I have found that it is a lot less stressful as I get older.  I try to learn what worked and what didn't work.  I tend to get a little more amped up during a tournament but I try to remember patience is a virtue.

 

 

What is a legitimate skunk? I do a few casts out back and dont catch something every time. That doesn’t bother me .

I honestly can’t remember the last time I went anywhere in a boat and got skunked. There was one tournament in the 80s ( at Rodman of all places) that I got the skunk. I probably didn’t take it too well, especially since I hooked a 10+ and lost it…

I get more frustrated over losing big fish than anything else…

On 2/7/2022 at 4:59 PM, A-Jay said:

I can feel that ~

Losing this one 'bothered me'.

#nightmares

https://youtu.be/yfnYSE-HjIE?t=886

A-Jay

You didn’t yell like I would have. Impressive .

1 hour ago, N Florida Mike said:

What is a legitimate skunk? I do a few casts out back and dont catch something every time. That doesn’t bother me .

I honestly can’t remember the last time I went anywhere in a boat and got skunked. There was one tournament in the 80s ( at Rodman of all places) that I got the skunk. I probably didn’t take it too well, especially since I hooked a 10+ and lost it…

I get more frustrated over losing big fish than anything else…

You didn’t yell like I would have. Impressive .

Nothing makes me swear more than that experience 

Since it happens all the time, I don't sweat it 

It’s like 36 degrees here today… I’d give anything for the opportunity to see some open water and get skunked 

It's part of the game. I definitely lowered the amount of times I got skunked this past season from experience and change of tactics but sometimes there's nothing you can do about it. The fish call the shots some days. 

 

In my opinion we need to get skunked every once and a while. It makes it fun and fresh and you get to brainstorm what to do right next time you're on the water. 

6 hours ago, ajschn06 said:

It’s like 36 degrees here today… I’d give anything for the opportunity to see some open water and get skunked 

I could take you out on a skunk cruise for $700

I can't stand getting skunked I always have some kind of bait that will catch a bream just in case

For example this past Saturday it was freezing and I used some slim jims from my truck to catch bream because I couldn't buy a bite from a bass

12 hours ago, TnRiver46 said:

I could take you out on a skunk cruise for $700

Does that include travel/lodging or is that just for the guide experience?

Happy to admit that I very rarely get truly skunked.  May not catch what I'd wish, but there's usually something put into the boat and most often, at least a few somethings.   I even live on a lake that some tournament anglers call "Lake Keepaway", but I typically catch SOMETHING every time out.  That said, I'm at the age and of the experience level that it really doesn't bother me that much and I really DO enjoy my time on the water for the other intrinsic things.

53 minutes ago, ajschn06 said:

Does that include travel/lodging or is that just for the guide experience?

I could even bring real live skunks to where you are lodging 

On 2/17/2022 at 11:06 AM, TnRiver46 said:

I could even bring real live skunks to where you are lodging 

? I was about to warn him to be careful what he asks for from you!!! LOL.

Not worth a d**n. I hate it but that doesn't stop it from happening.

I just figure that it will happen at times and it's no big deal to me.  I'm also an avid musky fisherman and expect it to happen when going for muskies.   

Revisiting this because I'm having an awful year so far (by my standards). I've not had as much time and when I do have time the weather has been gross. I'm honestly not handling it well. I'm getting adrenaline when I hit a rock during retrieve. My biggest fish of the year both got away. This feels like the new normal even though I know better.

 

Sat and fiddled with jerkbaits for 5 hours today, skunk. Had a guy come in on the ramp who caught 13, including a 7lbs, on the exact same lure. I saw him launch, and was trying to mimick his retrieve as much as I could but it made no difference. 

 

I THINK my issue is that the water is like 44-46 right now and since I'm shorebound, I have a harder time using the cover and structure in the deeper waters where fish are chillin. Mix that in with suboptimal availability on my part...and we're currently sitting at a 3:1 ratio skunk to catch on the year. It's making me insane because I was probably 1:5 ratio of skunk to catch last year, the pendulum has swung HARD the other way. But I didn't ever have to fish colder water last year, since I started this whole thing in May. I wish I could buy better water mobility. But that's probably a solid 4-6 years away. Big sigh. I'm headed to lake fork with a guide on Wednesday. Honestly I have no confidence at all right now and I'm 100% worried about bringing the skunk along.