Is it normal to not catch anything? 2024
Rollincoal420 reply :
So, I'm relatively new to fishing and have started going every day after work since I get out a couple hrs before my girlfriend. We sometimes go in the evenings after she gets home, and usually at some point during the weekend. Here recently. Last month, month and a half, I started to get serious about it due to restrictions that arose for me in my other hobby/addiction whatever u wanna call it. It's pretty common for us not to catch anything for days, even over a week.
We do all our fishing from the bank, like parks, lakes, rivers, usually a boat ramp or some other highly pressured access point for fishing. We wear out Google earth and usually spend roughly a day in the weekend checking spot off the list.
The success I do have is all from info taken off the internet, and applied as best I can since all of our friends are jeep friends, not fishing friends. No one to turn to for advice, if u know what I mean.
I see posts on social media, YouTube, and other fishing or "news feed" type apps of people always slaying fish. Whether from shore or boat, don't matter. I get a boat give u all kinds of access, and things like fish finders offer a huge advantage, but I usually strike out. Doesn't really slow me down, I still enjoy the fishing part even without the catching part, but I'd like to see better results.
Today and yesterday, for example, Fish wr busting out of the water everywhere. As close as I couldn't see through the water n e more, to all the way across the lake. Tried everything, and got nothing. So I'm here to try and improve on that.
Sorry for the long winded post. I usually avoid creating them.
Attila reply :
I've gotten skunked, nothing wrong with it. If anything days like that teach me the most about what I might do to not get skunked the next time I go out.
I do a couple of things now to ensure I'm catching fish; first is to pack an UL combo with some tube jigs and more often than not I'll catch a variety of fish on them, including some decent sized bass.
The second thing I do is keep a log. I can keep track of trends and what worked where and in what types of conditions I was catching fish.
You're already doing the right things with researching everything, so keep that up.
Cheers!
deep reply :
"Knowledge is the key to fishing success" - Buck Perry
TheRodFather reply :
It always seems like everyone else is slaying them. Same as how it seems like everybody on Facebook is having tons of fun that you aren't. It's not that you never have fun, or that you never catch fish, it's just that out of all the people online, 2 or 3 are going to have caught fish and post about it, or have something fun to share on FB. So day after day you see those fish and think your not keeping up, or that your life is boring :).
Don't get discouraged, the LMB fishing around me is slooooow, every place that has LM is crazy pressured, or private property. I haven't caught a LM in 3 outings. The heat is not helping either.
I try to get a fix wading in creeks and rivers for smallmouth, until I get my boat done, then it's game on 
. You might try going out in the evening into night, or early in the morning.
Looking for the big one reply :
^^^
There are also freaks of nature, like @A-Jay and @everythingthatswimswho I think catch fish every time they go out.
WRB reply :
Rollincoal, this is primarily a bass fishing forum so I will assume you are inquiring about catching bass. My 1st questions are usually to inquire about what type of fishing tackle do you use? You will get location, location, location is the only thing you need to know, which is true, but I like to advise lures and techniques based on the type of rod, reel, line you currently use.
Tom
scaleface reply :
I have caught a lot of bass from bank .Its mostly location . I fished , sloughs , ponds ,rivers , bays and Irrigation ditches can be real good . The thing these places have in common is little fishing pressure .
Rollincoal420 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 8:50 AM, WRB said:Rollincoal, this is primarily a bass fishing forum so I will assume you are inquiring about catching bass. My 1st questions are usually to inquire about what type of fishing tackle do you use? You will get location, location, location is the only thing you need to know, which is true, but I like to advise lures and techniques based on the type of rod, reel, line you currently use.
Tom
Yes, primarily bass but I'm not prejudice. I'm happy about any fish that wants to join in on the party. Or get the party started for me.
I got 3 rod. One is a medium/ heavy spinning rod, I think it's a catfish rod, 7ft, with 65lb bread and a Texas rig right now,
A medium fast, casting rod, right now 30lb braid, and frog at the moment. 6'6"
And a medium fast spinning rod with 12lb mono. 5'5".
And the usual assortment of lures. Not a great assortment as a bunch has been claimed by the lake. The one thing I haven't tried much of is jig. I seem to loose them in whatever is on the bottom every time I cast.
A-Jay reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 8:43 AM, Looking for the big one said:^^^
There are also freaks of nature, like @A-Jay and @everythingthatswimswho I think catch fish every time they go out.
@Looking for the big one ~ I would tend to agree with you regarding the angling prowess of @everythingthatswims ~
But me ~ Well, not so much . . . . .
A-Jay
Russ E reply :
I think everyone has gotten skunked fishing at some point.
I will say the Ned rig has saved the day for me, more days than I can count.
It may not always produce the biggest fish, but it will get bites when nothing else does.
deep reply :
@Rollincoal420 My bad if my earlier post sounded snarky.
You should get enough bait (lure- I call artificials bait too) suggestions.
But tell us a little bit about where you fish, if you don't mind. Google and/ or navionics maps would help. Also tell us about the depths (if you can't find topo maps), cover (wood/ weeds/ docks/ brush) and the forage (baitfish).
P.S. I'd forget about that jig for a while, and stick to texas rigs or florida (pegged texas) rigs.
Looking for the big one reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:33 AM, A-Jay said:
@Looking for the big one ~ I would tend to agree with you regarding the angling prowess of @everythingthatswims ~
But me ~ Well, not so much . . . . .
A-Jay
You're too modest A-Jay. Been watching some of your recent smallie videos, man those were some chunks.
IndianaFinesse reply :
Since you bank fish, you are mostly going to be fishing behind numerous people and mobility is somewhat limited. As such, a fast moving buzzbait or a burned crankabit may not be your best bet. Sometimes it will, but the majority of the time a smaller finesse lure will be the better producer from the shore. My suggestion would be that you learn to fish the ned rig, and if you follow the guidelines in this thread exactly, I will be shocked if you don't start catching fish on a more regular basis. Here's the link https://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/186214-the-basics-of-the-ned-rig/
PS, causeways rule. Best universal shore fishing place ever, I have yet to fish a causeway anywhere that isn't productive. Ponds are a great option to.
Rollincoal420 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 9:45 AM, deep said:
@Rollincoal420 My bad if my earlier post sounded snarky.
You should get enough bait (lure- I call artificials bait too) suggestions.
But tell us a little bit about where you fish, if you don't mind. Google and/ or navionics maps would help. Also tell us about the depths (if you can't find topo maps), cover (wood/ weeds/ docks/ brush) and the forage (baitfish).
P.S. I'd forget about that jig for a while, and stick to texas rigs or florida (pegged texas) rigs.
https://goo.gl/maps/LJaxYyohKfB2
https://goo.gl/maps/nFgZRWuptu72
https://goo.gl/maps/q3noppLEE2v
https://goo.gl/maps/iZRiumvNvEJ2
Hope these links work.
These are the most common places I go because they are close and readily accessible at a whim. Plus I'm working close to that area right now.
Pretty much always find some sort of vegetation on the bottoms. Some are completelycovered in grass/weeds with spots matting up on the surface. Depth varies but about as one would expect looking at Google maps and probably 8+ ft wherever there is a dock.
A couple shorelines are built up rip rap and can drop a good couple feet, just a few feet out.
I first head about Ned rig and tube rigs only a week or 2 ago. Wondered if the time was right to dabble or just stick with what I got until I get it figured out. Sounds like I should dabble.
sully420 reply :
Get a canoe or a boat really helps in the dog days of summer and my wife loved going out on my canoe before i got a boat. You will be able to cut down on fishless outings.
everythingthatswims reply :
@Looking for the big one
When I do get skunked, I usually know that the odds of it are high before I go. This would be fishing in horrible conditions (flood/mud/COLD), or when I go looking for a big one armed with my telephone pole and pet trout.
Getting skunked is pretty rare for me once water temps hit maybe 48, I don't think I have been skunked this year since March. I have definitely come close a couple times. I catch a lot of fish but I also have 2 or 3 fish days on occasion.
As for fishing public access points, I RARELY do this. The fish that live there see every bait under the sun, lots of live bait too usually, and often they see the bottom of a cooler or bucket. Typically on large lakes and rivers, bank fishing just isn't going to get you in front of many fish unless there is a lot of access and you can move around. So I would suggest fishing smaller waters, try to go where others don't, and fish the places with a large number of access points.
Also, go back where you have already been, and expand on what you did, especially if you had success.
Neil McCauley reply :
Yep. When you're learning it is. Not because you're bad at it per se, it just takes time to learn how to set yourself up for success. When I first started fly fishing for trout I went to a river where it was known to be great, but was just a couple weeks too late for the spring run. The river was completely empty, I had 0% chance of catching anything. A lot of people fall into traps like that and end up fishing empty water without knowing it. The lake I fish I know well now, and a lot of people I see are fishing way too shallow. They only have a chance to catch anything worthwhile a certain few weeks in the year, but they're always there anyway. Bank fishing can be futile like that a lot of the time too. There's a shallow ~2-3' deep area the size of a couple basketball courts where I launch my canoe and sometimes on my way in someone will be there bank fishing. It just blows my mind anyone would do this- don't they know it's hopeless? I've passed through the spot hundreds of times, they might as well go fish in a bath tub.
Catt reply :
Some have the erroneous idea that I only fish reserviors created by a dam impounded river valley.
I fish 4-5 days a week mostly off the bank on bodies of water that most don't even believe hold bass.
You need to understand that next after location is timing; just because you don't get bite does not mean the bass aren't there or you tied on the wrong lure. While all bass in a given body of water are not doing the same thing at the same time the overall population is.
The overall population maybe be actively feeding in the morning or at midday or in the evening or at night.
Having limited access means I slow down, not necessarily meaning fishing slow techniques but covering the entire water column.
I carry 3 rods; topwater, mid depth, & bottom. Lures are dealers choice, what ever you have the most conference in. I do not move one step until I've thrown all three.
BrackishBassin reply :
Everyone who's ever wet a line has gotten skunked multiple times. They're a liar if they tell you any different. Just keep at it. And remember, a bad day fishing beats a good day doing anything else.
Koz reply :
I do most of my fishing in nearby private lagoons where the fishing pressure is low and 99% of the time I catch something. Yesterday I took my son up to Lake Warren (SC) and we spent 6 hours cooking our butts on a Jon boat and caught nothing.
It wasn't for lack of trying. We fished every type of cover out there with every bass rig and lure in our tackle bag. There are tons of log piles, grass, and rip rap there and we couldn't get a bite. We did see some crappie/bream coming to the surface but we didn't have the lures or bait to go after those. That was our choice.
If your just out to catch fish and don't care whether they are bass or not my suggestion is to go out and get some nightcrawlers, a hook, and a bobber and throw it out there. You're bound to land some panfish and maybe a bass or catfish as well.
Rollincoal420 reply :
I try to fish wherever and whenever I can. Especially if I don't suspect it getting much attention. Like the retention pond behind the high school I'm working close too. That one had a turtle that kept trying to eat my Seiko.
Ultimately I'd love to find a nice pond that required some serious ohv to access but the large amounts of private land make most of the ponds around here off limits. Many land owners around here stock the ponds themselves and don't like other people fishing them. I'm always looking for new spots on the side of the rd to pull over and toss a rod, so much that I pretty much carry a rod or 2 with me whenever I leave the house.
As Catt mentioned, I always assumed, that even tho nothing is biting, there is always fish there, they just happen to not b interested in what I got. So I always switch things up. Different retrieves then different bait. Then when nothing gives, I try to move on, but it usually involves packing up and driving somewhere.
Just yesterday, I was running a walking bait when a decent size bass came up and swatted it with his tail. So I did it again figuring he'll sway it until he gets so aggravated he wants to just east it. He smacked it with his tail one more time then that was it. Happened again 5 min later with a smaller fish in another spot. 2 times, then that's it. I obviously got his attention, but how do u guys keep ours attention and take it to the next level?
I even tossed a weightless Texas rigged Seiko after and nothing.
Angealy reply :
I do most of my fishing from the bank, I fish at a private lake and a public lake.
However, You are limited by the space you can fish from.
A little bit ago i was informed a lake just down the road from me i thought was public was private.
One day i was fishing there not bothering anyone when a group of three guys walk up to me and asked me if i caught anything.
I told them no and after that they said you do know the lake is private right?, Meaning you can't fish or be here without permission right?
I told them i wasn't aware of that and apologized and said how sorry i was.
I was really upset at this because this lake is very close to my house and for someone who doesn't really have a way to get around all that much it really sucked.
I told them to please let me pack up my things and i'd be gone.
Before i could go and do that they stopped me and said look the owner personally gave me permission to be here and fish i'm going to tell you what i tell everyone who comes here, You may fish here but only if you fallow these simple rules.
1. You are respectful to everyone on this lake and this goes for the house owners and people on the lake, You have just as much right to be here as they do.
2.You are quiet.
3.Don't leave trash/items/etc behind and clean up after yourself.
If you can do all of those things you are more than happy to fish here heck even go out on a boat and fish.
If anyone saids you cannot be here tell them "name" gave you permission and you'll be fine.
I guess it worked out for me in the end but i'm a bit hesitant to go there now not sure i can really trust this guy.
I now only fish at my public lake that gets fished all the time by large group of people/tourist people or locals.
When i go there some or no body there most the time and the bass are really finicky about what they'll eat on that lake.
But i'm happy just catch at least one.
scaleface reply :
If your fishing lakes with rip rap banks , those are usually accessible and rip rap is good cover .I lose more lures in rip rap than anything so I go cheap . Those prerigged soft swimbaits like the Storm and Berkely work well . I like to cast to different depths let them sink to the bottom then follow the contour back with different retrieves . Buzzbaits paralleled along the banks work well late or on grey days .
Gundog reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 8:10 AM, Rollincoal420 said:It's pretty common for us not to catch anything for days, even over a week.
For me that's not even a cold streak. Wait till you see bass chasing your lure and you still can't make them bite. Like they are mocking you. They know you spend thousands, maybe even tens of thousands of hard-earned dollars buying everything you think they want and still they won't bite. Then you will truly know the meaning of defeat.
boostr reply :
Been Skunked many times, I even get skunked on my boat. The lakes and ponds where I fish are pressured, so Ill be lucky if I catch one. I rarely have days where I catch 2. The only time i get multiple catches is i f i go to a low pressured body of water, or an extremely large body of water thats larger than what I have locally, and that means going out of state.
Rollincoal420 reply :
Gundog the only time I can see a fish is when they pop out of the water to stare me down. Lol. I wouldn't know if one was chasing it or not. I'm guessing polarized glasses really help, cause I can never see n e thing, let alone be able to tell what kinda fish it it is.
One of the things I really enjoy about fishing, it it's rather cheap to do, until the boat comes into play of course. The jeep, nothing ends up being cheap. A full tank, and full cooler are usually needed just to start the day, and that can easily reach $70-80. Then parts break and wear out. Then we got 2 jeeps in our house that usually go. When it comes time to fish, I just need enough fuel in the tank to make it there and back. I can usually spend a whole day Saturday fishing and never spend a dime. ( until it's time to replace all the bait I lost in the bottom of the lake)
Doelman reply :
A lot of good info here. The only thing I'll add is, don't be afraid to fish creeks. Rivers and creeks are usually all public property and you're allowed to walk up and down them. They usually see less pressure because people for the most part are too lazy to walk in a creek. The fish will usually be smaller, but they fight harder. Creek fishing is a blast and those fish will often still bite in the summer when everything else is turned off.
CybrSlydr reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 8:10 AM, Rollincoal420 said:So, I'm relatively new to fishing and have started going every day after work since I get out a couple hrs before my girlfriend. We sometimes go in the evenings after she gets home, and usually at some point during the weekend. Here recently. Last month, month and a half, I started to get serious about it due to restrictions that arose for me in my other hobby/addiction whatever u wanna call it. It's pretty common for us not to catch anything for days, even over a week.
We do all our fishing from the bank, like parks, lakes, rivers, usually a boat ramp or some other highly pressured access point for fishing. We wear out Google earth and usually spend roughly a day in the weekend checking spot off the list.
The success I do have is all from info taken off the internet, and applied as best I can since all of our friends are jeep friends, not fishing friends. No one to turn to for advice, if u know what I mean.
I see posts on social media, YouTube, and other fishing or "news feed" type apps of people always slaying fish. Whether from shore or boat, don't matter. I get a boat give u all kinds of access, and things like fish finders offer a huge advantage, but I usually strike out. Doesn't really slow me down, I still enjoy the fishing part even without the catching part, but I'd like to see better results.
Today and yesterday, for example, Fish wr busting out of the water everywhere. As close as I couldn't see through the water n e more, to all the way across the lake. Tried everything, and got nothing. So I'm here to try and improve on that.
Sorry for the long winded post. I usually avoid creating them.
Welcome to the club, my friend! I usually go fishing at least once a week and so far this year have caught... 2 fish. One in December and one in April. And I've been to dozens of lakes/ponds.
So, yeah, it sucks. I've pushed through so far with the hopes of striking it big someday. I think my issue is I just can't find the dang things - and somedays they're just not going to bite. It's hard not to get discouraged.
Do a lot of searching here and you'll find tons of answers to just about any question you can think of. If you can't find it, pop up a thread and let us have it and we'll help the best we can.
WIGuide reply :
Getting skunked is part of the game. The better fisherman you become, the less it will happen, but that doesn't eliminate the possibility. Just fishing from the bank adds to the challenge because you're usually very limited by the amount of fishable water you have access to. As some have suggested, smaller bodies of water are usually your friend when it comes to this.
As far as what you see from others in person, on social media, youtube, or the interwebs don't let it get you down. Fishing tournaments, there have been days that even on the same smaller lake someone hits the jackpot and nobody else does. Or the case of the two boats passing each other one saying they can't catch a fish on "x" bait and boat two says they can't catch them on anything but "same x"bait. As for social media, posts, or videos you're only seeing the highlights of their outings. Someone may have put in a 16 hour day on the water and had lots to show for it, but you're seeing the highlights of those 16 hours in the course of a few minutes in a video, or in a few pictures. You don't see the 4 hours straight they went without a bite, or the other 3 hours they kept getting short strikes. On the other hand they could also just be fishing a tremendous body of water as well. I'm not saying that to take anything away from them as fishermen because that's fishing, but when you see those type of posts you have to take all of that into account. If not you start to develop unrealistic expectations for your own fishing.
BassNJake reply :
Hey there Rollincoal420,
I see you are fishing around Melton Hill by the links that you posted.
It's hot here in Knoxville and water temp is in the mid to upper 80's on Norris Lake.
Any type of fish I have caught close to the bank in the past few weeks have been near first/last light and near some sort of cover/structure.
My boss fishes along the walkway that is across from the Steam Plant and had a banner day last week throwing a culprit worm along the shore that had a mudline and some debris piled up.
When I was coming into work today I could still see the floating debris across from the Steam Plant, so you might want to try there.
From what you have posted it seems like you have a good start to what you are doing.
It may be more of a timing issue as it is Summer and a more traditional summer pattern would be to fish deeper breaks.
There is a place to park and then a walkway they goes right along the water.
There is an old bridge abutment that sticks into the water and that is where the debris is piled up.
Across from this is the discharge for the steam plant, which at times will bring all types of fish into this stretch of river.
I've added a pic to show where the Parking, trail and floating debris are located.
Rollincoal420 reply :
I can agree, lots of awesome info on here. Especially when the internet is your only source. As for fishing creeks, it's beet hit and miss. Usually miss because I'm in a bad spot. But my first bigger bass, couple pounds, came from a creek on a frog. Again a few weeks later. Same location, I almost think it was the same fish. Right where a spring fed pond spills into the creek. (Plan on going there today after work hoping to get momentum going in the right direction) the only one I caught bigger, came at 3pm on a cloudless day in the 90's, after someone said, u probably won't catch n e thing today. Too hot. He was buried in heavy grass and I threw a weightless Texas rig right at the edge of an opening.
BassNJake
I been there twice. Walked it from the parking lot ur talking about, and once came in from haw ridge. Day one was almost a strike out until we wr heading out and I decided to toss a worm next to the log that's laying right about where u started the red loop around the old bridge. A couple ticks of the worm and I was realing in a little bass. Around a pound. Been thinking I need to head back out there. Maybe tomorrow after work.
gimruis reply :
The ned has saved me multiple times over the years when bass fishing has been tough. It doesn't necessarily catch big fish, but it works so I use it when I need to.
You guys should try muskie fishing! Getting skunked happens way more often than having success when targeting muskies.
flyfisher reply :
When starting out i would say sure, it is more likely. For me I usually can muster up a fish or two unless there are ridiculously bad conditions. I don't think I have been skunked in a few years but i will say there were days I did not catch a bass but did catch other species.
Bank fishing is difficult but I would say look around for smaller streams or rivers with difficult access points and see what you can do there. I have some good success around here on smaller flows that have more difficult (still legal though) access.
WRB reply :
It's difficult to learn to bass fish carrying 3 rods shore fishing unless you are skilled and know how to bass. My suggestion is putting away the the 2 spinning outfits if you know how to cast efficiently with your 6'6" MH casting outfit. I would also tie on a 15 lb 5' to 6' long mono leader, use a double Uni knot to join the leader to the braid or save and replace the braid and respool with 15 lb mono (Big Game is inexpensive and good line). Next I suggest using a sliding bullet sinker Texas rigged 6" to 7 1/2" soft plastic worm and 4" soft plastic craw both on a 3/0 worm hook.
Usec1/8 oz, 3/16 oz and 1/4 oz bullet weight and work the worm or craw slowing along the bottom. Zoom trick worm and Berkely Chigger craws are both good choices.
Stay with this T-rig and casting outfit until you have caught several bass and have confidence using it, about 1 month. Add another presentation of your choice and continue using the casting outfit.
Tom
LxVE Bassin reply :
I just got back from a pond looking for the good ole top water bite. I got skunked, not even a short strike. So to answer your question, YES! Don't be fooled by the video editing on YouTube and ESPN.
Rollincoal420 reply :
On 8/4/2017 at 9:20 AM, WRB said:. My suggestion is out away the the 2 spinning outfits if you know how to cast efficiently with your 6'6" MH casting outfit.
Tom
I wouldn't say I'm efficient just yet. Finally getting to where I can cast an acceptable distance in a general direction without a birdsnest. As long as the bait is heavy enough. Lol. It is quickly becoming my go to rod tho. Got another casting rod sitting here I would like to find a reel for. Got one here that won't put any tension on the spool with the knob.
WRB reply :
You can always add the reel brand and model number so someone can figure out what's part is missing more than likely assembled incorrectly.
Being able to cast is usually a combination of casting technique and reel preformance plus learning to use your thumb to prevent backlashes. You can't whip a bait casting outfit, it's all in the wrists. Glenn has a few good instructional vedio's on proper casting technique and plastic worm rigging and hook setting. Casting distance and accuracy comes with practice, one reason I am suggesting you stick to one presentation and rod/reel combo. If you can cast 25 yards/ 75 feet and hit a hula hoop size target, your are good to go T-rigged worm fishing.
Tom
islandbass reply :
As a shore bound angler, I can relate. There will be days that they won't be in the areas they can reach. As the saying goes, that is why we call it fishing and not catching. Just hang in there and pay your dues. Try to learn something from every trip. In time, the catches will come. I usually take 3 rods with me. A casting reel with either a M or MH rod, a spinning reel with a M or MH rod, and an ultra-light set up. I truly despise going home skunked (but accept it when I know I did everything I could given my shore bound limitation) so I have that UL set up that might land a me a face and game-saving fish, be it a bass or a ding dang blue gill. For true bass fishing, when I target them exclusively, 1 fish is a good day, especially if I add the tens of blue gill, perch, of rock bass that I might also catch lol.
BCline reply :
The simplest solution to avoid getting skunked is to move to South Florida! The bank bass fishing opportunities here are world class. I fish for at least an hour nearly everyday and landed bass number 225 for the year yesterday. I can count the number of times I get skunked on my fingers with several left over. A 4" Senko, Texas-rigged with a 3/16 oz bullet weight on 8 - 12 lb mono fished very slow seems to catch everything in the water. I also suggest keeping a fishing log and recording air and water temp, wind speed and direction, barometric pressure, moon phase, location, lures used and size and numbers of what you catch. After a while you will begin seeing patterns for the different locations you fish and be able to predict success or failure.
scaleface reply :
Rollincoal420 You are surrounded by lakes . You need a boat , it doesnt have to be fancy . Most of my fishing is done out of a 14 foot jon boat powered by an elec motor only .
Airbornebass reply :
Don't get down on yourself, it happens. Three of us fished Jocassee Lake in SC yesterday and we didn't catch a fish. It's a clear mountain lake and most water depth is 50-150 feet deep. You can see 20 feet down. Sometimes you just can't figure them out.
geo g reply :
Don't get upset, even the best get skunked under certain circumstances. During temp extremes, like 90* water temps, and after extreme cold fronts, you can get skunked even in south Florida. Bass will hit a worm rig even during these difficult times, so you have the right choice. Extremes will sometimes cause lock jaw even for the best fisherman for a day or two. If someone tells you they have never been skunked, they are either lying, or they don't fish much!
the reel ess reply :
It's far too common to get skunked.
Whenever I'm facing a skunk, I'll make up a lightweight C rig with a 4" Zoom Finesse Worm and throw it out and drag it slowly. It'll catch fish all day. They'll be smaller on average because, when forced to downsize, you're really targeting smaller bass. That's a decision you have to make. If I get skunked twice in a row on the same body of water, I'll avoid it. After a while, that's not fun.
I have a go-to pond where the bass are dumb and hungry and the bluegills and shellcrackers are big. It's exactly what the doctor ordered when the confidence gets low. It's also the place to get the hang of a new technique because you'll get practice catching and not just fishing. And if all else fails, I can tie on an inline spinner on a lightweight rod and go after the bream.
scaleface reply :
Whenever I get skunked I feel better knowing that somewhere out there somebody is getting skunked fishing for sunfish .
38 Super Fan reply :
I don't think I've been skunked this year, but I've come close several times. Just yesterday I caught one in the first 5 minutes, then not another fish the rest of the day, and I mean like 7 hours of fishing.
BigAngus752 reply :
On 8/4/2017 at 11:04 PM, scaleface said:Rollincoal420 You are surrounded by lakes . You need a boat , it doesnt have to be fancy . Most of my fishing is done out of a 14 foot jon boat powered by an elec motor only .
Don't listen to really good, experienced fisherman like @scaleface. He will only get your hopes up. My wife and I have a beautiful new Ranger boat and we can't catch a cold. 
Sword of the Lord reply :
Getting skunked is normal. You won't catch them where they aren't located. It's not as easy and casting and getting a bite. You have to locate the fish. Cover, fallen and hanging trees, boulders, other debris, under docks and bridges, weeds, etc. Yesterday I basically got skunked. I slay fish at this body of water every weekend, but yesterday it was frustrating. I could not find them. It's not that I was doing something wrong, it was just one of those days. Finally right before I was about to leave I saw a lone dink swimming by the shore. I threw a wacky Senko on its nose and it instantly struck it; leading me to believe that I simply never found them because this guy was hungry and not skittish at all.
Ratherbfishing reply :
Is it unusual to get skunked? Nope. Especially on pressured lakes with limited access. Is it unusual to get skunked quite a lot? Mmmmm... perhaps a little. But summertime can be a real challenge, too. As is usually the case, the bass will not be everywhere BUT they will be, IMO, in places that are harder to access (or locate) and do not have to chase as often as food is more plentiful.
Hang in there!
Columbia Craw reply :
With 1200 views on this post, others must really want to know. I am the original skunk dawg. It happens. Evaluate where you're fishing and when and take a look at the lure selection. Experiment. You will get it. Many years ago I put in five eight hour days in the early spring. It was cold. Not one bite. It made me more determined than ever. Try to learn from every outing. It's fishing.
Rollincoal420 reply :
Had a good weekend. Finally broke the dry spell. Got invited out on a john boat Saturday and found one with a weightless senko under a tree. Then today we were at a park with a walking trail with spots along the waters edge. I went to a spot with access to the edge of the bank but still had trees blocking direct access to the water. I said screw it and tossed a fatty craw on a belly weighted hook over a tree and it got picked up shortly after hitting the water. Had to winch him up over a tree, lucky my rod barely reached over it.
All came from bits of advise taken from this thread. Thanks!
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the reel ess reply :
On 8/7/2017 at 3:12 AM, Columbia Craw said:With 1200 views on this post, others must really want to know. I am the original skunk dawg. It happens. Evaluate where you're fishing and when and take a look at the lure selection. Experiment. You will get it. Many years ago I put in five eight hour days in the early spring. It was cold. Not one bite. It made me more determined than ever. Try to learn from every outing. It's fishing.
Late winter/early spring can be really tough around here. Often you're fishing for one bite from a big gal. I go with my buddy that time of year because it's too cold to take the kayak and risk unintentionally going swimming. He usually gets the one bite. But it's a cure for cabin fever.
flg2010 reply :
On 8/3/2017 at 8:10 AM, Rollincoal420 said:So, I'm relatively new to fishing and have started going every day after work since I get out a couple hrs before my girlfriend. We sometimes go in the evenings after she gets home, and usually at some point during the weekend. Here recently. Last month, month and a half, I started to get serious about it due to restrictions that arose for me in my other hobby/addiction whatever u wanna call it. It's pretty common for us not to catch anything for days, even over a week.
We do all our fishing from the bank, like parks, lakes, rivers, usually a boat ramp or some other highly pressured access point for fishing. We wear out Google earth and usually spend roughly a day in the weekend checking spot off the list.
The success I do have is all from info taken off the internet, and applied as best I can since all of our friends are jeep friends, not fishing friends. No one to turn to for advice, if u know what I mean.
I see posts on social media, YouTube, and other fishing or "news feed" type apps of people always slaying fish. Whether from shore or boat, don't matter. I get a boat give u all kinds of access, and things like fish finders offer a huge advantage, but I usually strike out. Doesn't really slow me down, I still enjoy the fishing part even without the catching part, but I'd like to see better results.
Today and yesterday, for example, Fish wr busting out of the water everywhere. As close as I couldn't see through the water n e more, to all the way across the lake. Tried everything, and got nothing. So I'm here to try and improve on that.
Sorry for the long winded post. I usually avoid creating them.
This happens to me a lot, especially when I move to a new body of water, I only got back into serious amateur fishing about a year or so ago after a mult/many-year break. However back during the last decade and before I can tell you that when I moved to a new lake, pond, river, or stream, it would take multiple trips.. sometimes months... to get a good idea of what will work to consistently catch fish.
Example: Lake Candlewood in CT: Spots I go to long plastic worms, Over 5 inch (any brand/color) or earthworms live bait works for bass.
Wallkill River: Spots I got to short plastic worms, 3-4 inch (any brand/must be transparent, green, or bronze color) or earthworms live bait works for bass.
It WILL be somewhat different at each location in each Body of water.
To be clear I am talking about Large and Small Mouth bass fishing..this also includes their relative species. Even bait fishing will be specific and different depending on where you fish.
My advice:
1. Ask other anglers at the body of water you are targeting about what works. Most will be helpful. Listen to them.
2. Have a wide collection of Spoons, Crank Baits, Plastics, Hooks, and Weights. Try them all.
3. Learn to rig the artificial and live baits.
4. Learn to rig Plastic worm/creature baits well. Grab a variety of brands...
5. Learn to find and cultivate your own worms for live bait. They are the bait to use (live) when you want to know whats in a body of water. If your not catching anything on them the fish aren't there.
All the above is my opinion.. I'm no expert..
Oh.. and make sure you have a license and know the rules/law.
bigbill reply :
I fish from shore.
1. Read the water conditions.
clear water it's smaller sized, natural colored baits fished faster.
stained water conditions it's medium sized, a combination of natural colored baits and brighter colored baits fished slower.
muddy water conditions its larger sized, brightest color baits fished the slowest.
2. Location, look for points, droppoffs, flats, holes. I use a cast out hummingbird fish finder to learn the bottom structure. Look for smaller ponds, old man made dams that were used for water power 150+ years ago. There's a drop off at the dam. Some dams are rocky with a man made road on top. Never pass up a body of water that looks too small. I've caught my biggest bass in smaller places.
3. Timing, when to go fishing,
I find the fish are closest to the shore in dark to low light conditions.(4:00am to 10:00am) As it gets lighter they move to there deeper haunts and hiding places. I fish from dark to dawn. One must be very stealthy. Don't make any noise at all, don't talk. Handle your tackle quietly. The bass are at the shoreline and any noise will spook them. Don't slam the car door. I open and close the bail on my spinning reel by hand again no noise. In the dark I use a small AA FLASH lite. Keep it low to your tackle box. In the mornings as it gets later near 8:30/9:00am as the bass move out to deeper water I switch to a Carolina rigged plastic with a 1/8oz weight with a 24" leader. I use a senko, brushog, 6" worm.
Evenings are another good time to fish. (5:00pm to 9:30pm) they move from their deeper haunts to the shore to feed.
Lunch time,
another good time to fish. The plants give off plankton which the bait fish feed on. The baitfish get active and the bass will turn on to feed.
morning and evening changing light conditions. The baitfishes eyes adjust slowly to the changing light conditions. The basses eyes adjust faster to the changing light conditions so there feeding on the baitfish.
Dont be afraid to change lure size and colors. Throw different style of lures till you get action.
Casting,
i do do what I call Skip Fan Casting from shore. I fan cast but skip to the right and left so I don't spook the fish by putting my casts side by side to each other.
scents, I use a bass attractant, a regular bass scent and I carry a few different flavors. If no action is happening with a bass scent try changing to a garlic scent.(example)
color of your clothes,
dont wear bright colored clothes. If you can see the bass they can see you. I prefer camo or darker colored clothes nothing bright.
in the evenings there are more numbers of bass caught but their smaller up to 5lbs but many 2 to 3 lbers. In the mornings with no one else around the bass are in lesser numbers but there bigger. My pb10lbs was caught at 5:30am 2 feet from shore at a drop off. Again it pays to be stealthy she was close to me in the water I made a cast parallel to the shoreline.
shore fishing isn't hard once you learn the bottom structure. The more we learn the less we get skunked. It's skill that catches fish not luck.
bigbill reply :
Try fishing one rod with live bait, minnows. Use another rod setup with lures. Just to start out. As you learn more on how to use lures with different presentations the lure setup will out catch the livebait setup. That's what happened to me.
Rollincoal420 reply :
On 8/8/2017 at 2:55 PM, bigbill said:I fish from shore.
1. Read the water conditions.
clear water it's smaller sized, natural colored baits fished faster.
stained water conditions it's medium sized, a combination of natural colored baits and brighter colored baits fished slower.
muddy water conditions its larger sized, brightest color baits fished the slowest.
2. Location, look for points, droppoffs, flats, holes. I use a cast out hummingbird fish finder to learn the bottom structure. Look for smaller ponds, old man made dams that were used for water power 150+ years ago. There's a drop off at the dam. Some dams are rocky with a man made road on top. Never pass up a body of water that looks too small. I've caught my biggest bass in smaller places.
3. Timing, when to go fishing,
I find the fish are closest to the shore in dark to low light conditions.(4:00am to 10:00am) As it gets lighter they move to there deeper haunts and hiding places. I fish from dark to dawn. One must be very stealthy. Don't make any noise at all, don't talk. Handle your tackle quietly. The bass are at the shoreline and any noise will spook them. Don't slam the car door. I open and close the bail on my spinning reel by hand again no noise. In the dark I use a small AA FLASH lite. Keep it low to your tackle box. In the mornings as it gets later near 8:30/9:00am as the bass move out to deeper water I switch to a Carolina rigged plastic with a 1/8oz weight with a 24" leader. I use a senko, brushog, 6" worm.
Evenings are another good time to fish. (5:00pm to 9:30pm) they move from their deeper haunts to the shore to feed.
Lunch time,
another good time to fish. The plants give off plankton which the bait fish feed on. The baitfish get active and the bass will turn on to feed.
morning and evening changing light conditions. The baitfishes eyes adjust slowly to the changing light conditions. The basses eyes adjust faster to the changing light conditions so there feeding on the baitfish.
Dont be afraid to change lure size and colors. Throw different style of lures till you get action.
Casting,
i do do what I call Skip Fan Casting from shore. I fan cast but skip to the right and left so I don't spook the fish by putting my casts side by side to each other.
scents, I use a bass attractant, a regular bass scent and I carry a few different flavors. If no action is happening with a bass scent try changing to a garlic scent.(example)
color of your clothes,
dont wear bright colored clothes. If you can see the bass they can see you. I prefer camo or darker colored clothes nothing bright.
in the evenings there are more numbers of bass caught but their smaller up to 5lbs but many 2 to 3 lbers. In the mornings with no one else around the bass are in lesser numbers but there bigger. My pb10lbs was caught at 5:30am 2 feet from shore at a drop off. Again it pays to be stealthy she was close to me in the water I made a cast parallel to the shoreline.
shore fishing isn't hard once you learn the bottom structure. The more we learn the less we get skunked. It's skill that catches fish not luck.
Very nice post. Thanks for breaking all of that down to the next level. Many of this I've heard many times, but never broken down to that level. Very helpful for someone like me who always over analyzes everything.
baldbassguy33 reply :
I've had this happen in the past as well and something that really helped me was talking to some of the regulars and 'old timers' that I would meet while out on the water.
There is one park lake close to me that I had been visiting for months and have NEVER been able to even get a bite at. I'd tried everthing. Jigs, weightless senkos, topwaters, cranks, jigs. Nothin. Not even a nibble.
I met a guy while fishing one time and he told me that the secret was the color red. The fish wouldn't bite anything that was any other color. He told me to slow reel a red senko across the bottom and it would drive the fish nuts. Sure enough, went and got some red senkos and caught my personal best on the second cast. Now that I know what the fish like, I've never left without landing something.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
It happens man it happens. I just got Skunked yesterday meanwhile a young friend of mine who never catch any bass before and wanna learn, caught 3 all on Senko.
CTBassin860 reply :
I get skunked all the time in the summer. I'm looking for the big ones. If i run into 3-4 dinks so be it. No fish doesn't bother me that much. I'm still on the water and doing what I love doing.
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