Super User DitchPanda Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 So I've talked on here several times about perseverance ...just being able to put your head down and grinding. So obviously my next question will vary from person to person but I'm just asking in generality. Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? To me it is very motivating and while numerous skunkings in a row can suck in general it has no negative impact on my fishing outlook....honestly its the opposite as I use it as a learning tool 4
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 Just now, DitchPanda said: Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? To me - while disappointing, it 'just is'. Being skunked happens now and then to even the best. If I get skunked, I sigh, go back home and hope my next outing is better...that's it. To me it doesn't crush my hopes or 'build character'...it just happens occasionally. 6
Super User BrianMDTX Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 Well, to be frank, there’s “I went out alll day Saturday and got skunked” and then there’s “I’ve been out 4-5 times a month the past six months and have been skunked every time.” I think the vast majority of us have been skunked on a day of fishing, used it as a learning tool and caught bass the next time on the water. But if you’ve fished 4 or 5 times a month for half a year with no bites, that’s a lot tougher to take. But, having said that, I bowhunted five years before I arrowed my first deer (a doe) and it was nine years before I put a tag on a buck. That could have been soul-crushing for some, but I stuck it out. Since then I’ve arrowed about 60 deer. Had I given up after the first year of days upon days of no sightings, I’d still be skunked. 5
Super User DitchPanda Posted February 21, 2021 Author Super User Posted February 21, 2021 31 minutes ago, BrianMDTX said: Well, to be frank, there’s “I went out alll day Saturday and got skunked” and then there’s “I’ve been out 4-5 times a month the past six months and have been skunked every time.” I think the vast majority of us have been skunked on a day of fishing, used it as a learning tool and caught bass the next time on the water. But if you’ve fished 4 or 5 times a month for half a year with no bites, that’s a lot tougher to take. But, having said that, I bowhunted five years before I arrowed my first deer (a doe) and it was nine years before I put a tag on a buck. That could have been soul-crushing for some, but I stuck it out. Since then I’ve arrowed about 60 deer. Had I given up after the first year of days upon days of no sightings, I’d still be skunked. Some important lessons in there. I look at big bass fishing alot like that...takes some work and time but once it clicks you can duplicate it. Case in point I've caught more bass 6lbs and up in the last 5 or 6 years than I did in the 15 years prior. 2
Super User Bird Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 In the winter months, getting skunked is completely normal, especially when water temps are below 40*. Once the temps climb into the 50's.......getting skunked is unacceptable. Lol 4
Super User DitchPanda Posted February 21, 2021 Author Super User Posted February 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Bird said: In the winter months, getting skunked is completely normal, especially when water temps are below 40*. Once the temps climb into the 50's.......getting skunked is unacceptable. Lol Haha..agreed...there is a water temp range for sure. Below 50 or above 80 a skunking is ok...in that range it is unforgivable! 3
Super User jbsoonerfan Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 I agree with the time of year and water temp as to how it effects me. Also, the amount of time I spend fishing plays a role. If I run to the lake for a couple hours after work in December when the water is 42 degrees and I blank, I don't let it bother me too much. On the flip side if I am fishing in March and the water is 58 degrees and I fish 8 hours and only catch 2, then I feel like I did something wrong. One is a skunk, while the other is not. However, those are totally different in my mind. 3
BTSyndrome Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 Any conditions, water temps, and clarity ... etc. I have fished, learned, and studied way long enough now I believe I can do what's needed to catch a fish every single time out! Do I still get skunked? Yes, but it is very rare this point... normally it's after heavy rain when the water has 3" visibility. I still know what to do, but the fish just don't comply.? But at these times... I'm fishing for just that one single bite!
huZZah Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 I think it’s important to learn fishing vs catching. It’s the same as consolation ribbons. We are raising generations that can’t handle adversity. The slightest difficulty and they quit. Imagine fire fighters or doctors that give up if it’s hard. Getting skunked is part of it. Life’s full if disappointments. Gotta learn to cope, deal, and move on. 3
Super User Koz Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 "Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? " Neither. I can neither control the weather nor where the fish are located and where they are biting. Heck, I've seen MLF guys get skunked during a round of fishing and those guys rely on catching fish to keep a roof over their heads so I'm not going to worry one bit of I get shut out. 6
DaubsNU1 Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 Don't really care if I get skunked...for me it's more about getting out in nature, spending time with friend/family, and/or enjoying alone time. 4 1
Super User Catt Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 8 hours ago, DitchPanda said: Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? Depends on the individual ? Some are more commited to fishing than others, some have lower expectations than others. I can have a good on the water & still on the drive home try to figure how I could have had a great day. 4
ironbjorn Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 Whatever that bone is in the body that cripples a man from failure, I ain't got it. 2
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 My situation is more relaxing. I fish where the big dogs live, without a doubt. Most of the time it works, occasionally not. I expect things to work all of the time and am not particularly disappointed when it doesn't. The exception is when I am taking someone new out for their "dream trip". I haven't been able to put my brother on a 6 lb smallmouth...yet! 3 2
MGF Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 Not being able to catch fish is like any other "problem". You can cry and stomp your feet or you can do something constructive to address the problem. I guess you can do both as long as you realize that crying and stomping your feet won't do anything to fix the problem. 1
Johnbt Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 The important question is, is everybody in the boat getting skunked or only you? 1 1
NoShoes Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 It’s tough for me. I don’t live near big water and fish a lot of places geared more towards trophies that are pretty pressured. Warmer months I do well anywhere I go. Colder months I get skunked fairly regularly at my local places. Aggravating since when I head out to big water I don’t skunk nearly as much. I ain’t going to lie and say it doesn’t bother me. It certainly gets in my head and sometimes I have to put the boat up for a bit after a couple bad outings in a row.
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 6 minutes ago, Johnbt said: The important question is, is everybody in the boat getting skunked or only you? Since I fish solo - everyone in the canoe. 1 2
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Johnbt said: The important question is, is everybody in the boat getting skunked or only you? Last summer I was fishing with Long Mike and ghoti (The Three Amigos) on the White River. Mike and Gary caught more than 50 trout, including a couple of big browns. I hooked up with one fish and lost it. That was my only bite all day. 1
Super User A-Jay Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 12 hours ago, DitchPanda said: So I've talked on here several times about perseverance ...just being able to put your head down and grinding. So obviously my next question will vary from person to person but I'm just asking in generality. Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? To me it is very motivating and while numerous skunkings in a row can suck in general it has no negative impact on my fishing outlook....honestly its the opposite as I use it as a learning tool Some fantastic responses/ perspectives in this one so far, many of which I share. Keeping this focused solely on bass fishing: From the total novice to the seasoned Pro- everyone sort of knows not catching fish or getting skunked, is part of the sport. Clearly not the best part but it's going to happen. If we equate the no catch day with failure, that could make it harder to take. It's probably not realistic to call a colossal and monumental skunking, a flaming success but when we understand going into it, it's going to happen, that might help. But the simple truth is – no great success was ever achieved without failure, in this case - a good skunking. It may be one epic skunking, or a prolonged series of skunkings. But, whether we like it or not, epic skunks are a necessary stepping stone to achieving our dreams. In my mind, the silver lining perhaps of a few royal skunkings is they provide me the proper perspective on success. As low as I may get when it happens is as high as I allow myself to be when it doesn't. A-Jay 7
Super User Bird Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 What I find interesting is the wife's behavior when I return home and report a skunk. She's like " I thought you could fish " and " you seriously never got a bite " " why do you keep ordering tackle if nothing is working ". I've tried to explain the effects of water temps and lower success rates but 35 years of her being harrassed by me, a good ole' fashion skunking evens the playing field.....somewhat. 2 1
Super User Choporoz Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 12 hours ago, DitchPanda said: Do you think getting skunked is character building or crippling? Yes. 1
Super User roadwarrior Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 The other side of getting skunked: 10
Super User Jigfishn10 Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 3 hours ago, Catt said: Depends on the individual ? Some are more commited to fishing than others, some have lower expectations than others. I can have a good on the water & still on the drive home try to figure how I could have had a great day. There's a lot of truth to this statement. There are a lot of people on this site who commit a large chunk of disposable income on gear, boat and accessories to go out and fish and want to be good at it. I tip my hat to those guys who have that time to put into what they like to do. For me, it's a casual sport that I commit only a small portion of my disposable income and that's because I chose to divert more of it to something else. Home and work life tend to take up way more time than I'd like, but I also have responsibilities to my family. I'll have to re-evaluate that when the time comes. Getting skunked is just part of it. I mean no one likes it but I'm sure you had those days where it seemed like every time you made a cast you got a strike or landed a fish...That's a false sense of the sport as well. It just doesn't happen that way. Every thing has a way of leveling out. So when I get skunked, I'm still happy that I at least got some time to myself to do another hobby I like to do. As the great philosopher Homer Simpson used to say: "If you first don't succeed, never try again." 3
Super User Spankey Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 It happens. You just have to move on and not dwell on it. Not to say you should not try to reason with it some. Maybe come up with a bit of a reason the bite was not there. Could have been you didn’t switch your baits up enough, fishing the wrong depths. It’s not like the fish were all caught or they all died. They’ll be there next time or tomorrow. 1
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