Skunked

[Rockhopper]

I can't remember the last time I went fishing and caught nothing. Like it's literally been a long long time since that's happened. Came up empty today. Still a beautiful day on the water though. Beats work. 

[GreenPig]

I've skunked many trips while locking big swim baits in my hands. It's been a long time since my last skunking throwing standard baits.

[Mike L]

6 hours ago, Rockhopper said:

I can't remember the last time I went fishing and caught nothing. Like it's literally been a long long time since that's happened. Came up empty today. Still a beautiful day on the water though. Beats work. 

Fish long enough and It happens to everybody. 
Don’t believe them if they say it didn’t 
 

 

 

 

Mike

[T-Billy]

Skunkings are a common occurrence since I took up muskie fishing. 

[Bird]

Several members on this site claimed September can be a very slow month.

I paid mind to it as I fished quite a bit this month.

Have yet to put more than 3 fish in the boat fishing 5-6 hrs.

Hang in there.

 

[Bankbeater]

Hopefully in October the bites will pick up.

The last 3 trips I have caught 1 bass, 3 bass, and 1 bass.  They haven't wanted to chase past dawn all month long.  The only thing that seems to work is a jig and craw pitched into the weeds growing up around the bank.

[Swamp Girl]

Rockhopper, I admire your sharing the skunk. Sharing the bad times makes the good times that much sweeter. 

[bowhunter63]

Keep on casting my last few trips. Have not been good. Fall bite will be cranking up 

[HawkeyeSmallie]

On 9/28/2024 at 9:17 PM, Rockhopper said:

I can't remember the last time I went fishing and caught nothing. Like it's literally been a long long time since that's happened. Came up empty today. Still a beautiful day on the water though. Beats work. 

 

If you don't mind, let's here some details.

 

Mostly wondering what baits you were throwing.

 

Thanks!

[Rockhopper]

Well I pretty much tried everything except treble baits due to the weeds.  Its a large pond/small lake I often frequent over the years that holds very respectable size and numbers of LMB. Plenty of 10+lb fish.  Lots of gills and trout too. No motors allowed.  Last trip there about 4 weeks ago landed me a 6.36 LMB.  From a kayak, you can fish one pass of the entire body of water in about 5 hours.  I do not have electronics, but have a topo map and it is a very uniform bottom.  Up to 2' shallows to the weed line, 5-10' depth in the weed line, 12-15' average depth in the middle, with one hole the size of say 3 buses parked next to each other that dips to 18'.  That is the deepest part of the lake.  Tons of structure/cover along the shore line, including a sizable beaver hut that is usually good for 3 to 4 fish.  Grass starts 3-4' from the bank and extends 10-15' towards the middle.  I fished parallel inside grass line also hitting the structure.  Outside parallel to the grass line. Dropped different presentations into the grass. Fished open water in the deepest parts.  And also top water.  I threw multiple techniques in all these locations, and even doubled back over the good areas after a couple hours to see if the bite would pick up.  I threw spinnerbait, senko, football jig with craw, keitech with underspin, keitech on a jig head, bass mafia 6" swimbait, frog, texas rig worm, and weightless fluke.  Usually can spot bass in the weeds.  Saw two fish the entire day.  Wasn't seeing fish, so I focused efforts out deeper thinking they might be down in that hole.  Tried moving baits and bottom contact baits in the hole.  Finally finished off the evening froggin' the weeds.  Like I said, no electronics, so could not locate where they were.

[Swamp Girl]

@Rockhopper: I am so impressed by your knowledge of the lake, your ability to explain it so clearly, and all the ways you tried to catch bass. I'd learn a lot fishing alongside you. 

[gim]

On 9/29/2024 at 6:58 AM, T-Billy said:

Skunkings are a common occurrence since I took up muskie fishing. 

And even more so with this guy.

 

Just the nature of the beast.

 

Catch northern pike every time but that doesn’t count in my book when the target is a muskie.

[Rockhopper]

1 hour ago, Swamp Girl said:

@Rockhopper: I am so impressed by your knowledge of the lake, your ability to explain it so clearly, and all the ways you tried to catch bass. I'd learn a lot fishing alongside you. 

You are always welcome 😊

[bp_fowler]

It’s been happening a lot to me lately as well.  Things have started to pick up a bit this last week but, it’s been dink city mostly.

[PaulVE64]

I love fishing. Wish I was better

 

 

[Swamp Girl]

3 minutes ago, PaulVE64 said:

I love fishing. Wish I was better

 

 

 

I learned so much asking the BR crew question after question. Sometimes it's confusing when they suggest ten different things.

 

@bp_fowler: Fishin' smishin'. What's important is that you're rockin' that 'stache and soul patch! 

[TOXIC]

We call skunks “dues paying days” and everybody’s gotta pay their dues.  Just can’t let it get in your head.  I posted about my trip to the St Lawrence and the extremely tough fishing it was.  Add 6 hour pull, gas, food, hotel, 3 different licenses, etc., and it’s all added pressure.  We were close to getting skunked more than once and I appointed myself the driver of the struggle bus.  Never got skunked but it was some of the toughest fishing I’ve done in a very long time.  

[Swamp Girl]

1 hour ago, TOXIC said:

We call skunks “dues paying days” and everybody’s gotta pay their dues.  Just can’t let it get in your head.  I posted about my trip to the St Lawrence and the extremely tough fishing it was.  Add 6 hour pull, gas, food, hotel, 3 different licenses, etc., and it’s all added pressure.  We were close to getting skunked more than once and I appointed myself the driver of the struggle bus.  Never got skunked but it was some of the toughest fishing I’ve done in a very long time.  

 

I'll just be that much happier for you the next time you score...and you will, of course.

[Koz]

September into early October is always a transition period here in the south. The days are rapidly getting shorter, but the water temps may hold or get cooler based upon the weather.

 

Fishing gets tough, then one day it’s like someone flipped a switch and the pre-winter feeding frenzy begins.

[Pat Brown]

I think I've said this before somewhere else - @Catt knows what I'm talking about.

 

Most days are 'opportunistic reconnaissance' every month.  There's about 4-6 days a month where *you will have a shot* at Nadine.  I don't get discouraged by a skunk.  I expect them.  I DO still catch fish but they're bonus fish.  I'm out there gathering data/information so when I encounter the monthly solunar peaks - I can capitalize and be *in the right place*.  I am a big game hunter.  I ain't fishing for tight eyes.  Most of what I'm doing is looking for where the big girls are feeding and when they are feeding - with low expectations of aggression levels conducive to biting artificial lures *most days every month*.  If I can figure out where they're eating and when - I can nail them when the sun and moon and conditions all get right *maybe*.

 

For what it's worth the only thing that will change my tune in a hurry is weather.  Low pressure front?  Gentle rain?  Little breeze?  Clouds roll in?  Sun comes out?  Oh yeah.  Now we just might be in hunt mode and out of recon mode for a lil bit.

 

😎😉🤙🏼🎣

[Fried Lemons]

It's normal for me especially this time of year. I fished multiple days in a row this new moon period during the hurricane and got one fish out of it.

[TnRiver46]

19 minutes ago, Koz said:

September into early October is always a transition period here in the south. The days are rapidly getting shorter, but the water temps may hold or get cooler based upon the weather.

 

Fishing gets tough, then one day it’s like someone flipped a switch and the pre-winter feeding frenzy begins.

Thats true for lakes but river smallies go bonkers and eat topwater sept-thanksgiving 

[gim]

35 minutes ago, Koz said:

September into early October is always a transition period here in the south. The days are rapidly getting shorter, but the water temps may hold or get cooler based upon the weather.

 

Fishing gets tough, then one day it’s like someone flipped a switch and the pre-winter feeding frenzy begins.

 

That's usually what occurs here too.  This transition period usually occurs mid to late September and the fall bite is on after that until the bottom drops out.

 

The last couple years though, September has been so warm that its simply an extension of summer.  While we are getting cooler nights on occasion, and obviously shorter days, the fish and lakes are definitely still in summer mode.  Water temps are the same as they were in early August.  Most of the leaves are still green.  And people are still recreating on the water tubing, water skiing, swimming, and wake boarding like its the middle of summer.

 

Odd to say the least but I have a feeling this is going to continue for a while...

[A-Jay]

52 minutes ago, Fried Lemons said:

It's normal for me especially this time of year. I fished multiple days in a row this new moon period during the hurricane and got one fish out of it.

Hate it for both of us,

but I am right there with ya ~ 

Last two trips on two different lake Menderchucks.

I went Sunrise to Sunset, (Plus the drive) which is a marathon for this OG.

#toast

Got No Bass - so you did better than me. 

Worst part for me is,

I'm clueless as to when the smallies are and perhaps more importantly,

where the heck they might show up next.

Expect better results here in Oct and it's

Not the way I want to wrap up any season.

But I'll keep fishing when I can

and we'll see what happens.

Might have to breakout the Old Town Canoe

and play some small ball.

Help me . . . . 

😎

A-Jay

 

[gim]

1 hour ago, A-Jay said:

I went Sunrise to Sunset, (Plus the drive) which is a marathon for this OG.

#toast

Got No Bass - so you did better than me. 

 

Brutal.  All of the sudden my 3 or 4 hour scoreless muskie outings don't seem so bad.