Some advice for getting skunked.

[TriStateBassin106]

Since some on here are currently struggling with the bite right now (myself included) I just wanted to say that I've had some days where the fish just don't want anything you give them.. We all probably have on here. No matter how many times you downsized lures or slowed down.. Some days you're just gonna get flat out skunked. I know it sucks and if it happens frequently it can be pretty demoralizing for you. But also remember as bass anglers getting skunked can be a good learnimg experience. For me after getting skunked is like watching football flim after a team loss. You look at your mistakes and try to re evaluate and understand what you did wrong and what you could do to improve, the same mindset applies to bass fishing. 

 

 

My advice to all the newer anglers right now is just hang in there, never give up and when the deck is stacked against you...escape your comfort zone and try out new things! Gain knowledge by going on sites like Bassresource and put time on the water! You'll overcome!! 

 

What advice do you guys have for the newer anglers getting skunked and frustrated? 

[roadwarrior]

https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-videos/fall-dropshot-tips.html

[Tatsu Dave]

Never despair, what has worked for you on good days will still continue to work for you. We just powered thru a couple dismal fishing trips due to a sudden hot spell putting fall transition into reverse. We went with the thread title on here right now.....when you KNOW the big ones are here. They don't move to another state or lake they just stop biting like usual for a couple days or even a week or so but it comes back and the net and scale go back into use  I know what colors and lures work for me and I don't waiver, its those skunky days that make this game a challenge and fun to play. 

 

I'm real lucky where I live, we don't encounter other fisherman very often. The launch area's are quiet and no lines  lakes and rivers we like aren't lined with homes and camps. There are still terrible days and we know its not to blame on pressure or boat activity its just a time the bites off........BUT we still know the big fish are there and its just a day to enjoy the wildlife and sunrise and watch the eagles fish. 

 

I do have one suggestion for those bad days, I put on a small 1/8 oz shakeyhead jig and rig it weedless with a ribbontail grub. If that don't work I go home and get on BassResource and read posts.     Dave

[roadwarrior]

[BigAngus752]

1.  It's much, much more difficult to get skunked in a boat.  It still happens but you have so much more access that it's much less likely.  Does that give you a good reason to buy a boat or kayak?  You're welcome.  

 

2.  Ned rig. 

 

3.  Fish for other species.  If I really think I'm not going to catch one single bass I will sometimes just start fishing for bluegill.  There are lots of fish and all are fun to catch.  

 

 

[BrianMDTX]

Two pints o’ Guinness removes the stench of the skunk. 
 

Sometimes three. 

[Bankbeater]

Write it down in the fish log.  I know a lot of guys only log their catches, but I make an entry even when I get skunked.  When you look at it later, you may see something that stands out.

[schplurg]

This summer I discovered stick worms (YUM Dingers...) after a months long skunk - months! I have caught every fish since then on plastic worms, including my 3rd biggest ever - 4.2 pounder - a few days ago.

[MIbassyaker]

On 9/12/2020 at 7:17 AM, BigAngus752 said:

1.  It's much, much more difficult to get skunked in a boat.  It still happens but you have so much more access that it's much less likely.  Does that give you a good reason to buy a boat or kayak?  You're welcome. 

Yup.  Getting a kayak even improved my shore fishing -- by spending time physically on the water I got used to seeing angles and locations I just missed previously. 

 

4 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

Write it down in the fish log.  I know a lot of guys only log their catches, but I make an entry even when I get skunked.  When you look at it later, you may see something that stands out.

Yup. Keep track of not just what you caught and on what lure, but what also what you tried, where you went, what didn't work, what choices you made and why.  You will start so see which decision points may have been misguided, as well as which ones were borne out by successful catches.

4 hours ago, schplurg said:

This summer I discovered stick worms (YUM Dingers...) after a months long skunk - months! I have caught every fish since then on plastic worms, including my 3rd biggest ever - 4.2 pounder - a few days ago.

 

Yup. They look so dumb, and yet...

I am constitutionally incapable of not having some with me every time I bring any rod, anywhere.

[Mbirdsley]

Bass fishing is alot like baseball.  If you have a bad day There is always tommrow or the next trip to look foward too.  Had a couple bad fishing trip this week. I only caught a bunch of hammer handle pike Sunday than a dink Thursday.  I was ready To put the boat up for the winter.  Guess what 6 hrs later I was planning my next fishing day 

[Spankey]

“Never give up”. I put two nice fish in the boat yesterday. Had a couple of long distance releases also. 
 

The last few weeks have been some tough fishing. I’m finding them still not being very active or aggressive. Slow plastics presentation has gotten them for me. Cranking has yielded nothing for the last few weeks. 
 

Hang tough and fish your way through it. Every time out I’m fishing for that 6 lb’r. Weekend can’t get here soon enough to keep trying. 

[Jermination]

On 9/11/2020 at 9:39 PM, TriStateBassin106 said:

Since some on here are currently struggling with the bite right now (myself included) I just wanted to say that I've had some days where the fish just don't want anything you give them.. We all probably have on here. No matter how many times you downsized lures or slowed down.. Some days you're just gonna get flat out skunked. I know it sucks and if it happens frequently it can be pretty demoralizing for you. But also remember as bass anglers getting skunked can be a good learnimg experience. For me after getting skunked is like watching football flim after a team loss. You look at your mistakes and try to re evaluate and understand what you did wrong and what you could do to improve, the same mindset applies to bass fishing. 

 

 

My advice to all the newer anglers right now is just hang in there, never give up and when the deck is stacked against you...escape your comfort zone and try out new things! Gain knowledge by going on sites like Bassresource and put time on the water! You'll overcome!! 

 

What advice do you guys have for the newer anglers getting skunked and frustrated? 

my piece of advice to new anglers (especially here in the south) is if you enjoy fishing in August and September, you're going to absolutely love it the other 10 months of the year. 

 

Do something different. doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result rarely if ever works. 

 

You can never get too shallow for largemouth, especially in the early Fall. 

 

Get good with the fairy wands and develop a good rotation between shaky head, neko/wacky, ned, drop shot. If you have those 4 tied on you will ALWAYS catch at least one fish

[Captain Phil]

Every lake is different.  Here in Florida, August and September fishing means blazing hot mornings and rainy afternoons.  Rising lake levels kicks off our flipping season.   As lake levels rise, the fish follow the water level.  That's when I get out my flipping stick and go to work.  You won't find many fish on sparse shallow banks.  Fish the thickest deepest cover you can find.   If deep water is nearby, that's a bonus.  Some of the biggest bass I have pulled out of weed beds have been caught in August and September.  It's brutal sometimes boring fishing, but the rewards can be worth the effort.

[Talio]

I took a year off from fishing to get my life right and came back this year to almost no fish.  I must have gone out a dozen times without a single hit.  I totally agree with you that this can be a gift.  It re-invigorates your love for the sport.  I had gotten to a place before where I almost never got skunked.  Finally, I bought some new equipment, because I knew I was making compromises and a whole bunch of new baits I never tried.  I rented a cabin on a small, 23 acre private lake that had incredibly low pressure and got one on my first cast.  Proceeded to catch 40+ bass throughout the week.  Stella got her groove back!  Now I'm doing much, much better back at home.  That one week away on that playground of a fishing lake was just what I needed to get my confidence back.

 

I mean, it's a tough year.  I dunno about the rest of you, but quarantine has definitely put more boaters on the water.  The pressure on public water this year is immense I think.  I've been watching the pros and they're all out drop shotting in super deep water no matter where they go.  I don't think that's an accident.  I think most of us may be seeing the toughest bite we'll ever seen in our lives and I think our efforts to try to adapt to this will only make us better anglers in the coming years. 

[NYWayfarer]

On ‎9‎/‎12‎/‎2020 at 7:17 AM, BigAngus752 said:

1.  It's much, much more difficult to get skunked in a boat.  It still happens but you have so much more access that it's much less likely.  Does that give you a good reason to buy a boat or kayak?  You're welcome.  

 

2.  Ned rig. 

 

3.  Fish for other species.  If I really think I'm not going to catch one single bass I will sometimes just start fishing for bluegill.  There are lots of fish and all are fun to catch.  

 

 

I like all 3 pieces of advice.

 

1) When the bite gets tough from shore its time to break out my kayak and go find em'

 

2) Ned rig has saved me from a skunk many a day.

 

3) On days I can't catch a Bass to save my life I tie on a Crickhopper or inline spinner on my finesse setup (200 size reel/ML rod) and catch boatloads of Sunfish, Fallfish and Perch.

[DitchPanda]

I've got no advice to give because I've never been skunked..not once. And if your gullible enough to believe that crap you need help with more than fishing.