Not a great day. I had one hit a Whopper Plopper that threw the hook after 5 seconds, and two hit a Zoom Trick on a shakey head that threw the hook halfway to the boat. 
 

Bummer that I didn’t get one in the boat, but at least I had a few bites. The two shakey head bass weren’t very big, but the topwater one was decent. 

Sorry brother.  They have to make it in the boat.  You can, however, mitigate the "skunk" talk by talking about all the good bites you got.  

I don’t call it a catch unless they make it to the boat/kayak

 

You could call it a long foul ball…

If you see it, score it 

That's what's called a LDR, long distance release.  I don't count them.  It may make your day sound better.  I hooked a half-dozen bass, but only landed one.  Or not.

Yeah, I was being a bit facetious. Didn’t even get to take a pic in my new Huk shirt holding a bass. 
 

So disappointing! ?

3 fish spitting the hook is as good as 1 in the boat ?

3 spitting the hook means we need to check our equipment or how we play the fish.

Hooking isn’t catching.

Tom

1 hour ago, BrianMDTX said:

Not a great day. I had one hit a Whopper Plopper that threw the hook after 5 seconds, and two hit a Zoom Trick on a shakey head that threw the hook halfway to the boat. 
 

Bummer that I didn’t get one in the boat, but at least I had a few bites. The two shakey head bass weren’t very big, but the topwater one was decent. 

We both met the Skunk yesterday and my lakes are still frozen solid ~

At least you had a shot though . . . 

A-Jay

Yes, I have an unofficial "If I touch you you count", as I try to shake them off a couple of times before lifting them out.

9 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

We both met the Skunk yesterday and my lakes are still frozen solid ~

At least you had a shot though . . . 

A-Jay

Ok. I take that as a “solid” win for me lol!

I know you're being facetious, but just for the sake of discussion I don't count anything that isn't in my hands as a catch. A lot of guys count leader touches for some fish, but I'd only do it for toothy critters or something like a tarpon/Goliath grouper where it is unlawful to take mature fish out of the water. But it would need to be an intentional release, not the hook pulling/line breaking after you happened to grab the leader.

 

Sorry to hear about the skunk, brother. You'll get 'em next time.

38 minutes ago, Bird said:

3 fish spitting the hook is as good as 1 in the boat ?

I thought that was birds in a tree, which reminds me I almost had to reel in an osprey yesterday, not sure if it went for my spinnerbait or a fish behind it, but it ended lifting it out of the water about 20 feet or so, I managed to somehow give it slack and shake it off, lucky, cause raptor protection act or not, I was going home with my spinnerbait, just ask the pelicans and gulls how that ends...  

19 minutes ago, Aaron_H said:

I know you're being facetious, but just for the sake of discussion I don't count anything that isn't in my hands as a catch. A lot of guys count leader touches for some fish, but I'd only do it for toothy critters or something like a tarpon/Goliath grouper where it is unlawful to take mature fish out of the water. But it would need to be an intentional release, not the hook pulling/line breaking after you happened to grab the leader.

 

Sorry to hear about the skunk, brother. You'll get 'em next time.

It was good to get out. Last week, I caught 10. This week? It happens! Beat the heck outta yard work! 

Nope.  Around here you have to at least touch them.

2 hours ago, Fallser said:

That's what's called a LDR, long distance release

I'm gonna use this so often that I'll owe you royalties.  

3 points when released by hand

2 points if self released after you can see and estimate it's size

1 point if it fights for a bit but isn't seen

In a tournament it’s a skunk. Pleasure fishing definitely NOT a skunk. It’s all about the thrill of the fight.

All my double digit bass have been the early release kind. 

4 hours ago, Fallser said:

That's what's called a LDR, long distance release. 

We call them participants in the early release program.

I keep a log and will still record lost fish, but if I don't land one it's still a skunk. But if I lose 5 I'm not gonna put it down as a "bad day" conditions wise or stategy wise if I just forgot how to land fish that day haha.

happens to everyone 

You could argue hooking one and losing it is worse than not getting a bite at all because you flubbed an opportunity, or you could argue that you deserve credit for enticing them to bite, which is the hardest part. It gets too complicated. Best to keep it simple and admit you got skunked.

If you could have got it with a net, it’s a catch.