I am emotionally distressed!

T

Thudpucker

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I'm not catching any fish at all lately. In fact the last four trips out on Smith lake AL. I've been skunked.

Yesterday was a fine Blue Bird day. All the boats that could afford gas were out on the lake. Just a little 10 Mph breeze. Light waves and lots of wakes from traffic. Really none of that has ever botherd the fishing in the past though.

Last night, about dusk the Bass guys started picking up one's n' two's but I was out all day in the sun n' wind and never got a hit on anything.

I was after Crappie. I did not use live bait though.
I found bait balls and cast a Road Runner, Beetle spin, White or Green jig's of Chinelle, Feathers or just with a small plastic Shiner hooked in his nose. White or Chartruse Jig heads with big or small eyes.
I trolled small spinner baits, diving plugs, Flat Fish, and put a small rubber fish on behind a spoon.

I saw plenty of fish on the sounder. Not many feeding on the surface though.
In the coves, several times I'd see a half dozen or more, small bait fish in the air at the same time as the whole bait ball was being chased by some big meat eater.

I always have a good time fishing. It cost's me about $12 in Gas each trip. Normally that's not a problem either, but when I'm not catching, even those noisey Damn birds bother me.

I used to get at least one Bass, or some Stripers but I quit fishing for them. I want Crappie and Catfish. Something I can eat.

You guys ever have days in a row like that?
 
Typically in salt water, the fish use the tides and currents to feed so you need to find places to intercept them. Matching the hatch is also very important. If the fish are feeding on small pin fish then throwing something large will probably spook them. Me, I've had days where keeper size fish where scarce but keeping at it will eventually pay off. Just got to find those places to intercept the fish as they transit from one place to another even in fresh water. and that is why they call it fishing and not catching.
tight lines,
Perry
 
quote:
Originally posted by Perry

and that is why they call it fishing and not catching.
tight lines,
Perry

Click to expand...

LOL, Perry, you are absolutly Rancid at heart!

I used to laugh at my Son when he first started after Salmon. They'll jump in the boat if you'll let em, and he couldnt catch ONE of them. I'd tell him that same thing.

I have trolled that lake till some of the residents think Im a burgurlar casing their joints.
There's lots of fish. I dont know what kind but the Sounder shows a bunch in different places.
When you get up this way, I'll take you out and see that you get skunked too.
 
you are a victim of a fishing tragedy but dont worry BO has a plan to help you.
 
Thud- Have you tried putting sticky TP or a mouse on the hook?

Ok, ok,then how about the "AMAZING FLYING LURE" .....or the "INCREDIBLE Banjo Minnow" billed as the "World's 1st Genetic Response Lure( by the people who want to sell you lots of them)?" How could you miss with those??? You could always try "noodling" for the catfish: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ja2KnOZe14I&feature=related Maybe "macaroni-ing" for crappies?
 
Oh how helpful and suggestive you guys are. I knew I just couldnt miss when I came here for help.
Mothers warn their children about associating with guys like you.

When I was an active fly fisherman I had several varieties of Deer Hair Mouses! I had one about as big as a small rat. Several baby mouse size. That is one booger of a fly to tie. If you must have one, buy it and pay what he asks.

However, the Deer Hair Mice never did much for me. (or the Rainbows)
They made a helluva whizzing sound as they went by my head though.

Another interesting lure was a Muddler.
Using the Muddlers I caught some Browns. I was amazed when I caught a Catfish on one.
At the time I'd never seen anything as ugly as that Cat. I wish I'd have known then what I know now about Cats.

Last year I spent an easy afternoon casting a variety of Clouser Minnows at the Bass and Stripers in Smith lake.
I even trolled those things by the points and over the underwater cliffs. Nothing!

I dunnooo...

We are not allowed to use Dynomite or any other explosives because we might blow the dam.
However, when the water all went out, we could just schmoooze down the muddy bottom and pick out what we want.
It's gonna rain again. And as an added benefit we would be rid of those doggoned stripers.
 
Boy. you ain't holdin' yer mouth right if you cain't catch a fish on Smith.....

Also, this time of the year the strike is only a faint tap.....you have to set the hook exactly 1/4 second before the fish bites.

It's easy........
 
Hey Thud,
I dont proclaim to be an expert at the art of fishing, but I have had some goooood days at both fresh and saltwater. The last 2 times out I have been skunked big time, nothing, nada, zippo.
I am up here in NH and other than catching my boat that drifted away after I launched it I had nothing but a beautiful day, on a beautiful resevoir all by myself. I guess theres zero gas money $$$$ up here as I never saw another boat in 4 hours of fishing.
Bob
 
quote:
Originally posted by Bill D.

...this time of the year the strike is only a faint tap.....you have to set the hook exactly 1/4 second before the fish bites.

It's easy........
Click to expand...


Hah! I knowed it was someting I didnt know!
Setting the hook just before they bite! Why didnt I think of that?
Uh...you settin out in the heat a mite too long Bill?

Bob, those kinda days make you wonder if you aint on a lake that's been closed for some reason. Like you aint supposed to be there at all!
That's what you call a peacefull fishing trip.
 
I can picture it now...some crazy guy going around setting the hook all over the lake...pull...pull...you may eventually snag something...pull...
 
Y'all just aren't "in tune" with the fish. You see when they open their mouth "just" before the "bite" it causes a slight suction/pull on your bait/lure. If you're any good at all you'll sense that moment and set the hook. Any SOCB will tell you, "that's how it's done...set it, just before the bite." If y'all think I pullin' your leg about this you probably won't believe how I once crawled up on a whitetail and killed it with my hunting knife. Hmmmmm...city folks!!!!
<GRIN>
 
No Perry No. The fish gets caught. We don't what a Thud on the hook. Just look at our resident PIKE and how many times he has been caught and released. Thud just needs to "feel" the moment, and "see" the fish.
 
We have a 10K lift with a large, square metal lifting tank under it. Raising the boat last night, there was a two + pound black bass and an equally large carp on it flapping as it came out of the water.

We had some nasty weather over the weekend. We saw this boat being towed in and our trooper friends showed us the pictures they took. These women were very lucky to be alive.

http://tinyurl.com/5klfgp

We were in a deep protected cove with all the canvas up watching TV.

Heck of a way to fish……I think I would wear the hoist out, working on a “Limit”
 
I remember a story like yours Estimator.
When they were building the Pomme De Tarre Dam on the lake of the Ozarks.
Each night as the crew headed home, they'd tie a chunk of line onto the Steam Jenny's arm. Baited with a large hook and something for the Cats.
Next morning they'd raise the line as they got ready for work.
One morning they had a 106 Lb Blue Cat hooked. It was handy to have the clothes-line tied to the steam jenny's arm.

Bill whenever I look in my tackle box and see all that Money in there, I feel like a Fish that's been hooked pretty often.
 
Thud, the most important thing about fishing (and hunting)is not the fish caught(or game harvested) or even the good times. The most important part is learning to tell stories, with just enough truth in them, that people hearing them are unsure were the break between story and truth falls. Only then have you reached the top of the mountain. I'm on top of the mountain...... <G>
 
There was this time in Alaska when the plane took off, leaving us out in the Denali. The weather socked down and he never came back....
(How's that for a starter BIll?)
 
It might explain why you're "emotionally distressed" Thud. <grin>
 
That's the start of a true story. Maybe I'll put it down in the tall tales some time.
I miss those days. That may be contributing to my un-fetterd state.
 
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