Why do I even fish? 2024
HeyCoach reply :
Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
I came home and the wife asked how it went. “It sucked,” was all I could muster. She asked a question that made me think.
“Then why do you go?”
It’s just frustrating getting skunked so many times. I’ve been fishing about 3 dozen times this summer. Caught 3 dinks.
Log Catcher reply :
You are like all of us on here. Chasing the dream of catching the big one.
DINK WHISPERER reply :
If every day was a good one, it would get pretty boring imo.
Russ E reply :
Everyone gets skunked occasionally. It is just a part of fishing. Especially if you are targeting big fish.
However if I only caught 3 fish in 3 dozen trips, I would be looking for better places to fish.
I fish several different bodies of water. If one is not producing, I move to another.
Gundog reply :
This year I had 4 trips to the lake in a row where I caught nothing. Nada, zip, zilch, naught, zero. It was frustrating, aggravating and constipating but I still fish. Why? Because needlepoint is too exciting. 
geo g reply :
When things are real tough I down size plastics, slow way down, look for the greenest, thickest, vegetation I can find, amd fish early or late. It happens to everyone once in a while, just enjoy being out there and practice your casting placement.
LCG reply :
Hang in there. Try to enjoy the outdoors and scenery. Keep it fun and relaxed.
I try to learn something from each trip out. What I did right ,what I did wrong, or what I could have tried.
You said you are fishing a finness worm. How about a jig, a Texas rigged worm or creature bait, a crankbait, chatterbait, spinners, in line spinners,etc.
If the water is dirty, you may need something that displaces more water or makes sound.
If you really like finness, maybe a ned rig, neko rig, drop shot,etc.
I know it sucks to get skunked, happens to everyone. Just try to stay positive and have fun.
Sometimes I target other species just for fun be it crappie, catfish, or carp. I would prefer a 10lb largemouth or a 6lb smallie but those are few and far between.
HeyCoach reply :
I’ve thrown everything in my tackle box.
I’ve caught the fish on this summer:
black baby brush hog
Junebug Trick worm
Whopper Plopper
I foul hooked the spotted bass on the WP, somehow it got a treble hook under its chin. I’ve probably caught less than 3 pounds of fish total.
BigAngus752 reply :
This summer has been a lot of one fish trips and some skunked days too, but there hasn't been a single day that I haven't learned something new. Yesterday I fished 5 hours and caught one 2.5 pound bass. Last week I was embarrassed to tell my wife I didn't catch anything AND I lost an $8 lure. From a boat! What idiot can't free up a lure from a boat?! Answer: me.
I like being out there. I always figure something out for the first time. To be a bass fisherman you've got to be a glass-half-full kind of person. Actually, when I'm fishing is the ONLY time I'm a glass-half-full person!
Lead Head reply :
If things are that tough, try a ned rig. You will have the added potential of catching almost anything that swims.
scaleface reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
You didnt change ? You need to change if you're not catching anything . Its not always slow down and fish thoroughly either . A lot of times it pays to speed up and cover more water .
GReb reply :
First of that is rough. Been skunked many times but 3 fish in 36 outings just sucks.
What time have you been fishing? Have you tried fishing all periods of the day?
HeyCoach reply :
Today was about a 2hr trip, long enough to hit all of the piers and structure around the slough.
I’ve gone out before sun rise so I can try a topwater bite when the sun comes up, been out at mid morning past lunchtime, mid afternoon through sunset.
islandbass reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
I came home and the wife asked how it went. “It sucked,” was all I could muster. She asked a question that made me think.
“Then why do you go?”
It’s just frustrating getting skunked so many times. I’ve been fishing about 3 dozen times this summer. Caught 3 dinks.
Buddy, four words.
Do not give up!
I’ve done worse. I’ve done more than that totally skunked.
This is where attitude comes in.
With the right attitude, a skunk out is never a complete loss.
So you didn’t catch a fish, but did you learn something?
Try to learn something from every trip.
Did you take note of the lures you use? Their colors? Their size? How did you work your lures? Fast slow? What line did you employ? What was the temp? The time of day? Did you observe the water? What cadence(s) in your retrieve did you use?
There are so many things you can make note of when you’re skunked and not.
You can store this into your deposit of knowledge. Keep depositing. Keep adding.
Eventually, it will return to you dividends. Think if it is partially delayed gratification, but is it in my humble experience, knowledge and wisdom come manifest. Knowledge that you earned though blood, sweat, tears, and training and praying and eating your vitamins, working out in the gymnasium of skunk.
So no, I do not accept your sulking attitude and two personal example from which I hope you can draw upon for inspiration and optimism.
1) I’ve been fishing for 14 years and in this time I had never ever caught a bass on a spinnerbait or buzzbait. Initially, I wrote them off as baits that “don’t work in the Pacific Northwest.” What a bad attitude and tick poor conclusion. What a mark of a loser. Eventually, I changed my mind and did my research. I got to a new pond and based on the water color and time of day (evening approaching, sun setting, nearly dark) and relative shallow depth, I tied on my black and red buzz bait. I honestly couldn’t imagine what the strike would be like. I chose a somewhat fast retrieve because I was thinking it’s dark and I don’t want to give them a chance to get too good of a look, ie, force them to make a decision. Then a strike! I missed. A short strike. *#*#€# qbert style thoughts raced across my mind. 14 years a blank, I ain’t quitting now. Only had about 15 minutes left before having to get to work. I slow my retrieve just a wee bit to hopefully get them some time to latch on. BAM. It worked. Holy smokes, I finally did it. One heck of a monkey to get off your back.
I followed the same process with a spinnerbait on a different trip. Before, one bass per outing was usually a good thing or the best I’d usually do.
Similar conditions. Chose a red spinnerbait that had a willow and Colorado blade. The clevis of the Colorado blade was broken and I was a bit upset. It was too late to change it. Sun going down, 20 minutes before work. Had to roll with it. I was concerned that a willow wouldn’t give off enough sound or vibration. I was 100% wrong. First cast, pretty fast retrieve, short strike. I was shocked I even got a hit. Made an adjustment to my retrieve and SMASH!! First spinnerbait bass! Dang!! Then bass numbers 2,3,4. What in the world is going on? Bass #5 I lost because I got my rod tangled in some over hanging tree limbs. However, #5 came. Five bass in less than 20 minutes? This is unheard of for me.
Many of those years of to trying with nothing to show for it until i finally changed my attitude and tried to learn from every skunk out IMHO was the difference. Granted there were some years I did not even try a spinnerbait or buzzbait but it’s still a net 14 years.
2) My poor brother. In this same time, I have been trying to help him catch his fish bass or blue gill or whatever. But no. Nil. Nada. Whether fishing with me or by himself. His closest was in a story I wrote about in a different thread not to long ago. That’s right. Hooking into a fish and not landing it Does not count. He’s visiting me now but is going home for good. This will be his last chance to catch a warm water fish for a very long time. Well, tomorrow, I’m taking him and i am going to give everything I have to make sure this 14 year skunk will end. I’m even going to have night crawlers on hand.
So so if you can go 14 years of being skunked, I’ll feel for you. But not for 48 fishing stints. At least you caught dinks.
Attitude is key and I know you know this, especially if by chance you might be a sport coach by occupation. When you’re down you have to dig deep, especially when your mettle is tested. We all know this, whether it’s sports, fishing, or life.
So go get them and lose the depressing attitude if only for your sake, lest your fishing gear be transformed into glorified dust collectors in the garage. ????
Mike F reply :
I fish after work every day for about two hours, which sounds like the amount of time you are spending as well roughly? On my after work trips I have other things on my mind, “I’ve got to be home by this time or the girlfriend will worry/be upset, do I need to get gas tonight? What am I goin to pack for lunch tomorrow”, just things that run through my head when I know I have limited time to fish. And it is not uncommon For me to get skunked on these after work trips as a result of it.
I haven’t caught a fish in three days, or six hours of fishing as of now because I was distracted, disheartened by my previous two days of failing, and end up hurrying my retrieves, or just not totally concentrating.
On on the weekends, and particularly Friday nights for some reason, I tend to do very well because the distractions and obligations are gone from my mind it’s almost zen like, it’s like being totally focused which I struggle with when my time is limited. But it’s amazing how my state of mind can change the results of my outings, not even being positive and thinking I’m going to catch them, just being able to forget the world for an evening and have the patience to really try to feel what my lure is doing instead of Being indignant that they “should” be biting it!
im not sure if what I described is happening to you, but I know it happens to my dad too. If it is, just set aside a whole afternoon if you can manage it, leave your phone in the truck, and don’t come back until you’re satisfied.
Btw on really bad days I consider a good bite as not being skunked, the point of fishing is to fool a fish into trying your offering right? At least that’s what I tell myself
good luck
PNW LipRipper reply :
Guess that's why it's called fishing and not catching. Been skunked many times. It's just relaxing to be near the water and to never quit !!
Stephen B reply :
My addiction to the next cast could be the ONE makes me never give up regardless of the outcome. Keep on pushing on. Trying new techniques, lures, etc may be beneficial.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
All I could say is " hang in there" it happens to most of us, some less some more but more so for those shore hunters.
If WP doesn't work try small popper with longer pause.
if trick worm doesn't work try wacky finesse worm or 4" worm.
if baby brush hog doesn't work try weightless baby menace.
Fall transition is pretty suck for me too, so this year I change my game plan. I target those tiny bass in shallow weedy area instead. Most of the fish I caught were within 5-10' from bank. Of course I caught a whole lot of dinks but I got 2-3lbers mix in once awhile. The good thing is I get to use some of my setup and a few of my lures that never get to see water for awhole year.
The key is to down size and slow down.
TOXIC reply :
#1...Change your attitude. If you are frustrated and have no confidence it will affect your results. Treat it like the challenge it is. Figure it out. I like a challenge.
Catt reply :
The hunt is just satisfying to me as the catch, the catch validates hunt (If that makes sense).
Sometimes to get out of a slump only requires minor changes.
Timing could be the culprit, just because you've found the structure & the bass doesn't mean they wanna bite.
@scaleface mentioned a change of speed; many times during the dog days of summer I'll pick up a Rat-L-Trap & burn it just under the surface.
Keep chunking-n-reeling... it'll change ????
jbmaine reply :
The way you are feeling I'd suggest you just stop fishing. After a while the urge to go will get so strong you'll just be happy to be out on the water. Every late fall we put the boat away and spend all winter waiting for ice out. Come spring we don't always catch anything the first time or two out, but we're so happy to be on the water it doesn't matter much.
NYWayfarer reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 8:11 AM, Russ E said:However if I only caught 3 fish in 3 dozen trips, I would be looking for better places to fish.
I fish several different bodies of water. If one is not producing, I move to another.
Good advice.
If you stick with it at the place you are currently fishing my advice would be to downsize your baits. I am not afraid to fish a wacky rigged 3" Yum Dinger on a 1/0 wacky hook to see what I can get. Berkley Atomic Tubes are also great baits to do a species assessment on a body of water.
the reel ess reply :
You know those neat looking ponds that you drive by all the time and never give a second thought? Find out who owns them and ask to fish them. You'll be surprised how many people will say yes. Seems to me fewer will turn you down than will say yes. Most people want their ponds managed in some way. Then hit those places early or late with topwaters and everything else you already mentioned. I like to use the big bass baits in those places. In most ponds the dinks are starving so they'll still bite. It's a great way to get your confidence back and catch something, even if it's just dinks. If they're extremely small, I switch over to lighter tackle and bust out the Rooster Tail and Beetle Spin. Some of these ponds have monster bluegills too. Any action is better than no action.
Scott F reply :
If I’d only caught 3 fish in 3 dozen trips, I’d have quit myself. My suggestion is to find other people to fish with. Join a fishing club (not necessarily a tournament club). A lot of times, fishing by yourself, you keep repeating the same mistakes over and over without realizing you are doing something wrong. Watching how and where others present their baits will give you insights you can’t always get from reading or watching YouTube videos. Downsizing your baits is also a good idea. I have a friend who was struggling to catch bass while everyone else was doing well. He was copying the guys he saw on TV and throwing big baits going for big fish which isn’t a bad thing but he was coming up empty and not happy about it. Once he switched to what the rest of us were using, he started catching and wound up with some big fish to boot.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 10:12 PM, NYWayfarer said:Good advice.
If you stick with it at the place you are currently fishing my advice would be to downsize your baits. I am not afraid to fish a wacky rigged 3" Yum Dinger on a 1/0 wacky hook to see what I can get. Berkley Atomic Tubes are also great baits to do a species assessment on a body of water.
Just special for you, try wacky rig you Roboworm Ned Worm.
everythingthatswims reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 9:50 AM, GReb said:First of that is rough. Been skunked many times but 3 fish in 36 outings just sucks.
What time have you been fishing? Have you tried fishing all periods of the day?
^^^ Something strange about this to me
NYWayfarer reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 10:49 PM, JustJames said:Just special for you, try wacky rig you Roboworm Ned Worm.
I am going to place an order for these. They look great.
LCG reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 8:58 AM, HeyCoach said:I’ve caught the fish on this summer:
black baby brush hog
Junebug Trick worm
Whopper Plopper
Might I suggest trying moving baits that displace water ie crankbait s,chatterbaits,spinner baits,in line spinners,etc.
Koz reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
The good news for you is that being down in Alabama your water temperatures should have peaked within the past few weeks. As the waters cool the bass will become more active in most traditional foraging spots along the shoreline.
With the water temperatures reaching their peaks you have probably also noticed an increased presence of algae. Not the topwater coating, but the thick, soupy stuff that gathers in pockets of ponds and lagoons. Since we have very little vegetation and structure in the lagoons that I fish during daylight hours I have been targeting in and around the algae.
In cooler weather the bass will bust right through that stuff to grab a topwater, but not this time of year. So I cast beyond the algae and pull something through it to see what gets the bite. More than one time I have felt the pull of the algae and then had a bass grab the bait. Lately it's been either a big paddletail or chatterbaits with a Pit Boss trailer that have done the trick.
Fishing through the soupy algae is a pain, but my guess is that you'll find some bass hiding in there while the waters are still warm. But in a few weeks when the nighttime temperatures start to drop the waters will cool and the bass will be back in their normal hot spots for at least part of the day.
sfpalatka reply :
I have been there to. Since we have been getting a lot of rain, the water temp has been down in the morning around 83 degrees. Been pretty lucky lately fishing vegetation. If all else fails, you can use the ultimate stick bait DYNOMITE JUST KIDDING 
HeyCoach reply :
Yes, my attitude is rather negative.
I’ve had some life stressors change me from my usual happy-go-lucky demeanor. Well, how I have reacted to them has changed me.
I usually have other things on my mind when I fish, which causes me to just go through the motions.
I’m going to go buy a medium/fast spinning rod or combo tomorrow so I can use that instead of a medium/moderate for shaky head and put the boat in.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 8:11 AM, Russ E said:Everyone gets skunked occasionally. It is just a part of fishing. Especially if you are targeting big fish.
However if I only caught 3 fish in 3 dozen trips, I would be looking for better places to fish.
I fish several different bodies of water. If one is not producing, I move to another.
I gotta agree. I can't imagine spending 70+ hours fishing and only catching 3 small bass. Especially, if you aren't bank-bound. But even if you are...whew!
I think maybe there are better questions to ask that can improve your luck. I hope my post didn't jump the gun, as I haven't read every reply but learning the right questions to ask (yourself or others on here) is important and can help up your game pretty quickly.
Bass_Fishing_Socal reply :
Before when I lived in city with only small city park lakes but huge with population in SoCal, I caught may be 10-15 bass for those 8-10 years. I had been skunked more than I could count and I never give up.
WRB reply :
Location, location, location.
You can't catch bass if they are not there.
If the bass are where you are fishing then you need to change what you are doing.
So you have a boat and spinning tackle, that means you are able to go wherever you want, not shore bound.
It's fall transition now in my area so the bass are more then likely moving and feeding on Shad.
My suggestion is start fishing main lake points from 1' shallow towards 20' deeper water, down hill. Cast all around the point and use Shad color soft plastics, translucent purples if the water is greenish color.
Move into a creek arm and repeat targeting secondary points and any brush or soil changes you see.
Tom
Fishingintheweeds reply :
So, I didn't intend to sound like a jerk about it in my previous comment...an update when things turn around would be interesting. I'd like to see what you figured out was wrong and then, what changed your luck.
If you've bought the stuff, and gone 36 times...you're in. It's too late! You're not going to quit!
Good luck.
Glaucus reply :
It's the water you're fishing. Your water sucks. Move to a different body of water. The start to this season sucked for me too. Water that had always produced became trash. Thought it was me until I moved to different water. Turned out to be the best season of my life.
People talking about fall transition, meanwhile it's 90 degrees with a real feel approaching 100 today here in Illinois and it's going to be this way for another week.
Catt reply :
On 9/16/2018 at 5:06 AM, Glaucus said:People talking about fall transition, meanwhile it's 90 degrees with a real feel approaching 100 today here in Illinois and it's going to be this way for another week
Down here on the Gulf Coast we're no near the fall transition!
Buffdaddy54 reply :
Wow do I know the feeling. Horrible, horrible summer for me. Bought 4 new reels within 2 months and caught NADA! in mutiple trips out, so, I decided to start working on my technique. I go to my local middle school play ground with my 2 Baitcasters and throw to the 8 four square courts and practice,practice,practice. I still suck at flipping but I don't hate it anymore. 8 courts, 4 squares each, 32 total targets! It's getting to the point where I enjoy this as much as fishing. I try not to go home until I've hit every square.
I know this is going to pay off in the long run. DON'T GIVE UP! Make a game out of it.
Good luck!!
MichaelCopeland reply :
I've only been bass fishing since late March early April of 2017. I've had more 5 to 8 hour days of getting completely skunked than I can count on my fingers and toes combined. In fact, I only get to go fishing when my girlfriend will actually take me unless there's a pond close enough for me to walk to, which I was fortunate to have that for a few months before I had to move. I'm limited to fishing from the bank, so most bodies of water I get to go to have hardly any accessible bank to fish from. I've only been able to get out on a boat 3 times since I began bass fishing. However, with all my limitations, I was determined I was gonna catch some bass. I didn't give up. I asked questions on here and got good answers from the awesome folks on here. I've read alot of the articles on here to help give me some insight on what to look for to find the bass and why I should look for those areas. I read books for the same reasons. Of course all of that had to be practiced out on the water. I practiced, practiced, practiced every chance I got. Some days I didn't catch anything, some days I only caught dinks or just 1 bass, some days a mix of dinks and keepers and some days a mix of dinks, keepers and an occasional hawg. Myself, I'm in search of big bass, monster bass, trophy bass whatever you wanna call them. I still get completely skunked often, but I do expect it considering what I'm targeting. The reason I fish is for the peacefulness and beauty of the outdoors, the scenery God created for us. I fish because I feel free of almost every burden in my life. I used to get very upset when I got skunked. Now I feel Blessed for the time I get to spend out there and if I catch a dink or a keeper size or a hawg, well that is a bonus. I still have limitations for when I can go fishing and how much bank there is to fish from, but the wait on being able to get there is the only part that sucks. When I get out there, it's total bliss! Have faith, be patient and be confident when you're out there. Try different things until you find what works for you and stay with it until you have to change things up again. Then repeat the process. I wish you the very best of luck and I hope you don't give up. God Bless! ????
r83srock reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 9:34 PM, jbmaine said:The way you are feeling I'd suggest you just stop fishing. After a while the urge to go will get so strong you'll just be happy to be out on the water. Every late fall we put the boat away and spend all winter waiting for ice out. Come spring we don't always catch anything the first time or two out, but we're so happy to be on the water it doesn't matter much.
True that! We are frozen for at least 5 months here, so every day on the water after ice out is a good day. PMA (positive mental attitude and some small changes like CATT mentioned can be all you need.
LionHeart reply :
I Don't have anything significant to add but will echo a few things. It is highly unlikely that you have the power to keep fish from biting your lure that results in this many skunk sessions. What I mean to say here is that unless you are doing something crazy, it likely ain't your fault.
I suppose trying a wide range of lures couldn't hurt but if it were me I'd try different water. When I have a bad run of trips, I'll go to a pond where it's a pretty sure bet I'll catch fish even if it means driving for an hour and having less time to fish.
Getting validation that you actually can catch fish as long as there are fish to catch can cure lost confidence like no other.
Hats off to you for sticking with it this long. If it makes you feel any better, I have come back empty handed many days after fishing for 6+ hours. In fact, my last 3 trips (3-4 hours each)...... nothing.
dodgeguy reply :
2 hours is not long enough. you may have picked the 2 hours of the day where they weren't biting. I fished 9 hour days where they only bit for 1 hour.
Mobasser reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 9:39 AM, scaleface said:You didnt change ? You need to change if you're not catching anything . Its not always slow down and fish thoroughly either . A lot of times it pays to speed up and cover more water .
Yep! Throw them a changeup.Try different baits, depths, and speed of retrieve. The hunt for the fish is just as much a skill as fishing itself.
YoTone reply :
go on more honeymoons
HeyCoach reply :
On 9/17/2018 at 10:11 PM, YoTone said:go on more honeymoons
Caught my PB of 6.5 pounds. I don’t know if I can justify a divorce for a new PB largemouth.
I’m actually about to load up and beat the bank. It is what I normally do, and have done this summer as I’ve not had a chance to put the boat in.
Such is life.
Harold Scoggins reply :
"Mushin"...and if that doesn't work, try a 9" blackberry Jelly Worm.
YoTone reply :
surprised this hasn't been said in this thread but for me Ive caught some of my nicest catches at night. im willing to bet this will catch you more fish.
HeyCoach reply :
At 10am this morning it was 86 degrees and high humidity. Heat index was already at 95.
Its hot out there.
Krux5506 reply :
We've all been there, but usually all my skunking comes during those dog days of summer. Honestly man, if you're to the point of just feeling burned out or strung out from getting your hopes up to be constantly let down by being skunked, you need to just chill out and not fish for a while. Get other stuff done at home, put time into other hobbies, hang out with friends who have nothing to do with fishing, or whatever. Clear your head from the craziness that constant skunking can really make you feel.
Here in NY there's times of the year where although I am so excited to get out, I literally have to train myself to not get my hopes up too high, because the summer bite is one that can either be great or just flat out boring and non existent. Luckily we are at that transition point where it's game on again.
LionHeart reply :
On 9/17/2018 at 11:59 PM, HeyCoach said:At 10am this morning it was 86 degrees and high humidity. Heat index was already at 95.
Its hot out there.
Man, I gotta ask. How slow are you fishing the worm? Until this summer (which has been brutal for me also), I thought I knew what slow fishing was.
It was only after I dumb lucked upon a submerge brush pile that I learned what slow fishing a worm really means. At first is was excruciating, a voice in my head kept saying how boring and miserable it is and how I'll never catch fish dragging and pausing like this. Honestly it wasn't any fun at all, but I was desperate and had tried just about everything else.
Then I got a bite, then another, then another. I'm not saying this is your problem, and if it is, I'm not saying this is the only solution. It did help me though. This whole time, I had been working my plastics too fast for this Texas heat.
Of course this isn't the cure all, but try dragging your lure extremely slow. Each cast of 30 yards should take 3-5 minutes to retrieve. Sound boring? Not if it works. Now I truly enjoy this kind of technique and there was a time when I couldn't imagine using it.
For the record, I still say try some different water.
YoTone reply :
On 9/17/2018 at 11:59 PM, HeyCoach said:At 10am this morning it was 86 degrees and high humidity. Heat index was already at 95.
Its hot out there.
at 10 am im usually wrapping things up if it gets that hot out. if its that hot for you imagine how it is for the fish.
Boomstick reply :
I put in a lot of time learning about migration patterns, various tactics plus just what works in situations and what doesn't.
I didn't get completely skunked until August and one more time a couple weeks ago and honestly that time I'm fairly sure if I had a little more money and rented a rowboat or canoe, I would have caught some at the lake I was fishing at - there's just very little shore access that isn't limited by low treelines and it's extremely shallow and they aren't at that side of the lake this time of year.
Last year, we got skunked a lot, and I must admit it was a bit frustrating. But this year, it didn't bother me. I spent significantly less time on the water this year due to medical issues and still caught a whole lot more fish, and it was generally fun and relaxing trying to catch them anyway. At the end of the day, I bought a 3lb salmon filet and fed the group and that was worth it alone if nothing else.
schplurg reply :
On 9/15/2018 at 10:47 AM, HeyCoach said:Yes, my attitude is rather negative.
I’ve had some life stressors change me from my usual happy-go-lucky demeanor. Well, how I have reacted to them has changed me.
I usually have other things on my mind when I fish, which causes me to just go through the motions.
I’m going to go buy a medium/fast spinning rod or combo tomorrow so I can use that instead of a medium/moderate for shaky head and put the boat in.
I haven't fished very long but for me, fishing is what takes my mind off my problems. I fish sometimes just for that reason. It's like therapy for me.
Someone said that two hours may not be enough. It isn't. I have fished many hours only to have the bite on for maybe an hour or less.
- Try live bait if you haven't, at least until you catch a few
- Different water
- Different water
- Different times of day
- Different times of day 
I think fishing with other people is a great idea, especially if your mind is distracted when you're alone.
I'm still a rookie but those are my thoughts. Good luck!
Chris186 reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 8:58 AM, HeyCoach said:I’ve thrown everything in my tackle box.
I’ve caught the fish on this summer:
black baby brush hog
Junebug Trick worm
Whopper Plopper
I foul hooked the spotted bass on the WP, somehow it got a treble hook under its chin. I’ve probably caught less than 3 pounds of fish total.
At least you have caught a fish on a Whopper Plopper. I bought one when they first came out idk how many years ago, still haven't caught a ******* thing on it!
I like Baby Brush Hogs a lot, try a different color. I have had the most success with watermelonseed and big texan.
Do you have any buddies you like to go with? I have recently found some new fishing buddies and it makes a big difference for me, even if we aren't catching any we still have a good time just hanging out on the boat, talking and making jokes.
Marshfly reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 10:41 PM, Scott F said:If I’d only caught 3 fish in 3 dozen trips, I’d have quit myself. My suggestion is to find other people to fish with. Join a fishing club (not necessarily a tournament club). A lot of times, fishing by yourself, you keep repeating the same mistakes over and over without realizing you are doing something wrong. Watching how and where others present their baits will give you insights you can’t always get from reading or watching YouTube videos. Downsizing your baits is also a good idea. I have a friend who was struggling to catch bass while everyone else was doing well. He was copying the guys he saw on TV and throwing big baits going for big fish which isn’t a bad thing but he was coming up empty and not happy about it. Once he switched to what the rest of us were using, he started catching and wound up with some big fish to boot.
This is the best advice in this whole thread. No one knows what body of water you are fishing so suggesting techniques and baits to try doesn't make any sense. Getting on the water with another successful fisherman will teach you more in a day than you could learn in three years worth of solo trips. If it takes hiring a guide for a day to do that, then do it. Even if it means sacrificing a few solo trips to pay for it.
Ratherbfishing reply :
What caught my attention was when you wrote "...throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm." Perhaps I'm being too literal but is that ALL you threw? There is nothing inherently wrong with this choice of baits/techniques EXCEPT when it fails to produce. You can't expect to always catch fish using the same techniques/baits. Fishing in the late summer is one of the toughest times and one often has to think a little outside the box to produce results (and sometimes even then it can be hard). I wish I knew where to begin but the first thing I would suggest is to try very early morning or late evening OR at night. The next, look for off-shore structure. It's easy/natural to cast to visible objects but if that's not where they are biting, don't do it. A lot of summer fish will suspend in deep water so, if you have a boat, try trolling with deep divers. I can usually catch a few bass and crappies doing this. It's not my favorite technique but it keeps the skunk off.
(p.s., I wrote this before reading some of your later responses but I still think it's decent advice. If you STILL aren't catching fish, change locations or ask what others are doing to find/catch fish).
TBAG reply :
Another thread with some great advice! I too have been skunked lots of times, but like others I just try to stay positive and enjoy being outside in nature and more importantly, not at work!
Good luck and don't give up.
HeyCoach reply :
On 9/19/2018 at 12:03 AM, Chris186 said:
Do you have any buddies you like to go with? I have recently found some new fishing buddies and it makes a big difference for me, even if we aren't catching any we still have a good time just hanging out on the boat, talking and making jokes.
No. I had to move from my hometown for a job and I don’t know anybody around here.
There was a BASS opens tournament here the weekend before this. Similar conditions, no change in weather.
Finals day, I want to say only 3 or 4 had a limit. And that’s including Keith Poche and the guy that won the Forrest Wood Cup maybe two years ago.
Pond fisher reply :
HeyCoach, which body of water are you fishing?
Ken
Eric J reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 9:54 AM, HeyCoach said:Today was about a 2hr trip, long enough to hit all of the piers and structure around the slough.
I’ve gone out before sun rise so I can try a topwater bite when the sun comes up, been out at mid morning past lunchtime, mid afternoon through sunset.
I have stayed on a single body of water for 4 hours trying to figure things out and end up catching a hog. Summer's can be tough but being out fishing gives me much needed time away from the world. This morning I ended up with 2 Perch and a dink. Came home relaxed and looking forward to Sunday, my next day out...
WVU-SCPA reply :
There are too many variables to discuss all things that go into catching bass on a given day. From conditions, weather, and some times it comes down to inches on your cast.
While you can't control all the variables, you can alter many of them. Attitude and thought process is key to doing this. My lunch break lake is the perfect example. A heavy pressured clear lake that during the spring and fall I fish at least 3 days a week over lunch. The odds of me putting the right set of variables together in a hour during the summer are slim as the good fish are deeper and finicky. I don't put my self through that disappointment because of the little bit of time I have. Bit of a lie....I still do it but curb my expectations.
If your expectation is to catch a few bass, start there with the info shared in this thread (location, lures, time). If you want to do it consistently, take that information and start putting it together as a playbook (assuming you do coach). Outside of the uncontrolled variables it comes down to probabilities.
HeyCoach reply :
On 9/20/2018 at 6:14 PM, Pond fisher said:HeyCoach, which body of water are you fishing?
Ken
Lake Logan Martin. It’s part of the Coosa chain (famous for the Alabama spotted bass/Coosa bass/spotted bass).
Eric J reply :
This may be contrary to most of what's been said but I do speak from experience and a lifetime of obsessive hobbies.
Sometimes you just need to take a break from something you love to do. Burnout is a real thing and it can sap confidence, desire and will and become a vicious cycle that feeds on itself.
Take a break for a while, do other things. Try not to think about fishing. Come back to it in a few weeks/month and I think you'll see a difference.
Tight lines and good vibes...
Pond fisher reply :
Go to Lay. Great fishing. I've never done well on Logan Martin.
Ken
Rahlow reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
I came home and the wife asked how it went. “It sucked,” was all I could muster. She asked a question that made me think.
“Then why do you go?”
It’s just frustrating getting skunked so many times. I’ve been fishing about 3 dozen times this summer. Caught 3 dinks.
You eliminated a bunch of water that does not hold fish, there is that!
toni63 reply :
Couple summers ago I was in the same rut. Why bother, when I just don't catch all that much when I go?
I figured out the problem wasn't me, it was the lakes I was going to weren't particularly good bass lakes. After talking to some other guys who fish them, I discovered most of them saying the same thing. 5 years ago you could catch fish there, nowadays not so much. So even though they were close to home, like 20 minutes after I leave I am on the water, if the lake stinks, its not much fun trolling around for hours catching nothing or next to nothing.
But I am fortunate in that there is a great bass fishery about 100 miles from here, so instead of going frequently for a few hours, I carve out entire days to go to that lake instead. So now I only get out a couple times a month, but at least I have success every time I go.
For me the trade off is less time fishing for better quality fishing and I find that works much better for me.
So to sum it up, it might be worth skipping the lakes that don't produce for ones that may be further away but you'll enjoy the fishing a lot more when you do go.
BarefootBassin reply :
Your summer sounds the way my winter went. I lost track of how many trips in a row I got skunked after 7. As many have said, fishing comes and goes in flurries. I will add that the worst winter I've had turned into a phenomenal spring and summer.
Just as some anglers are better with some techniques than others, some also have a better handle on different times of year. I'm not that confident when winter hits, but summer is my most productive time of year, hands down. If you can find someone who produces well during the summer and offer to take them along and show you a few things. If not, just don't give up and it will come around.
Lastly, while downsizing can be a great tactic for after a strong front or in clear, shallow water. Excepting those scenarios, summer is NOT the best time to downsize. Bass are cold-blooded. The warmer the water gets, the more they have to eat. Summer is the time to beef up and throw big worms, creatures and jigs. I've had a 14 inch bass choke a 12 inch work on more than one occasion in the summer. Even if I'm going finesse, like a drop shot or Shakey head, I'm still using larger baits (6 in for drop shot and 8-10 in for shakey or bubba shot). Contrary to popular belief, bass will hit a buzzbait or another fast moving top water in the middle of a bright sunny day if you throw it anywhere near shade (docks, weedlines, over hanging trees). Hope that helps. Best of luck!
HeyCoach reply :
I went to a few local tackle shops this week and struck up conversations with the workers and other patrons.
All of them have mentioned how tough the bite has been and several have mentioned going 0-fer. They did say that sometimes there would be bites on shaky head if there was a bite.
Paul Roberts reply :
Been there. I have actually been out fishing, and said to myself, "What the heck am I doing out here! I should be home... mowing the lawn or something." Fishing is nice, but catching is... the main reason we are out there.
HotDogAngler reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
I came home and the wife asked how it went. “It sucked,” was all I could muster. She asked a question that made me think.
“Then why do you go?”
It’s just frustrating getting skunked so many times. I’ve been fishing about 3 dozen times this summer. Caught 3 dinks.
So I have fished since I was around 6, when I saw my dad catch a bass in a nearby lake. For 16 summers, I have fished that lake, and never got a bass, and I genuinely believed bass fishing was impossible for me. But I didn't get mad or negative, I just shelved my desire to catch bass for more important things.
This summer, I tried a new pond again pretty close to home, and lo and behold, I got my first bass by accident on a hot dog chunk meant for bluegill. Now I catch them on senkos etc mainly. Of the 40 or so times I fished this summer, I was skunked exactly 3 times at this pond, which is pressured btw.
The key for me was to quickly get a confidence bait: a bait that you KNOW you can catch something with even on crappy days. That bait for me was soft plastics, because they work in ALL conditions. Then, if you get nothing with your confidence bait after an hour or two, you wont waste more time because you know the action is bad that day.
So try a new place, worth a shot right?
HeyCoach reply :
A 90 series Whopper Plopper caught me a 2.5lb spotted bass this morning at sunrise on my 2nd cast.
????
TnRiver46 reply :
On 9/27/2018 at 8:53 PM, HeyCoach said:A 90 series Whopper Plopper caught me a 2.5lb spotted bass this morning at sunrise on my 2nd cast.
????
Now we're talking! I always start getting way more bites when summer finally ends. I don't mind hot sunny weather but it tends to make fishing lousy for me
Big Rick reply :
On 9/27/2018 at 8:53 PM, HeyCoach said:A 90 series Whopper Plopper caught me a 2.5lb spotted bass this morning at sunrise on my 2nd cast.
????
Woo Hoo!! Man, you are RUINED!! There's nothing like catching a fish on a topwater bait. It's an adrenaline rush that's very addicting. Way to go and keep at it. Just remember this one thing... You can't MAKE a fish bite your favorite lure. You have to adapt to conditions. So, don't get so addicted to the topwater that that's all you're willing to throw.
Fishingintheweeds reply :
On 9/24/2018 at 10:14 PM, toni63 said:Couple summers ago I was in the same rut. Why bother, when I just don't catch all that much when I go?
I figured out the problem wasn't me, it was the lakes I was going to weren't particularly good bass lakes. After talking to some other guys who fish them, I discovered most of them saying the same thing. 5 years ago you could catch fish there, nowadays not so much. So even though they were close to home, like 20 minutes after I leave I am on the water, if the lake stinks, its not much fun trolling around for hours catching nothing or next to nothing.
But I am fortunate in that there is a great bass fishery about 100 miles from here, so instead of going frequently for a few hours, I carve out entire days to go to that lake instead. So now I only get out a couple times a month, but at least I have success every time I go.
For me the trade off is less time fishing for better quality fishing and I find that works much better for me.
So to sum it up, it might be worth skipping the lakes that don't produce for ones that may be further away but you'll enjoy the fishing a lot more when you do go.
I have the same experience. We live right in the middle of a chain of lakes with lots of river access and more additional lakes within 30 minutes of us than I can count. There are easy ones that the DNR has cleaned up and put docks at and are easier to get to and even have close parking! I've learned my lesson about these places though and there are very specific times when you can catch fish there and with very specific tactics...and none of them are very convenient to a tight schedule. You can't pay me to go there outside of the times I've found work but even then, it can be tough. I guess what I'm getting at is sometimes I get this idea in my head that today will be the day I can figure out the magic and I go there first. Ha, 20 minutes in, I feel I've wasted my time. and since my trips are short because of my schedule, that 20 minutes is a valuable chunk of time.
Like others have said, I start thinking about what else I could've done with my time instead and all of the other things I he's to do at home. And I really feel kinda bad about going out.
My fishing is all from the bank But guys in boats and kayaks all day the same thing. The lake LOOKS the past but it's extremely tough. To me, going there has ruined my feeling about how I spent my time that day. If I go other places or bounce around and only catch one or two, or nothing, at places I know are better, it doesn't have that affect on me.
I guess I'm echoing what others are saying, that sometimes continuing to go to that impossible spot can really take it out of you!
gnappi reply :
I get skunked, I catch small fish while much larger fish watch my lure(s) go by. I lose big fish, I lose small fish, and I catch some nice ones.
Thoughts on fishing from my dad...
There's no such thing as a bad cast till the lure is out of the water.
It's not about how many or how big the fish you catch (or not) it's about being there and fishing, it's necessary for therapy.
It's humbling to know that a fish with such a small brain can make me look like a fool, sometimes being humbled is good for the soul.
If I bought fish for the table with all the money I spent on boats and gear I could feed all the poor in my state for a week.
Fish don't care what you wear, or how much your gear cost.
A bought fish never tastes as good as one you caught
You can't catch fish if your line is out of the water.
A bad day fishing if FAR better than a GREAT day at work
RIP pop.
soflabasser reply :
''Why do I fish?'' There are many reasons why I fish but these are some of them;I fish since I find fishing fun.I fish since I enjoy catching big fish.I fish since I enjoy multi species fishing.I fish since I enjoy being in the outdoors.I fish for bass since its so convenient and easy.Big bass are harder and I enjoy the challenge of catching them. I have gotten quite good at catching big bass on a consistent basis but I still have lots of room to learn more which means I have more reason to fish more.I fish since I enjoy knowing that I will never go hungry since I can fill my freezer with high quality seafood such as grouper, snapper,hogfish,snook,etc whenever I want.
HeyCoach reply :
I think I’ve stumbled upon a pattern.
The bass I’ve been catching have come out of one area on a Whopper Plopper. Always very early, between that first light and thirty minutes after sunrise.
The highs are still in the 90s with the lows in the low- to mid-70s. I don’t know the water temp as I’m still stuck bank fishing.
Still no bites on different worm/plastics profiles, jigs, or reaction baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits.
Sifuedition reply :
On 10/8/2018 at 4:04 AM, HeyCoach said:I think I’ve stumbled upon a pattern.
The bass I’ve been catching have come out of one area on a Whopper Plopper. Always very early, between that first light and thirty minutes after sunrise.
The highs are still in the 90s with the lows in the low- to mid-70s. I don’t know the water temp as I’m still stuck bank fishing.
Still no bites on different worm/plastics profiles, jigs, or reaction baits like crankbaits or spinnerbaits.
I have definitely struggled a lot in the last year. I am fishing almost exclusively local ponds, and they are new to me. I am finally finding some patterns, myself. Lipless crankbaits work well sometimes. SMALL plastics like ned rig or baby craws work sometimes. I only recently found that small plastic boot-tail swimbaits are working. I have thrown jerkbaits and hard-body swimbaits galore and they didn't work. I really hadn't tried the plastic swimbaits because I thought "aren't they basically the same thing"? Well, it seems that to the fish, they are not. This is not a high-pressure pond, but, it seems I have to stay subtle for the majority of my bites, and the LCB picks up the hungrier/more aggressive ones.
WVU-SCPA reply :
Awesome that you found that niche pattern.
On Saturday, the fish had the majority of us in a small tournament bamboozled. The conditions read moving baits (cloudy, steady breeze, water temperature recently dropping into 60's, and schools of tasty shad everywhere). After 3 hours of hunting the wrong pattern in various locations, we ended up finding a fish on almost every isolated rock we came upon in 0.5-3 ft of water on a craw bite. Had it been a casual morning fishing a hour or 2, there is a good chance I missed that pattern.
What makes the area you are catching fish at different then the other areas you are not catching fish?
HeyCoach reply :
@WVU-SCPA the spot is the back corner of the neighboring pier two yards from the bulwark, right now there might be a foot and a half of water in that spot.
There might be a bottom step or two for their kids to enter the water to swim/get on a jet ski.
I had three swipe at the WP this morning but none hooked up. I immediately threw a white wacky rigged trick worm on a 1/10th ounce Ned rig head with no dice.
Outdoors reply :
This is why I mostly partake in old farm pond fishing, unless someone has a boat.
ApacheGuns515 reply :
On 9/14/2018 at 7:49 AM, HeyCoach said:Got skunked again today throwing a green pumpkin finesse worm.
I’ve only caught 3 fish all summer minus the 4 on my honeymoon.
I came home and the wife asked how it went. “It sucked,” was all I could muster. She asked a question that made me think.
“Then why do you go?”
It’s just frustrating getting skunked so many times. I’ve been fishing about 3 dozen times this summer. Caught 3 dinks.
Keep at it if it's what you enjoy doing. I know everybody obviously goes fishing to actually catch fish but some days are going to be worse than others. I know it can be frustrating to spend days fishing without catching anything but it's all part of the sport. Trust me I know, earlier this year I went on vacation and spent the better part of every single day out on the water. The results of my week long fishing adventure? A 4oz Pumpkinseed. Literally, that was the only thing I caught after 5 consecutive days on multiple bodies of water.
Some advice I can give may sound funny but give it a shot. Next time you head out fishing don't go "fishing", just go out there and enjoy being outdoors. Bring some other activities out there to do and toss a line in the water every once and awhile. There's obviously no science behind this but I swear I catch more fish when I'm not actively fishing than when I am actively trying.
Like this morning for example, I woke up and decided that my little 10 foot boat anchored in backyard that I hadn't used in months would be a great place to have my morning coffee. So I dust it off and grab a rod with a random lure I found in my truck and hop in the boat and just cruise around drinking my coffee. I decide that I'll toss the line in the water and just troll with it while I putt around for a little bit.
I caught 7 3+lb smallies in about an hour and a half by simply holding the rod in one hand and my coffee in the other and putting around enjoying the morning air. I caught the largest one last as I was reeling the line in to head back home, not reeling it in as in a swimbait but reeling it in as in I'm ready to go.
That was with one random lure old lure that I just found and a random rod that I don't even know what line is on it. The last time I went out fishing in my little boat I brought my entire tackle box, a cooler, and 4 rods and a portable fish finder and I caught nothing but a cold which is why that boat has been sitting there unused for months.
Sometimes the best way to catch fish is to not go fishing but rather just go "outside" and bring a rod with you.
thedilettantedad reply :
Getting skunked sucks, but if it is ruining your day, that sucks even more. I guess I fish because my son showed some interest in it after watching Catching Monsters, but now that he is in school I am practicing for when we get to go out together. It is also new and I find it fun. I am trying to be frugal about it and I think I have all the tackle I need which actually is not all that much with the exception of jigs. I bought my first so I need to go snag it soon. At the end of the day I guess you need to ask yourself the question, because if it is ruining your day maybe you just need to step away from it for a bit, maybe fish another species, or find something else to spend your time on that you are going to get something out of.
I would go out with you if you were in Texas, but maybe there are some other anglers in your area willing to meet up and take you out. Might try the regional forums.
Also, I cannot catch panfish for my life and people say that is supposed to be easy.
Mike Boitnott reply :
Stay on course my friend. Fishing is one of those things that if its good its real good! Its one of those deals that if every time you went out and you landed a live well full well..that would get old quickly too! Nothing better though than doing your homework by breaking out the map (good electronic App Like Navionics), doing a little search through Forums (like this awesome one we have at BassResource.com), get the poles and tackle already to go and everything turns out just right! Starting out the day with a huge blow up on top water! After that the big ole sun starts to shine and you catch a few off of the grass on a spinnerbait and/or chatterbait. Then when that ole sun gets high above you start skipping a Senko back under docks or cranking a deeper diving crankbait to cull a few times before heading in! To me that's an awesome day however, it doesn't happen everyday or very oftten at times which makes it that much more special. #FishSmarter
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