Help Me Kill The Skunk

[SpellCaster]

I've lost count of the number of times I've gone out fishing this year so far and I can't catch anything. 

 

I fish on the TN River in North AL, from the banks. All my normal spots I can't even find signs of fish (is that my error? Fishing memories?). Different times of day, different conditions, different presentations. I see the catch pics people post in local fishing groups on FB and they're throwing swimbaits mostly; but they're not doing a thing for me. 

 

It's demoralizing... any advice appreciated. 

[TnRiver46]

That’s a hard place to catch a fish, everybody and their brother fishes it. @Fishlegs, might be able to help, I would fish from the rocks below one of the dams 

[SpellCaster]

2 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

That’s a hard place to catch a fish, everybody and their brother fishes it. @Fishlegs, might be able to help, I would fish from the rock below one of the dams 

There were certainly a bunch of tournaments on Pickwick last year, which is where I am.

[Tennessee Boy]

I've fished the TN river in north AL a lot in the past but never from the bank.  If was going to try to catch some from the bank I would probably start below the dams.  I know there are always lots of people fishing there.  The waters below Wilson and Wheeler dams are world class for Smallmouth.  My PB smallmouth was caught off the riprap in the current below Wilson in February.  I could have hooked that fish from the bank.  I'm not sure I could have landed it.

[Fishlegs]

It may not make you feel better, but I’ve struggled from the bank this year too. It’s not just you.

 

I haven’t been able to fish much the past couple of weeks, but I’ve caught a few throwing rattle traps near the rocks, and paddle tails deeper. I typically have good luck with grubs, and craws, but it's been tough at my usual spots so far this year.

[FishTax]

If you can gain access to an unpressured pond, those are always fun to shake off the skunk. I went to one last weekend and was catching a good number of them on a spinnerbait, while the lake I usually fish is heavily pressured and I have never gained confidence with the SB there. I love pond fishing. 

[Pat Brown]

Yeah if you can find a private pond or something where nobody fishes it at all like at a neighborhood or something you can probably get your confidence back real quick.

 

As far as fishing pressured bodies of water during the spawn from the bank:  probably going to want to find some shallower stained water in a wind protected cove with good cover and get to work.

 

I also like the rip rap / dam suggestion.

 

There's always fish there and very big ones, but typically dam fish are among the hardest to fool because it is a type of cover everyone knows and it's right next to the marina usually so people don't even have to try to get there.

 

My best days on rip rap are usually heavy wind or super overcast.

[Susky River Rat]

Honestly, from what I have been reading lately and my outings you are not alone for struggling this year. Sorry, I can’t offer you anymore help on your waters. 

[VTFan]

I feel your pain. I am primarily a bank fisherman and this year I have gotten skunked more days than I've caught fish.  Throwing the same thing as last year...which may be my downfall. Water is a bit more dirty than last year and it could be I haven't adapted. JMHO.

[SpellCaster]

20 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I've fished the TN river in north AL a lot in the past but never from the bank.  If was going to try to catch some from the bank I would probably start below the dams.  I know there are always lots of people fishing there.  The waters below Wilson and Wheeler dams are world class for Smallmouth.  My PB smallmouth was caught off the riprap in the current below Wilson in February.  I could have hooked that fish from the bank.  I'm not sure I could have landed it.

 

Interesting. I haven't caught many bass below Wilson. More sauger/walleye/catfish. I have much more success just above the dam, with smallmouth, largemouth, and spots.

 

[txchaser]

Fished it a few times, albeit not from the bank. The difference between current and no current is night and day. For us, it was "please give me current" - when it was all shut off it was pretty rough.