Got Skunked! Need Help!

[jbsoonerfan]

I don't think I have mentioned this yet, so let me preface my story.

I have always been a pond fisherman, and have never fished a large body of water. Well as it turns out I was able to buy a boat about two weeks ago. Since then I have been out on the lake twice. I only caught 1 the first time, and I was skunked the second time. I have done my research and read many articles and magazines yet I am still unable to find fish. The lake I fish has standing timber everywhere, and this is usually what I concentrate on. I have thrown everything I can think of and I just simply can't find a fish. I think the weather might have something to do with it, because it has been really crazy, but I am not going to use that as an excuse. I still feel like I should be putting fish in the boat. I tried the senko technique on Sunday but only got 1 bite. What suggestions would you guys give me for finding and catching fish?

If there is anything I need to add just let me know.

JB

[Deuceu72]

Hmmmm..............try fishing the bends in the submerged timber.........Find timber that is adjacent to a creek channel.......try to figure if the fish are on the insides of the trees or the outside........look for trees next to a spawning flat or spawning cove.........keep working..........you'll find them...........

[Shakes]

You need to find yourself a good spinnerbait that you really love to throw. Its so smooth on the retrieve, you've got great control over it, and it looks so good in the water. Just throw it. Don't even think about catching fish. When I get into a slump, I stop caring about catching fish and just enjoy the great outdoors and the feel of the cast and retrieve. After enough time, you're bound to catch something.

Good luck and have fun.

- Aaron

[Siebert Outdoors]

welcome to boat ownership.

#1 water time. You can read all the articles, posts, how too, etc. Unless you learn how to apply these tips and tricks it really doesnt matter.

I dont mean that in a errogant or hateful way I mean it in a constructive way. Water time, application, and attention to detail is the best learning tool.

#2  Boat control,  need to learn how to position the boat to effectively fish an area without compromising the area.  

#3 start with what you know. If your a good texas rig fisherman start there. Then broaden horizens as you build confidence.

As for the lake,

I hate fishing standing timber. I'd find laying timber, weeds, creek channels, or rock. My last resort would be standing deep water timber. If the timber isnt that deep 3-10ft throw a t rig or jig around the stump areas. Or try a jerkbait, crank, or trap if the fish are a bit more aggressive.

[msmonroe]

Up until March, I fished from the bank exclusively (except when I cobbled up enough $$ to fish with a guide). However, in March, my dad bought a small bass boat. Now we find ourselves in a similiar predicament. Where are the fish? It is almost like we are fishing on a new lake.

Part of the answer, I'm sure, is just learning the lake better, how various weather conditions affect the behavior of the bait fish, etc. Part of the answer is based on what the fish are feeding on that day and whether your bait/presentation is appropriate for all of the conditions above. For us, it has all boiled down to learning the lake better.

Here are a few things we have done to help, though we are still far from being experts.

- get a map of the lake that can tell you where the humps, dips, creekbeds, etc are (or a fishfinder that has the lake mapped out)

- build out a plan of attack ahead of time for a given spot on the lake (what lures you will use first, then second, etc.)

- work that area for a while and be patient

- if that doesn't work go try another area of the lake that has totally different structure

We spent several hours last Sunday in a cove with lots of timber. We fished with Senkos and lizzards and even lipless crankbaits but got nothing. We then moved about a mile up the lake to deeper water (10' - 14') and started reeling them in with deep diving crankbaits.

I started out thinking that the bass were sure to be in the shallows because of how warm the water was, but, I was either wrong, or we were not doing something right. Oh well. I'll just add that episode to my field of experience, learn something from it and hope to do better next time.

Good luck.

[logger]

welcome to boat ownership.

#1 water time. You can read all the articles, posts, how too, etc. Unless you learn how to apply these tips and tricks it really doesnt matter.

I dont mean that in a errogant or hateful way I mean it in a constructive way. Water time, application, and attention to detail is the best learning tool.

I have to agree with the water time comment. Speaking from personal experience, I have had a boat for 3 years now and regardless of all the tv show and articles I read I still had a very sub-par first season in the boat, with many many skunk days. There is a learning curve, its frustrating but you'll get it. Try some of the suggestions from these guys , you'll do fine just enjoy the time on the water.

[tbone31]

You have to remember you have only been out twice. I can still remember my first year in a boat. I thought the boat would make it so much easier, I got skunked alot. Remember the only way you are going to learn is to be out there fishing. I'm not sure but I think the pros probably fish no less than 300 days a year, and if it was that easy to catch bass eaveryone would be doing it!! Good luck hope you catch'em

[Root beer]

I'm agree with gman.

When dad and I bought our first boat 3 years ago, we got skunk A lot. We caught tons of bluegills and crappie, just not a lot of bass. Then we started to pay attention to what we are fishing, how we are fishing, and how the boat posistion has to do with it. Then from there we began to learn and build confidence. Now 3 years later we are starting to catch bass consisently.  

I wouldn't posistion my self too close to the covers your fishing it'll spook the bass. There not a lot we can say, execpt learn, learn learn, pay attention to what your doing out there, and dont sink your boat!

Better yet meet somebody in a club and go fishing with them and watch how they fish learn how they do it then try to duplicate it.

You just need some experience and keep learning. Eventually you'll learn.

When you catch that first fish investigate why, and duplicate it.

[lookin_for_5]

    Not enough can be said for time on the water, but don't just go out to catch fish, go out to enjoy the time on the water.

    Now that being said here is something to try next time you are out. Instead of pulling into a cove with a ton of standing timber try to find one with a balance of chunk and timber with axcess to deeper water this way it will give you a variety of cover to hit without running all over the lake, Then once you find out what structure the fish are relating to you can concentrate on those with different techniques untill you find the one that is working best.

    That should eliminate alot of water so you don't kill time fishing where they ain't.

P.S. A map helps a ton.

[VekolBass]

Don't let the timber distract you from the basics of bass fishing. Structure is still important, creek channels, points and flats. Try fishing "edge" areas where several elements meet. For instance a point with grass on it that is surrounded by the timber. Or perhaps try fishing an area where there is no timber, like a flat. As some others have mentioned, time on the water is the only way to go through all the possibilities.

Also, make sure the body of water where you are at has a good bass population. There is a river close to where I live that is a good example. It looks like ideal bass habitat.  Laydowns everywhere. I spent at least 40 hours fishing this river last spring without a single bass (plenty of catfish hit my lures, as did a bowfin). I was beginning to seriously question myself. I started fishing another body of water and had immediate success doing the same exact things that were not working on the first river. When all else fails--go somewhere else.