ironbjorn Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 32 minutes ago, Bird said: 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. That's the most obnoxious and irritating part of people knowing you're really into bass fishing. They just expect you to be successful every trip without understanding it's not always that easy and many different factors come into play. Hell I've had people assume I should be catching bass every cast or every few minutes. And when these things don't happen, you get the smart remarks. Of course sometimes you can look like a god too because of those very factors these people don't understand. 2
Super User gim Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 When I get completely skunked or even have a poor outing (only a few small dinks), I try to learn from it. I take observation of the conditions and lures I used. Lure selection is something I have control over and although the conditions aren’t something I can control, they are a factor I can avoid. For example, a sizzling hot summer cloudless day with lots of recreational boat traffic has often resulted in a poor success rate and it’s something I’ve learned to avoid in certain situations. These observations have helped reduce skunk or poor outings in the future. 2
Global Moderator 12poundbass Posted February 21, 2021 Global Moderator Posted February 21, 2021 The skunk is a part of life here, I don’t let it get to me. I embrace the skunk, and welcome the skunk. I even thought about painting my boat black and white with the words ‘le pew’ in big letters across the transom! 2 4
Super User Bird Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 7 minutes ago, ironbjorn said: That's the most obnoxious and irritating part of people knowing you're really into bass fishing. They just expect you to be successful every trip without understanding it's not always that easy and many different factors come into play. Hell I've had people assume I should be catching bass every cast or every few minutes. And when these things don't happen, you get the smart remarks. Of course sometimes you can look like a god too because of those very factors these people don't understand. I completely understand where your coming from, there are those types of people. My post had more of a humorous twist to it as the wife and I are going to take advantage if a door is left open to be preyed apon. When I do catch my 1st fish of 2021, I'll be all up in her face throwing down some MC hammer " you can't touch this ". ? 1
Super User Catt Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 I have detailed records of all my trips since the 70s...the skunks are there. 5
Super User NYWayfarer Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 I refused to get skunked. I will catch a minnow to tell my wife I caught something when I get home. 2 2
Super User MN Fisher Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 38 minutes ago, NYWayfarer said: I refused to get skunked. I will catch a minnow to tell my wife I caught something when I get home. There's a reason I take my panfish box with me even in the canoe. Hook, bobber, worm...bam - even a 6" sunny keeps me from being completely skunked. 4 1
Cdn Angler Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 14 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 Comes with the territory. Sometimes they just don't want to bite. Personally I try to understand why so I can avoid fishing in those conditions. I don't fish tourneys so I try to time my outings with when I'm going to get bites.
Super User DitchPanda Posted February 21, 2021 Author Super User Posted February 21, 2021 1 hour ago, ironbjorn said: That's the most obnoxious and irritating part of people knowing you're really into bass fishing. They just expect you to be successful every trip without understanding it's not always that easy and many different factors come into play. Hell I've had people assume I should be catching bass every cast or every few minutes. And when these things don't happen, you get the smart remarks. Of course sometimes you can look like a god too because of those very factors these people don't understand. I've got a perfect example of this from last year. Was fishing with a buddy whose primarily a pan fish guy...he is the farthest thing from a bass guy you can be. Well we still send reports back and forth alot...one day last spring he reports that he caught 20 or so crappies and I only caught 2-3 bass so he kinda gives me crap with the whole I don't get it thing. Well fast forward a week or two we are on his boat chasing crappies and its tough so I pick up a chatter and a few casts in i smoke a 6lb largie. Get that thing in the boat and he is more excited then I am.."holy s%$@ that's the biggest bass I've ever seen". I look at him and say this is why I do it. 3
Super User Bankbeater Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 It's part of fishing. 2
Super User Bankc Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 I'm not the kind of guy who worries about confidence. I do what I do because I want to do it, not because I'm expecting certain results. Whether I succeed or fail, I'll learn something, and that's what's important to me. I'm in it for the long haul. In thirty years time, I will have very few memories of individual experiences, but a ton of built up knowledge. 1
Super User Deleted account Posted February 21, 2021 Super User Posted February 21, 2021 Nope. Unacceptable. I refuse to get skunked. I can usually count on one hand the times I get skunked in a season.
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted February 21, 2021 Global Moderator Posted February 21, 2021 8 hours ago, roadwarrior said: 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. That’s because trout are useless animals 8 hours ago, Jigfishn10 said: 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." Other hobbies...... I always knew you were the 3rd base coach for the Sox!
Global Moderator TnRiver46 Posted February 21, 2021 Global Moderator Posted February 21, 2021 7 hours ago, NYWayfarer said: I refused to get skunked. I will catch a minnow to tell my wife I caught something when I get home. I fish a lot like you, good to have nightcrawlers. 2
PaulVE64 Posted February 21, 2021 Posted February 21, 2021 I havent caught a bass since early November but i still fish about 6 hrs/week. Its tough to locate bass in the river when the water temps are below 40. Even the trout and walleyes are stuck to the bottom of the deepest holes. 1
Super User PhishLI Posted February 22, 2021 Super User Posted February 22, 2021 Personally I'm never discouraged. I spent years getting the living crap kicked out of me then went back for more simply in order to compete. That's just how it goes. Getting skunked is just like getting a bruise. Skunked comes down to my failure to find fish. Not the moon cycle, or fishing pressure, or the barometer, just me. In my head if I keep thinking and working I'll win eventually. Winning soothes the bruises every time. 1
Super User Bird Posted February 22, 2021 Super User Posted February 22, 2021 I carry vinegar, hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to help eliminate the odor of skunk.....works on my dogs. 1
mcipinkie Posted February 22, 2021 Posted February 22, 2021 Getting skunked is, IMO, the same as catching the snot out of them. Sometimes it happens, either of them, but that's it. Learn from it, move on. It's a hobby for most of us. Catching fish is fun, more fun that not catching fish, and I love it either way, but it ain't no life changing event. 1
Global Moderator Bluebasser86 Posted February 22, 2021 Global Moderator Posted February 22, 2021 It happens, I just try to learn from it. Reflect and try to think of why (real reasons why, not excuses), I didn't get bit. I believe the good fishermen learn more from the tough days than the good days. Anyone can catch them when they're jumping in the boat, it's when you're grinding for them and having to listen and adjust and scrape for every bite that the truly good anglers rise up and find a way to get those bites, most days ?
Super User Hammer 4 Posted February 22, 2021 Super User Posted February 22, 2021 9 minutes ago, Bluebasser86 said: It happens, I just try to learn from it. Reflect and try to think of why (real reasons why, not excuses), I didn't get bit. I believe the good fishermen learn more from the tough days than the good days. Anyone can catch them when they're jumping in the boat, it's when you're grinding for them and having to listen and adjust and scrape for every bite that the truly good anglers rise up and find a way to get those bites, most days ? ^^^^^ This.
Biglittle8 Posted February 22, 2021 Posted February 22, 2021 I have a good time no matter how many fish I catch. It could be worse ... I could be at work! When I get skunked, it makes me think about how I approached the day of fishing and could I have done something different. I make a mental note of how I fished, where I fished and how can I get better results. Can I learn a different technic? Should I research some articles on the conditions I was fishing in? As anglers we never stop learning. I love the challenge of catching fish, it drives me to learn from every resource I can utilize. But in my opinion... Unless you do it for a living, it's should to be enjoyable! Let's face it.... Sometimes the fish don't bite. 1
Lead Head Posted February 22, 2021 Posted February 22, 2021 When I was younger, it bothered me way more than it does now. I always had a spincast reel and beetlespins just to help avoid a skunk. Over the last 20 years, I've raised kids, lost loved ones, and just experienced life. Somewhere in that spann of time, I grew to just enjoy being on the water. Fish, or no fish, I'm happy and relaxed while I'm out there. I really do put a lot of effort into catching them, it just don't bother me much when I don't. 1
Ravox Posted February 22, 2021 Posted February 22, 2021 I confess that bothers me a little, i sometimes believe if there is something wrong with the way i fish, the bait etc.. Im getting hard days and I live in Florida... not sure if the fish here are extremely temperature sensitive, but not having lucky and getting skunked in different places with different baits
skekoam Posted February 22, 2021 Posted February 22, 2021 Well we live in southern california where the skunk is very common unless you have access to a private lake or own a boat. For me, it sucks but my son almost takes it personally when we don't catch. I've been trying to teach him to deal with it better as he is 10. If he wants to continue fishing into adult hood he really needs to be more patient and not let things like getting skunked affect him so much. The kid just loves fishing so much.
Super User DitchPanda Posted February 23, 2021 Author Super User Posted February 23, 2021 6 hours ago, skekoam said: Well we live in southern california where the skunk is very common unless you have access to a private lake or own a boat. For me, it sucks but my son almost takes it personally when we don't catch. I've been trying to teach him to deal with it better as he is 10. If he wants to continue fishing into adult hood he really needs to be more patient and not let things like getting skunked affect him so much. The kid just loves fishing so much. Its tough as a kid. I remember growing up we lived about 50 miles from Galveston Texas and I waited all week for those overnight pier trips with my Dad on Friday or Saturday night. I remember several times the weather ruined our plans which was tough but what really sucked as a kid was going and not catching. Just didn't seem fair to me to wait all week...the fish owed it to me to bite!
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