Frustrated in Skunk City 2024
PWE reply :
So, as some of you know I am new to bass fishing this season and have one bass caught on a crank from a boat (about 2lbs) to my record. I have been fishing almost everyday in many different lakes, since I am between contracts at the moment - I fish from shore mostly. I have studied the articles here till my eyes bleed and I feel I have a good idea of what bass are doing etc (theoretically). However, I am becoming mayor of Skunkville, USA. People catch all around me, some bring in hawgs, kids are catching, yet I am utterly lost. The good news is my brand new baitcaster is working out really well and my cast length and lack of backlash is going great.
I tend to use cranks all day and maybe switch to spinnerbait in the evening when I am ready to go home. I just can't bring myself to keep changing rigs when I find nothing seems to work anyways.
I feel like the fish see me coming like a freight train or they have simply all gone away. These illogical frustration thoughts are leading me to enjoy the sport less and wonder if I am a hopeless case. let's just say I am learning lots about the fishing business from the point of view of marketing to buy baits etc and how to cast, and fix reels etc. As far as actually seeing fish go - sometimes other people ask me to photo their catch - and that's as close as I am coming. :'(
So while the world's smallest violin plays can anyone give me some ideas on how to reverse this cycle of frustration? I have in my tackle box the following:
Shimano Clarus 7' med-heavy graphite baitcaster
Exceler b/c reel
roboworms / senkos / brush hogs
offset hooks, other hooks etc
white and white/chartreuse spinnerbaits
various crankbaits
shad jerkbait
I am open to anything except live bait.
I am fishing reservoirs in Northern California that range from 200-1000 acres about.
From reports other people are catching plenty and catching from dinks to hawgs.
Thanks.
rfrazier reply :
You say you are primarily fishing cranks and spinnerbaits? I would definitely change it up and stick with the senkos and brush hogs. The fish are definitely in pre-spawn mode and close to shore in NorCal. Try to spot them/ sight fish. Make a note of where you see other people landing fish, they are likely to be there the next time you go out.
Sam reply :
RayRe is right.
Use your plastics.
Read my PM.
See my post in your previous post.
If the bass are spawning, you need to fish the shoreline with a Carolina rigged lizzard or creature bait with the tail dipped in yellow Spike-It or JJs Magic.
Throw a Shaky Head under docks or at the shoreline, too.
If the bass have already fattened up'ed they may not want a moving bait like a crankbait. And they have probably seen every kind of crankbait out there so throw something different.
And remember to scale down on bait size and then work up. A big fish will hit a small bait. A small fish will hit a small bait. A big fish will hit a large bait. A small fish will give it a shot at a large bait.
Senkos are super. Give 'em a try weightless.
If there is any cover or structure you may want to use a weedless hook. They work great with plastics fished in structure or cover.
When fishing a Carolina rig, use a Tungston weight. You will feel more on the bottom and also the hits.
When fishing a Senko watch for the line to move or feel the "tap-tap-tap." Reel in the slack and set the hook.
If you think you have a bite, set the hook.
Keep finger on line at all times and keep pole straight up in the air to keep line tight so you can feel the "tap-tap-tap."
Always set the hook if you think you have a bite. It is better to set the hook and be mistaken than to stand there and not set the hook if you get bit.
When you feel the "tap" or see your line moving, point pole at bait, reel in slack, and slam that fish. Throw yourself out of the boat. Cross his eyes when you set the hook. Yell a nasty word as you set the hook. Put all of your strength into setting that hook.
But don't fall out of the boat. And if you miss him, duck as your bait comes flying back at you.
Keep trying. Don't be concerned that you are not catching a fish on every cast. Have fun.
Catt reply :
Keep chunking & reeling 
ba7ss3in reply :
Attitude and confidence, no matter what you have to believe that you are going to catch fish. Be confident with each cast and be ready to set the hook. Ike say it the best, " NEVER GIVE UP!!!!!! ".
-HAWK- reply :
Try throwing a 4' wacky rigged Senko, in dark colors. Fish it very slow.
LooksLikeSinbad reply :
You should definitely try soft plastics. Read RoadWarrior's post for guaranteed fish catching.
roadwarrior reply :
This might help:
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137
8-)
Popeye reply :
As easy as it is to get frustrated and discouraged, PLEASE DO NOT!! The same situations that you are experiencing happen to all of us at one time or another (even if that is not admitted). I too have been having TERRIBLE success the last several outtings! I felt so bad on Monday that I hadn't caught a bass on Sunday that I was bummed out all day. My wife teases me about it and that makes it worse, especially after agreeing to delay my retirement this July so I could buy a nice used bass boat of my own (that I used for the first time on Sunday). However, after checking the "catch report" on the lake I fished, I see that only 33 bass were caught for the ENTIRE week (Wed., Sat., Sun.). That made me feel a little better and knowing that my oldest son DID catch a dink Sunday helped too (at least the boat didn't get skunked:o)
These things happen. I DO wholeheartedly agree with all the other guys who have already recommended that you start using Senkos and other plastics and fish real SLOW. I have been doing that so far this year and I have had some success (3 bass so far, but certainly nothing to brag about). The weather conditions last Sunday were HOT and VERY WINDY! Not ideal in my opinion.
I told my wife that I wasn't going to go out this weekend, BUT now I'm having second thoughts. I look forward to going and it helps "get me through the workweek"! Next time I'll probably toss out some cut mackeral and see if I can land a cat or two while I'm after those bass.
Don't fret too much over getting skunked. It can take all the joy and fun out of fishing. It is called "fishing" and not "catching" after all. The challenge and thrill of a hookup is what keeps me coming back time and time again (has been since I landed my first fish as a kid:o)
LooksLikeSinbad reply :
If you need to put a positive spin on a skunking or disappointing outing, think of it as paying dues. All of the time you put in, even if your skunked, will teach you a lot about the water, your tackle, and what doesn't work. In the long run, this will contribute to you being a better angler.
Oh, and don't forget the best tournament anglers in the world get skunked some days.
roadwarrior reply :
And here is another way to look at it:
Excluding the coldest winter months, I think I might catch a decent largemouth about every four hours of fishing. So, if we don't count little fish, I'm usually skunked! The better fish make up for lost time.
8-)
PWE reply :
Awesome advice - thanks again all. I am going out again today and will see how it goes with some plastic action.
Cheers!
grimlin reply :
I don't know about you,but sometimes when i go out i go out just looking to have fun.I usually catch a few.When i go out looking to catch i skunk out.
I think this happens because i slow way down when i'm just fun fishing and not looking to catch.When i'm looking to catch i run and gun too fast from spot to spot.
Not sure this is even logical but maybe just get out there just to have fun and not think about catching.I'm sure this is probably gonna be the most retarded thing i've said here yet.
Bassnbrett101 reply :
QuoteTry throwing a 4' wacky rigged Senko, in dark colors. Fish it very slow.
X500
Big-O reply :
You are well on your way friend and getting some excellent advice to boot. So gather up your gear and your new found knowledge and go fishing.
www.ragetail.com
crazy4bass1 reply :
try a 6 inch purple senko
you will catch fish
PWE reply :
Ok so about plastics - I went out today and of course skunked, but I didn't go really long - couple hours and 30 mins was spent cutting out the worst backlash yet.
I tried plastics mostly - drop shot, T-Rigged, weightless - used brush hog, roboworm, and 7" dark colored senko.
The problem was it was super windy so the line was blowing everywhere but I stuck with it and still absolutely nothing from the point I was fishing. I went home early after my line broke with a brush hog and weight attached.
My question is this - when you say - try a 4" senko in dark colors etc - what do you mean "try"?
Do you mean wacky or t-rigged or weightless and do you drag the bottom slowly etc? At what depth - sorry for the detailed question, but I am clutching at straws at this point.
Thanks again.
BirdNestBen reply :
well you've got a nice reel... and make no mistake I catch a lot of fish on my baitcaster... you might want to pick up a cheap spinning reel and start trying that... you'll get longer casts and I usually catch a lot more fish on these reels... you may have trouble landing big fish on these reels though... now for the lures....
On my spinning reel... I like to use a small split shot about a foot above my lure and fish the Strike King Zeros in watermelon color... texas rigged and then if the bite is slow go to wacky rigged....
and try the Zoom fluke.... this is a tremendous lure and most surely will end your cold streak.... Then fish the Berkley powerworm in blue fleck and electric Blue.... try a Pop-R for the early/late topwater bite... stick with these lures and start to think like a bass... that u must do...
a bass needs an ambush point to sneak up on his prey.... like slack water in current... points... brushpiles, sunken trees, weedlines... rock piles... boat docks....
I'll tell you another lure that is easy to fish and will catch a lot of fish... is a panther martin and a roostertail... these are small in line spinners that really work.... I use them in small lakes and really catch a lot of fish on them.... most of them are smaller fish, but hey some of them have been pretty nice fish.... everyone on here has had their butts kicked by the bass... but only the strong survive... patience and perserverance are the 2 big keys I can give you.. positive attitude... keep your chin up... I may not catch the most bass on the trip... but no ones gonna outwork me...
This is a long post and my apologies... but you may like this story... fishing a small Pond here in Texas about 15 acres... first time I'd fished it guy keeps telling me there are some huge bass in here!!!!!!! Well, it was hot real hot.... no fish.. no bites... no nothing.... but I was determined to get my dad gum line stretched at least once.... Spinning rig Gene Larew craw worm texas rigged... I started to fish... this pond was very muddy... so instantly I knew if I did catch a fish it would be in very shallow water.... I casted down on the lower end of this pond - in this spot it was less than 50 yards across to the far bank and I casted a little too far I thought... an inch from the bank... so I was hung in the bank.... dang... I've got the worse luck!!!!!!!! but no it was not the bank!!!!!!!!!!! the drag started to peel.... thank God I had the drag set loose..... because I was fishing my spinning reel on 6 lb. test- the reel I use for crappie fishing.....oh man he came to the surface but was too fat to jump up high and spit the hook.... then he dove down and stripped drag off at will.... I was plenty skeerred he would break the line... fortunately there were not many stumps to wrap me around... so I let him strip line.... then when he slowed I made up some ground on him.... everytime though he played me for a fool and swam back out... I played him very gently and eventually with that fat belly he wore down... but what a powerful fish...!!!!!!!!!!!
that was my only bite/fish on the day- he wouldn't fit in my fish basket!!!!!!! didn't have a fish scale but I'm dying to know what he weighed, he was fat, thick, and came in at 23 1/2 inches... definitely the biggest bass I've ever caught by far... I guessed her over 10 lbs. but I will never be for sure her weight, anyways- so don't give up my friend and this will soon be you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yes this bass was released... I only practice catch and release on bass... I wanted to put him in the basket to show my wife.... but he wouldn't fit in the basket, so I left him on the hook... she came out and I asked if she could help me get my line un-hung and she said hey I don't think ur hung.. u have a fish....!!!!!!!! I left that fish on the line and she reeled it in... she figured out my trick.... o well... we both had a great time watched her swim away that day........ 
roadwarrior reply :
Please format your posts in paragraphs. Otherwise, most people will simply skip over your comments. Continuous script is very hard on the eyes, especially mine!
:
Hoover reply :
PWE, I know how you feel because I am in the exact same spot. While I only get a chance to fish once a month for a few hours, I am out there chunking bait of various types.
First, Roadwarrior gave excellent instructions regarding fishing the sendo and fat ika. I cannot find the thread right now. However, in sum, if you fish those 2 baits exactly as RW instructs you will either catch fish or you need to change where you fish. I have tried RW's advice and remain skunked but now I have a method of breaking the skunking streak.
Second, I understand that you are between contracts now. However, while it may be difficult for you to afford right now, you may want to consider hiring an experienced guide who can teach you techniques and put you on some fish. Personally, I have decided to hire a guide on my home water to learn techniques and find patterns for finding fish after the guide is long gone.
Despite all of the great advice you have received so far, I hope this helps.
Tom
roadwarrior reply :
QuoteRoadwarrior gave excellent instructions regarding fishing the sendo and fat ika. I cannot find the thread right now. However, in sum, if you fish those 2 baits exactly as RW instructs you will either catch fish or you need to change where you fish.
http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1158577137
8-)
gobig reply :
PWE I live in the Bay Area also. What lakes are you fishing? Maybe I can help.
Jake P reply :
QuoteOk so about plastics - I went out today and of course skunked, but I didn't go really long - couple hours and 30 mins was spent cutting out the worst backlash yet.I tried plastics mostly - drop shot, T-Rigged, weightless - used brush hog, roboworm, and 7" dark colored senko.
The problem was it was super windy so the line was blowing everywhere but I stuck with it and still absolutely nothing from the point I was fishing. I went home early after my line broke with a brush hog and weight attached.
My question is this - when you say - try a 4" senko in dark colors etc - what do you mean "try"?
Do you mean wacky or t-rigged or weightless and do you drag the bottom slowly etc? At what depth - sorry for the detailed question, but I am clutching at straws at this point.
Thanks again.
Try rigging it all 3 ways. Here is all the Senko information you need to know-http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1121527643
Here is an article about fishing plastic worms-http://www.bassresource.com/fish/plasticworms.html
Remember you can set your hook anytime you want, im not saying this is why your not catching but maybe your getting bit you just dont realize it. If it feels odd swing your rod. I hope this helps you in someway.
farmpond1 reply :
Find the gypsy who's put a hex on you and slap the #$%* out of her. Short of that, just be patient and things will turn around.
Davis reply :
Also when it's windy and the water is clear go back to your double willow spinnerbait. But don't just chuck it and reel it in. Work that sucker! Give it some jerks and pops while you retrieve. Heck once in a while stop reeling and let it sink and than give it some hops.
Last weekend it was windy with clear water and nothing was really biting. I was just tossing a spinnerbait out and burning it back. No bites. Through out the plastics for a while....no bites. Than I went back to my spinnerbait since it was too windy for plastics.
Went to a jerking retrieve with some pauses and hops in there and I pulled out 5 fish in the next hour with this retrieve. The fish were all caught shallow in less than 8 foot of water as well. Maybe give this a go?
dumb_dog11 reply :
What type of line and pound test are you using?
Try using finesse baits, fish slow with smaller baits,
4 inch roboworms on a drop shot or shakey head
you may not stick a hawg but it will teach you what the bite feels like so that youll put a little more experience on your side.
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