How often do you get skunked? 2025
jemackinnon83 reply :
I didn't catch a fish all day today. Yesterday I fished 6 hours and caught 2. I fish twice a week usually and the past few weeks I've been getting skunked 1 of the 2 days:(. I was wondering how often you guys go out and don't catch anything? Be honest:).
Evan Pease reply :
At my favorite lake I belive I went all of last year with only 2 or 3 skunkages. When I go to a lake I havent been to in a while it gets nasty though.
cajun1977. reply :
when out on the boat i hardly ever get skunked, but when im ice fishing im usually to drunk, cold, or lazy to even care about catching anything ;D
Rayraff reply :
I have never gone out on a boat and got skunked, but sometimes I won't catch anything over 1.5lb
cajun1977. reply :
QuoteI have never gone out on a boat and got skunked, but sometimes I won't catch anything over 1.5lb
then you havent been fishing long enough
LCpointerKILLA reply :
whenever a ton of people are fishing the same ponds... I get skunked on these ponds a lot during the spawn because every golfer is fishing. This is when I call up buddies with boats!!
-hydrillagorilla- reply :
Skunked today matter of fact! :-/
tommy reply :
QuoteQuoteI have never gone out on a boat and got skunked, but sometimes I won't catch anything over 1.5lbthen you havent been fishing long enough
this is true... ;D
Branuss04 reply :
Usually if I'm out on a boat, 1 out of every 4 trips during the tough part of the season. If i'm pond fishing, usually never.
Jimzee reply :
I'd say at least once a week on average during the year if I have to be truthful. 
Catt reply :
Depends on the body of water I'm fishing
On Toledo Bend rarely but on Lacassine its normal that's why the locals call it Lac-a-sense because you have to have a lack of sense to fish it.
Low_Budget_Hooker reply :
Couple times in the spring, couple times in the fall.
Alpster reply :
On my home lake, almost never get skunked, but have a ton of one & two fish days.
Ronnie
Painter Dude reply :
Actually probably just as many times as I catch fish. 
Still learning!!!! 
MALTESE FALCON reply :
I have the same answer as Ronnie. It's not that often that St. Clair skunks me, however there are those 1 & 2 fish days.
Falcon
Grey Wolf reply :
More times then I like to admit.
ba7ss3in reply :
Can I only use one hand. I try not to make it a habit but 2 or 3 times a year.
Fish Chris reply :
you guys are obviously not fishing California trophy bass lakes then !
I probably get skunked 2 out of 3, of my bass fishing trips (at the hard-core trophy lakes anyway.... the ones with the biggest fish). Okay, granted, I could go to a "numbers of small fish" lake, and throw night crawlers (or a 4" straight tail plastic worm for that matter) and NEVER get skunked..... errr.... should I say, and always catch a fish or twenty.... but those would be small fish, and I'd still feel completely skunked.
In fact, if I were catching small fish all day, but knowing my odds of sticking a trophy were slim to none, I'd feel like I was totally wasting my time..... But on the other hand, I can throw a swimbait all day, and never get a touch, but all the while knowing that any of those casts could produce a monster ! Now that's fishing time well spent ! In fact, it's time spent in the best possible way !
"Even on trips when I don't catch anything, I was only one bite away from the perfect trip" :-)
Peace,
Fish
Tin reply :
Atleast once a week, it's called PREFISHING. lol
I will usually goose egg as soon as the ice goes out/inand the water is in the upper 30's. That is when I just can't put them in the boat. Sounds crazy but I'am usually best when everyone else is blanking during th brutal spring cold-fronts.
powerman970 reply :
Usually no more than two or three times a year if I am on Neely Henry. On other lakes it happens too often. The worst feeling in the world is when you put in at daybreak and it is an hour before dark and you still haven't caught a fish. Desperation sets in and concentration and rational thought seem to disappear. Then your chances are even worse.
Popeye reply :
Well, honestly not all that much, BUT it really depends on "the bite" and all the associated factors that make it up on any given day. IF we're talking JUST bass fishing, then I'd say about 20% of the time I get skunked but even on those days I do usually get opportunities to catch a few (stirkes that I fail to set the hook on). For instance, last Saturday I set the hook on a smallish bass that ended up getting all tangled in the reeds at the side of the boat. We saw him and as I was reaching down to get him he flopped around and spit the hook. Did I catch that fish: NO, but I did have him on the line and even got to see him. I don't consider a fish caught until I have it in hand. Unfortunately that was the only hookup that I had all day. I had several other nice strikes that I missed, so I'd say I got skunked that day. BUMMER, but it still was a great day. My fishing partner had 4 great hookups, of which he only boated one nice 2 pounder.
IF I want to go to almost any lake, pond, or river and just catch any species of fish, I can generally succeed all the time (if I have the time to just wait it out). Catfish, bluegill, crappie, carp are far less elusive than bass, IMO:o) Walleye and Musky are pretty darn elusive too, I've been told, but I hope to catch a few of them later this year.
cart7t reply :
Skunked yesterday on my first time out for the year. 38-40 degree water with sustained winds at 20, gusts to 30 tends to do that. Boat control was a joke especially when you're trying to throw suspending jerkbaits.
Turtle. reply :
A lot,But I'm not fishing for numbers.I'm after bigger bass,which can be kinda tuff around here at times.Anything under 3 lbs. I feel skunked anyway,don't matter how many.
tallydude reply :
Only when I go out with Bassn Blvd and he takes me to one of his "super secret, can't miss" locations.
jrhennecke reply :
Unless it is the "dead of winter" not often at all. May not always catch quality fish, but almost always able to scratch something out.
FishinDaddy reply :
Most of my trips are either tourneys or prefishing specifically for tourneys so I am normally trying to key on bigger fish on a bunch of different lakes. This translates into probably 15 skunks in the last year, including the one yesterday where I have been skunked 2 out of the 3 times I have fished it. There are also a few lakes on my list with multiple skunks that I still have not figured out. IMO, if you are not getting skunked you are not learning anything.
TruflShufl reply :
Way too much. 90% of my fishing is from the bank, and I seem to always be fishing pressured areas.
I'd say I catch a fish 10% of the time 
I need to change something up.
Hooked_On_Bass reply :
Posted by: nuclearpenguin Posted on: Today at 10:55pm
QuoteWay too much. 90% of my fishing is from the bank, and I seem to always be fishing pressured areas.I'd say I catch a fish 10% of the time
I need to change something up.
Well, at least you're honest and listen to good music (Brad Paisley). ;D
Yakfish reply :
Just enough to keep me humble but not so much that I won't go back.
FivePoundBluegill reply :
Hey guys to be honest I almost never get skunked. I only usually do get skunked a couple times during the dead of winter. However half the time I fish I do not catch a bass over 2.5 LBS. Also when I have been out for a long time and I cannot get any bass to bite I tie on a 4 inch straight tail worm and it will always catch me bass no matter what. Most those bass are about 11 inches but id rather catch dinks than get skunked. Also I avoid skunks by changing up my bait a lot. If I do not get hit on a lure within 25 minutes I tie on something else. I keep changing up my bait until I start catching fish. This is unless I am trying to learn to use a bait I have never thrown before. In most situations I have found you can avoid the skunk. you just have to find out what the fish want at the time. Also as I said before if all else fails...I tie on that 4 inch straight tale worm.
dumb_dog11 reply :
QuoteMore times then I like to admit.
x2
stoobie reply :
Skunked last two trips, that's not natural. Like it's been said"it's called fishing not catching" :-?
Usually 2-3 times a year
bdog reply :
Always at Lake Jordan in North Carolina!
Korea_Bassin reply :
Well if this year's YTD record is accurate, I would have to say 66.7% of the time. I've been out thrice this year and have landed one (small) bass (today). But, otherwise, between April and October, I would guesstimate my skunked odds at no more than 15% of the time.
Schultz26 reply :
Quotewhen out on the boat i hardly ever get skunked, but when im ice fishing im usually to drunk, cold, or lazy to even care about catching anything ;D
X2 ;D
Nick11 reply :
well i absolutely love fishing, but unfortunately i get skunked just about every single time. Iv probably only caught a handfull of fish in my life. I have the worst luck ever. story 1: my dad and i went on a guided fishing trip on the feather river for salmon in sacramento. we start at first light and go all day long and we didnt catch a single fish, the guide said that was the first time its ever happened before (we still had to pay full price). story 2: my friend invites me to on a fishing trip up to some rivers in the mountains above our town, he promises me we'll catch loads of fish. the entire week we didnt catch a single fish, again this is the first time he said thats ever happened. story 3: my aunts friends know I like fishing and that I have bad luck so they think they could break the luck, we go up to bishop area for a week of fishing, every year they catch their limit of fish each every day. at the end of the week they caught less fish than the daily limit, and once again i didnt catch a single fish.
but i still love it, and hopefully i will one day have good luck lol.
related Fishing Reports topic
previous topic
next topic
© 2025 - fishing.qciss.net. All Rights Reserved.