It's Official..My fishing sucks!

[abelfisher]

Ok, I don't know what it is, but I have come to the conclusion that I should take up another leisure activity.  I went out today with my son, he caught a few dinks, I got skunked,.  I suck at this any more.  It is very frustrating (still beats work ;D ;D)  I am going to have to really rethink what I am doing.  Got some taps on some robo worms, couldn't nail them though.  Any of you ever gotten to this point where you just feel so puzzled? ??? ???

[TIEDROPE]

yea man, trust me. Everyone i talk to is catching fish but im not! Right now for me at least the weather and timing is so critical. Everyone hits a slump once in awhile

[5bass]

Just because other people SAY they are catching fish,doesnt mean that they are.People hate to admit being skunked,its a fact.And as we all know,the bass is one of the hardest fish to #1) figure out and #2) catch.

But you are not alone,everybody has a tough day from time to time.Dont sweat it.

[Jagrrich]

Don't give up yet!! I'm in the same boat with ya! I've been out 6 times and only once did I accidently catch a crappie. My 4 year old son has already out caught me! He's landed one bass and one crappie.

Tell me that makes you feel better!!

EDIT: Your gonna like this, My wife just informed me that my son won't be 4 until OCT.  :-[

[abelfisher]

Jaggrich, well i have to admit, your post does help

[Muddpuppy]

May be you are just trying to put too many new methods together too fast.  Keep fishing as your activity and use catching as a added bonus.  

But everybody has those kinds of days.  I have two friends that went today and they both got skunked. Didn't even see any one catch anything.  It happened to me last week.   :'(

[bosnmate3]

Hey man, I've been going to a local ponf every day for almost two weeks and I've caught fish on about 4 of those days,so don't beat youself up.I just kind of rig everything I have and see what happens.I'm new to the whole fishing sport so I don't think I could give you any advice as to what to try,but I can tell you what's been working for me. Topwater,Torpedoes, Zara puppys, and Chugbugs. I'm working shallow waters with lots of vegatation,and structure.So keep the faith and keep on casting. And read this forum !!! I can't tell you how much I've learned by just reading these post.  Best of luck

[Rebbasser]

Hey, even the pros get skunked from time to time.  I spent today hauling water and getting blown all over the lake, and I sure ain't no pro.  Guess that's why the call it fishin' and not catchin' ;D

[Gatorbassman]

Getting skunked is just part of fishing. We have all heard the saying, "If you caught fish every time it wouldn't be called fishing it would be called catching.".

When I just can't seem to catch a fish I force myself to stop fishing and start looking. I spend allot of time zigzagging around staring at my fish finder. I look for any structure that has baitfish close by and fish it. If I don't find fish there I cruise the shallows with my polarized glasses on, looking for fish. Not just bass, any fish. What I am looking for is an increase in the number of fish in the shallows. This tells me several things. Mainly that the oxygen and ph levels in that area are good and the fish are active. If I don't see any bass I will turn and head out into deeper water. I will fish any structure and cover I see in the general area. If the fish are there and they are active, they will usually let me know.

No mater how "fishy" an area looks, if the conditions aren't rite, the fish won't be there. I always tell myself, "You can't catch fish, if the fish aren't there.

[BassMaster]

yeah man don't give up... i'm in a slump myself... the past 5 times i've gone fishing i've gone home with nothing to show for except some sun burn... sure i was questioning myself for a while there, but a good buddy of mine kept tellin me not to question what i know i'm good at.  and if you know you're good at fishing, abelfisher, then you can't question it.  you're time will come... plus, it's spawning season, and the fish just don't bite as much as they do when it's summer time.  but just wait, and trust your instincts.  something my dad would always ask me when i was younger and we came home from a fishing trip and we were around my mom is this:  he'd ask me what my favorite thing in the world to do is... and i'd say fishing... then he'd ask what my second favorite thing to do is, and i said catching fish.  and today if he were to ask me that, i'd tell him the exact same thing.  so just let that be a lesson to you.  it's not all about catching fish, it's about going out there doing something you love to do, especially with your kid(s).  it's such an awesome thing to pass down an outdoor activity such as fishing to your son or daugter and know that they enjoy it just as much as you did when you were their age.  then they'll do the same thing with their kids.  it is something that you will enjoy all your life.  i've been doing it all my life, only 20 years, and i still look forward to going fishing with my friends, myself, and my dad.  there's just nothing else in this world quite like it...

[abelfisher]

Thanks,so far guys!  The other thing I forgot to tell you, is that somehow my 7'6 Pfleuger Trion rod(brand spankin' new) broke about a foot from the end.  How it did, I don;t know.  I just looked down

and noticed the rod looked a little weird.  Upon closer inspection the end was broken.  Hadn't even used it yet!  What a day.....  Oh well, still beats work!

[papadew]

I'm evidently in the same boat with you so far this year. After reading above posts, I remembered back to the mid '80's when Lake Jordan in NC was opened to fishing.  200+ bass per day was nothing uncommon.  I actually got "bored" catching cookie cutter bass!  10-13 inch fish would take your rod under the boat! Strongest for their size I've ever caught.  There was no challenge, but it was fun for awhile.  Now you really gotta "FISH" hard to get a few fish at this lake, but the size is altogether much bigger now.  It's like deer hunting in the wild vs shooting penned-up deer I suppose.  Hang in there. May is usually a much better time to pattern them after the spawn.  Papa

[Muddpuppy]

Take the rod back where you got it sounds like a defect.  If they won't take it back check with phlueger.  

I was watching bass slowly swim by last week.  Nice sized ones 3 and 4lbs., wouldn't respond to any thing we threw.  They didn't spook, stop or pay any attention at all.  It was kinda like throwing a cat a frizzbee.

[bassin4life]

If I caught something everytime I went then it wouldn't be a sport...sometimes when I catch nothing it teaches me more, just be more selective...don't give up....study more and watch your fishin' shows and read up on magazines it will pay off I promise

[fatbass]

Any day you fish is better than a poke in the eye with a broken Trion rod.  Sorry bout that.  Like anything, fishing has its ups and downs.  Don't worry about it, "A great day is a comin", I always say.

[abelfisher]

Mudpuppy, I took your advice and took the rod back to Fisherman's Warehouse.  They are sending it back to Pfleuger for me....no questions asked.

As frustrating as it was yesterday, heck, I went back buying more baits today (more Senko's,  beavers, and bought some "big units" also from Reaction Innovations.  I also bought some of that Mega Strike paste stuff.  Maybe that will help ;D ;D  

[Muddpuppy]

Did you tell them to tune your new rod to catch fish?   Also if you wanted to switch hobbies now, you have 2 to replace....fishing and shopping. ;D

[BassMaster]

I'm evidently in the same boat with you so far this year. After reading above posts, I remembered back to the mid '80's when Lake Jordan in NC was opened to fishing. 200+ bass per day was nothing uncommon. I actually got "bored" catching cookie cutter bass! 10-13 inch fish would take your rod under the boat! Strongest for their size I've ever caught. There was no challenge, but it was fun for awhile. Now you really gotta "FISH" hard to get a few fish at this lake, but the size is altogether much bigger now. It's like deer hunting in the wild vs shooting penned-up deer I suppose. Hang in there. May is usually a much better time to pattern them after the spawn. Papa

only fished at jordan lake a couple times, but i hear that the fishing was great in the late 80's early 90's, then people just kept keepin all the fish and the fishing has gone sorta down hill the past 10 years... i always liked falls and kerr lake better anyway

[abelfisher]

Mudpuppy, As a matter of fact, I did!  They said that would be another $15  to tune it.  Oh well, probably money well spent, don't you think! ;D

[Muddpuppy]

A true shopper if there ever was one.  

[Bassin101]

After Saturday I can relate.  Full moon Sunday, reservoir is full, game and fish says they are hitting.  I go and start by taking Chris' advise with a black buzz.  Within 20 min. had a 2.5 in the boat.  After that nothing for the day.  Sunday I go to my 36 acre lake and catch 5 and had 7 get off.  :-[

I think its because I know my lake better so I am going to do a little searching when it gest slow.

[GobbleDog]

"If you caught fish every time it wouldn't be called fishing it would be called catching."

I've come to hate that saying...  seems like people who don't fish like to say it the most. And they think they're the wittiest people alive when they say it.

In any case, I've noticed that when I tell non-fisherman that I caught 12 lbs of fish in a recent tourney, they instantly picture me pulling in fish after fish like it's the easiest thing in the world.

They don't realize it took 8 sun baking hours to catch 5 legal fish. They don't know about the HUNDREDS and HUNDREDS of casts that I made and didn't catch squat.

[bassin4life]

Gobbledog just cause sum 1 says that about fishing doesn't mean they don't fish a lot I bet not everytime you have been fishing you caught something.....its the fun and to some people a sport...I agree with Flukemaste 100% ;D

[roadwarrior]

A couple of suggestions:

1. Don't fish your tackle box, focus on a couple of simple, but effective lures. I'll be specific: Chrome and blue Rat-L Trap. Fish it parallel to cover or along the bank in  5-10 ft of water. Cast it out and burn it back, nothing fancy. White/chartreuse spinnerbait, cast and retrieve, same as above. Jitterbug, black, slow retrieve.

2. Fish points only. The water where the point extends into the lake and the shoreline on either side. Then move on to the next. At some point in the day there are (almost) always fish holding on this structure.

3. A day with a guide is a great investment.

[GobbleDog]

Gobbledog just cause sum 1 says that about fishing doesn't mean they don't fish a lot I bet not everytime you have been fishing you caught something.....its the fun and to some people a sport...I agree with Flukemaste 100% ;D

I just hate that saying.

Obviously I've been fishing and not caught anything. Everyone gets skunked now and then.