haven't done in years.  It was highly successful, even for only a couple hours.

 

 

 

[Herbert Lorenzo]

It's been good , but summer has been a challenge. Everything  is finesse right now including the size of bass caught this summer. 

[roadwarrior]

[Bird]

Had better than average spring then the HORDES hit the water in full force, way above average pressure so took a break. 

 

Started fishing again this week " going in morning " and been doing ok on plastic worms texas and drop shot, pumpkin chartreuse. 

 

I fish year around so looking forward to some solitude in the cooler months. 

 

Good fishing be safe.

[Sphynx]

Been tough sledding for me this year, the COVID deal screwed the pooch on fishing the spawn, which is arguably the best time of the year to be a bank angler, summers are always tough, and the jury is still out on the fall bite, as we aren't there yet, but I like to think I'm going to make up for the pathetic results so far when mid-late September or October roll in and the fish mostly move back shallow. 

[Spankey]

17 minutes ago, Sphynx said:

Been tough sledding for me this year, the COVID deal screwed the pooch on fishing the spawn, which is arguably the best time of the year to be a bank angler, summers are always tough, and the jury is still out on the fall bite, as we aren't there yet, but I like to think I'm going to make up for the pathetic results so far when mid-late September or October roll in and the fish mostly move back shallow. 

I’m with you on that. My plan is to really switch gears a bit and hit the river hard between September and mid to late October. The river has been my home since I was a young guy but Mother Nature has messed it up the last handful of years and I’ve become a laker. I’ll start to get on it and see what I can figure out. 
 

I’ve called out sick from work more than any working man in history on Columbus Day. My previous PB Smallie was caught on that day and my Current PB Smallie broken one on that day. I’ve hit every weather senerio on that day for the month of October over the years. But the majority off of memory were sunny, partly cloudy, windless days of fishing topwater, cranks, and plastics. This year should be no different. I’m not working that day. 

[DitchPanda]

I've been fishing an average amount of time...maybe even less the past several weeks due to working 50 or 60 hours a week for 3 weeks. Numbers wise I'm not sure but id guess I'm between 200 and 250 for the year maybe even North of that honestly...I've has several 15 fish outings...one weekend I caught 50 or so in about 8 hours total. Just last Thursday I caught 14 in a little over 2hrs. Today was the slowest outing I've had in a while and I still managed 3 decent largies and a nice smallie plus had 2 more hit right at shore and pull off. Size wise I've caught several bass around 5, two 6s and a 7. Weirdest thing for me is the same for everybody which is crazy amounts of people fishing..I've had to be creative when I fish and where I fish but I've still been catching them so I guess it's working out fine.

[DanielG]

Early spring really bad, then an uptick later on so I had hope, then it just died... and I mean died. They drained the lake a bit lower last year to repair the dam. I'm thinking that might have done it.

[NYWayfarer]

15 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

 I have fished more this year than almost all the years of my life and the number of fish I have caught is terribly low...  235 bass and sitting around 1 bass for every 1.5 hours fished. Nothing really big either.  

Sorry to hear this. Fishing more and catching less and low quality has to be frustrating. 
 

It has been the opposite for me. I have had more time to fish, caught more fish and got my PB. With more time I have been hitting new places and trying new rigs and techniques. Some of them have paid big dividends for me. Without that extra time I would have stuck to the same places and confidence baits.

[Sphynx]

5 hours ago, Spankey said:

I’m with you on that. My plan is to really switch gears a bit and hit the river hard between September and mid to late October. The river has been my home since I was a young guy but Mother Nature has messed it up the last handful of years and I’ve become a laker. I’ll start to get on it and see what I can figure out. 
 

I’ve called out sick from work more than any working man in history on Columbus Day. My previous PB Smallie was caught on that day and my Current PB Smallie broken one on that day. I’ve hit every weather senerio on that day for the month of October over the years. But the majority off of memory were sunny, partly cloudy, windless days of fishing topwater, cranks, and plastics. This year should be no different. I’m not working that day. 

This is the nice part about this year, I am working one of those stupidly lucrative contracts, and I have every intention of asking the arsehole boss in my self employed company about taking a week or two off during the fall...somehow I think I can convince him if I agree to take him along...tackle warehouse is probably going to be another beneficiary of this years sweetheart deal. LOL

[BoatSquirrel]

20 hours ago, JediAmoeba said:

Maybe I need to take up golf again?

Naw man- you need to switch out your fishing hat.  Hats are tied directly to fishing success.  I had a giant- 10lbr+  spit a crankbait at the boat in December of 2016.  Then, I got skunked for my next 6 trips.  My lucky hat was broken.  Got the right new hat and been on a good roll ever since.  Hope that helps bro!

[TriStateBassin106]

For me it's been good considering the situation I'm in as I can only fish certain bodies of water and I fish from the bank, I keep track of all the bass I caught this year compared to 2019, by the end of 2019 I had 48 bass logged in fishbrain and in total I probably caught around 50 without logging a few, this past sunday I logged my 101st fish on there. 

 

My first bass this year was caught on the 8th of may and I've caught 53 since then and the season isn't even over, in 2019 I started late and didn't really catch any until mid july and was on a hot bite until mid november then it started slowing down, if I play my cards right and manage to get a hot bite again which has been non exist recently (thanks heat wave) I'm hoping to log another 50 or so before that late fall period comes around. Definitely upping my numbers compared to last year. 

 

 

If I was in your shoes Mr Jedi I would take 200+ fish every year!! Lmao! 

 

 

[RoLo]

 

We haven’t been out a lot this year, but can't complain about size, though nothing to write home about.

Heck, a month from now, we’ll both be looking at another ballgame ?

 

Roger

[TriStateBassin106]

12 hours ago, gimruis said:

I have had the best season that I have ever had so far, and I've still got another 2+ months to fish.  I really can't say why though because I have pretty much fished the same lakes/rivers that I have for the past 15-20 years.  There is noticeably more people fishing this season too, which adds more pressure, which usually results in tougher fishing.  Its not just a numbers game either, its big quality size fish too.  I often have poor outings and what I would call mediocre outings mixed in with a couple of great days during the season, but this year every time I have gone it has been at least satisfactory and 9 out of 10 trips have been in the category I would call "great."  In a normal season, the bite would often slow down around the 4th of July when it gets super hot out and then stay poor until September when the water cools down - definitely not the case this season either.  Additionally, almost all my success has been on moving lures.  Tactics I would call power fishing.  I haven't really haven't had to resort to finesse fishing with plastics which is also very different from other seasons.  Even if the next 2 months of fishing is poor, its going to be my best season ever.

 

Jedi, you inspired me to try some night fishing too this season, something I haven't done in years.  It was highly successful, even for only a couple hours.

 

 

 

Same man! It's been an amazing season for me!! Got on some nice sized fish this year! 

[JediAmoeba]

52 minutes ago, BoatSquirrel said:

Naw man- you need to switch out your fishing hat.  Hats are tied directly to fishing success.  I had a giant- 10lbr+  spit a crankbait at the boat in December of 2016.  Then, I got skunked for my next 6 trips.  My lucky hat was broken.  Got the right new hat and been on a good roll ever since.  Hope that helps bro!

It's funny you say this...I am fairly superstitious with things like this.  I had a favorite fishing hat that is chewed up a bit from my dog when he was a puppy.  Anyway, back on February 1st of this year he died very unexpectedly of bloat at 7 years old.  He was my pup and went fishing with me here at the house a lot of times...i couldn't wear the hat anymore and it was pretty ragged so I threw it out.  

 

I think you are right - I need a new hat with some new mojo.

[lunkerboss923]

I live in the Houston area and the bite was hot from March to May, then it just went cold. I could still manage to catch a few, but not consistently. I can't even get the idiot bluegill to bite. 

[JediAmoeba]

I have been all over the place this year - fishing tournaments in my friends boat, fishing from the bank, fishing from the yak, fishing with my kids and fishing a lot of new water.  I find myself fishing new water because I am searching for a bite that I can't find.  Even the ned rig is a dog this year in waters I used to kill it with.  Don't get me wrong, I am catching some fish but I really have to grind for them. 

 

I have the time so fish around 30 hours a week.  The other day we fished a new lake - Lily Lake.  It's a natural glacial lake and basically a bowl - the whole outside is sedimented in with coontail extremely thick...i got skunked and its first time in a long time thats happened.  6 hours and a few bites but nothing - Not even a pickerel.  I threw the kitchen sink out there and left thoroughly dejected.  I have only had 2 double digit fish days this year, one was a 28 bass day in a tournament a few weeks ago and only a 5 fish bag of 7.25 pounds, so nothing stellar.  

 

 So this week the kids and I are packing up the car and going catfishing/carping for an evening since the wife is away for 5 days at a bachelorette party.  That should be enjoyable with very few expectations beyond snacks and skipping stones.

 

 

 

[MIbassyaker]

I usually get to fish about 2-5 hours at a time, once or twice a week between late April and beginning of September, with a handful of other excursions here and there the rest of the year.

 

This year I am down in terms of overall time spent fishing, total numbers, and catch rate compared to the last few years.

To date 2020:

20 waterbodies (14 natural lakes, 3 impoundments, 2 free-flowing river stretches, 1 gravel pit)

104 hours

205 bass

1.97 per hour

 

 

 

 

 

[Bluebasser86]

No idea about my bass per hour ratio, but I've had several 50+ fish days and my 2 biggest of the year were both 6 3/4lb fish, and I've caught more smallmouth over 4lbs than I can ever remember catching in KS. I feel like I've done well staying one step ahead of the crowd. I hear about a good bite somewhere else and resist the urge to go there, knowing everyone else will be heading there chasing the hot bite. I sneak out to a different lake and whack them there a time or two before I let it be known and then, when my bait is set, I head to a different lake because a swarm of people are going to chase that bite without fail. One big benefit of having so many small lakes as well as several bigger reservoirs within an hours drive.

[BrianMDTX]

I’ll make this short and sweet. Haven’t really fished in almost 30 years until this May. Moved from MD to TX last August. Since May:

 

Caught my PB (22” between 6 and 7 lbs); likely double over my best ever

 

Catch at least one bass over 2 lbs on every trip but one 

 

Caught my first bass on a spinnerbait two weeks ago

 

Caught my first topwater bass (4 lbs.) ever on a Whopper Plopper 75 last Sunday

 

Got two new baitcasting and one spinning rig since June (and when my new rod shows up I’ll have a 2nd new spinning rig)

 

Bought a Sea Eagle Packfish 7 to get me out on the water (first boat in 40 years)

 

Having the best year of fishing in my life!