A question for all you "old pros" and all you guys that, like me, are still relatively new (2 years) to this. How did/ do you keep from getting discouraged when you think you're doing all the right things but keep getting skunked? I understand you have to put in the time, ask questions (this site is a huge help in that respect), experiment, etc. Sometimes though I just don't know if I'm doing it right in the wrong place or wrong in the right place. For the most part I manage to stay fairly optimistic. Not giving up by a long shot. Just wondering how other folks out there deal with the "dry patches".

I learned a long time ago that you have to enjoy the whole experience, not just the catching. If you can do that it will come. Paul

If you feel you are doing all the right things the right way....and everyone else is experiencing the same slow to skunk conditions.......just keep fishing and your moments will come! :kewl:

Fish more and when you do get into them it is that much better. Expand your horizons do not get stuck in one place or one type of bait.

I learned a long time ago that you have to enjoy the whole experience, not just the catching. If you can do that it will come. Paul

you be a wise man :cheers:

there's been a few nite's I've gone home empty handed ... gottin a bump but that's it..I just say o-well! it was nice to get out anyway...I'll give it hell tomorrow....2/3's of the fun in fishing is in the hunt. WE ALL have had dead time's..don't dwell on dry time's ..push ahead better day's r coming.

I'll be heading out shortly to "plug away". I'll take your good words with me.

I'll echo all above... sometimes it's just the getting out there, cleansing the day to day outta your system... absorb the salt and regroup.

catching fish is a bonus

Just think of the poor slobs that don't have the ocean as a retreat.Catching is great,but just being out there has it's benefits too.Most of the the places I fish are so dam beautiful it doesn't matter either way.The people who say fishing is boring just don't get it,don't worry they will come.g/l.

The people who say fishing is boring just don't get it,don't worry they will come.g/l.

Those are the same people that sit in front ofthe Microwave going "C'mon, Hurry Up already"

I like it just for the peace and quiet. With Work, a house, and 2 kids that are involved in Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Scouts (both Boy and Girl), Dance Lessons and school projects. Getting out there and thinking about absolutely nothing for a few hours is the best stress relief around. Anything on the end of the line is a bonus.

There are people out there spending $250 an hour to lie on a couch and tell some guy they don't know about how stressful their lives are and all they need to really do is pick up a rod and head out for a couple of hours.

Fish where You would'nt fish normally.
we all get it. you have to believe in your self and work through it

I go fishing just to "get away from it all". If I catch a fish while I'm at it, it just adds to the fishing experience. When I can't get to the stripers, I just dig a few worms and head to the local pond.

Live in the moment, put in your time,and it will happen.:)

Got skunked 15 days straight in May. been in the surf for almost 40 years. I hada great time everytime I went. It's not the kill but the thrill of the hunt.
Just put your time in, try different spots, times, plugs and for God sake, have fun!!! :walk:

JUST fib like the rest of the internet heros :) Only kidding.

Just pray to the fish God ><> ><> ><>

VB

Chunker,

Glad you posted this because I sometimes feel the same way. I am in a similar situation as you are. Even though I casually fished for a long time (which means: put some lines in that water and break out the lunch, and couple of beers for the crew...and if we hook up then great!) I am starting to get more serious about it.

But this leads to (at least for my own internal barometer) more pressure from "the crew" who ask "When are we going to catch fish?"

I have recently started to think I have to let go of some of this pressure that I have admittedly put on myself. I am getting to feel like a Charter Guy must feel. Well I want it to be fun. But it has got to be fun for me as well.

So don't feel bad. Let go of the pressure. Enjoy the time on the water. The fish will come in groups, not in an even flow. The flow will smooth out slightly as we improve our abilities.

Of course I am also giving this advice to myself as well...easier said than done.

you mean fishing also includes catching fish ? well I have fun just going out and getting away . If it was all about the catching and trophy's then I quit or I dont fish right .

some people take fishing for stripers too serious !

just enjoy what your doing the catching will come . try a different spot not all places hold fish . search for them dont wait for them to come to you .

enjoy !

Like others have said above. Fishing (to me) is more about the whole experience. Catching is just a nice little reward. My grandfather started me fishing approximately 40 years ago and the passion has never left me with it. If all you are concerned about is the catching then maybe you should take up something else like golf where your score pits you against yourself. Don't take this as an attack on you because it isn't. Just another way to put it into perspective. Hopefully you continue to love and enjoy fishing.

Got skunked 15 days straight in May. been in the surf for almost 40 years. I hada great time everytime I went. It's not the kill but the thrill of the hunt.
Just put your time in, try different spots, times, plugs and for God sake, have fun!!! :walk:
Oh good, it isn't just me! ;) I started about the same eon. Part of the ritual was getting bait. Digging worms or clams and raking sandeels. That's a small victory right there. Seen the price of worms lately? Learn some decent knots and practice them, if fishing's slow practice your cast. If you're just starting plugging try different techniques. It's all part of the whole. It's like Little League Baseball. You don't yet know what you don't know. Practice ,practice everything. You'll get good. :kewl: Oh yeah, listen to Bassmaster and try to read between the lines. He gives up more that he knows, maybe, I think. ;)

well, if u hang in there, then u might learn something. when u lose, u will learn something. i explored spots around when i started fishing. then i got my first keeper.

the best part is hooking up with someone and learn from them. also, its improtant to have fun.

i can fish all day long and not catch a dam thing. it is a hell of a lot better than sweating you azz off working. and even when your not catching anythign is a hell of a lot better than a hot poker in the eye. there is something about geting up at the crack ass of dawn and getting out to the islands early to drift for fluke, my allergies clear up, i can breath better, and even if i dont catch a dam thing i get to take some pictures, drink some beers, and enjoy the weather.

i wld normally sitback and eat my lunch and drink. besides, it helped me to get away from tension at home.

I could careless weather I catch or not!! Just love beeing on the boat and cruz! I love it the most when I have peope on my boat and they are catching like mad!! I just sit there and shot the crap with them!!

chunker, how do You fish and where please
pm me if u want

Chunker II ...

All I can say is keep plugging away. A few things help:

1) Keep putting in your time on the water, and HAVE SOME FUN doing it

2) You might have more success putting in your hours at night. Also, on the open ocean or bay, 2 hours before high slack and 2 hours after high slack tides are a good rule of thumb.

3) Match the hatch.

4) Read up on the subject, attend good seminars, chat with knowledgeable folks here (disclaimer: I do not claim to be knowledgeable on the subject).

5) Meet up and fish with people who've got some experience. Learn from them. Adopt best practices and develop your own style which matches your schedule and your interests.

Lastly,

- I can tell you firsthand that the fishing in Coolidge Corner and Washington Square is TERRIBLE, it's that damn noisy C-line that scares the baitfish away

- If you are fishing the Charles this time of year, goose poop is actually pretty good chum, but I wouldn't wanna eat anything that goes after it :yak:

- The togging in Chinatown is pretty darn good :bshake:

- Don't get caught at the aquarium

:hihi:

Chunker II ...
- The togging in Chinatown is pretty darn good :bshake:

- Don't get caught at the aquarium

:hihi:

:bl2: It's so true. You can go to Peach Farm restaurant on Tyler St. He is right. They have togs there. Check out cods and oysterfish, too.

Oh good, it isn't just me! ;) I started about the same eon. Part of the ritual was getting bait. Digging worms or clams and raking sandeels. That's a small victory right there. Seen the price of worms lately? Learn some decent knots and practice them, if fishing's slow practice your cast. If you're just starting plugging try different techniques. It's all part of the whole. It's like Little League Baseball. You don't yet know what you don't know. Practice ,practice everything. You'll get good. :kewl: Oh yeah, listen to Bassmaster and try to read between the lines. He gives up more that he knows, maybe, I think. ;)
Na, Jake. We are both old but still enjoy the surf. Personally I like just being out there. I get excited everytime I get ready to go. It's a sickness I think but God I love it. Even when I get skunked, like this morning.

Mac, thanks for the advice (and all the encouragement from everyone else). I've been fishing off and on for a long time (mostly fresh water) but only started fishing for stripers the last couple of years. Catching definitely isn't all I care about. Like I said, I think it's just wanting to do it right. Then if I still get skunked so be it. The other part of it is that I really want to catch something plugging this year. When there's a handful of bait you can throw compared to hundreds? of plugs it's a little daunting. I'm just gonna take all the good advice you guys have given me and keep at it (and enjoying it). Like others have said above. Fishing (to me) is more about the whole experience. Catching is just a nice little reward. My grandfather started me fishing approximately 40 years ago and the passion has never left me with it. If all you are concerned about is the catching then maybe you should take up something else like golf where your score pits you against yourself. Don't take this as an attack on you because it isn't. Just another way to put it into perspective. Hopefully you continue to love and enjoy fishing.

Just put your time in, try different spots, times, plugs and for God sake, have fun!!! :walk:

This is where we differ P; last year this off big time when you found fish way to the west at that reef but I tend to beat the same dead horse repeatedly..... :D isn't the definition of stupid doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result... :confused: :bl:

ChunkerII;

One overlooked thing so far is not to search and explore... return to what you KNOW works; if you've had success at a spot at a certain tide; go there, try it off tide, or try eels at a spot you always plug etc..

This year the fish havent been where I think they should be, and had a similar skunk stretch that PIemma had (probably cause I fish with him most of the time) and as much as 'thinking outside the box' might help, this week I returned to places I had overlooked and found fish..... this was a far from steller stretch of fishing, but the last few nights has been my best stretch of the year so far.... unfortunetly thats not saying all that much :huh:

Keep at it; I've been fishing since I was 5, and grew up as a boatfisherman who did some surffishing, but I really didnt get hardcore in the surf until the last 6 years or so and my goal every year is to catch more decent fish, and do that more consistantly; this has paid off, I have no wall-hangers but I do pretty well, set reasonable goals, if you expect a 50 everytime your gonna get frustrated quick;

MAC,
I was a golfer but gave it up cause I stressed too much about the scores etc.. fishing isnt like that, it's justsomething to enjoy and if you catch great, if not it is ALWAYS better than sitting on the couch, and youlearn something new EVERYTIME you go out... and that 1209 is a killer eel stick!!!!

One very important safety tip. Do not, I repeat DO NOT quit drinking while in the middle of an extended slump. Between the two my brain is so screwed up I barely have the emotional energy to log on to buy surfcasting gear I don't even need...it's that bad

:lossinit:

-spence

One very important safety tip. Do not, I repeat DO NOT quit drinking while in the middle of an extended slump. Between the two my brain is so screwed up I barely have the emotional energy to log on to buy surfcasting gear I don't even need...it's that bad

:lossinit:

-spence


spence... it's time you made a road trip :ss: soon

Bryan:
Good post.
Spence:
Either get out of Tiverton for a few trips, as Bryan suggested, or try some of the other spots we discussed in LC and Tiverton. You're spending too much time at "that weedy rock pile". ;)

Bryan:
You're spending too much time at "that weedy rock pile". ;)

I keep telling him that- Rule #1 is never marry a spot especially if it is not producing.. when it poduces, marry it until it stops, then move. :walk:

Jesus H. Christopher. I fish somewhere TWICE in a week and I've married the spot :pop:

This is a very tough crowd :sleeps:

-spence

ChunkerIII, First: Think about this...

"Rivers and the inhabitants of the watery elements are made for wise men to contemplate and for fools to pass by without consideration." - Izaac Walton

Intelectualize your fishing. You vs Mr Linesider (hopefully Mrs Linesider). Take peace, happiness and tranquility from your time fishing. Fishing with your kids is awesome, fishing alone or with a friend is better.

How many times has someone asked you... "Why don't you keep that Bluefish?" or "What kind of fish are you fishing for?"

I grew up chasing Stripers, Salmon and Steelhead around Northern California. Rhode Island is a return to my roots. Joined the Navy at 18 (and I'm still in at 41). I'm an Ocean Man. I can read a chart, and decipher it.

How many times has someone driven by Narragansett Bay (or any coastal place in NE) and said "I wonder if there is fish in there?" You know that answer.

Fast retrieve, High tide, At this spot.... BINGO. Skunks are inevidable, keep going, keep working. Go back to Peace, Happiness, and Tranquility. Think and feel about the thoughts of Izaac Walton. Be Izaac Walton.


Second: Eben, DON'T QUIT DRINKING.

Second: Eben, DON'T QUIT DRINKING.


huh?

A question for all you "old pros" and all you guys that, like me, are still relatively new (2 years) to this. How did/ do you keep from getting discouraged when you think you're doing all the right things but keep getting skunked? I understand you have to put in the time, ask questions (this site is a huge help in that respect), experiment, etc. Sometimes though I just don't know if I'm doing it right in the wrong place or wrong in the right place. For the most part I manage to stay fairly optimistic. Not giving up by a long shot. Just wondering how other folks out there deal with the "dry patches".


I only seem to hit dry patches when I fish with big blowhard know it alls. When they go somehow the fish show..... :walk:

Keep hitting it, read and listen, practice. You'll figure it out. Pay attention to tides, bait, lures, Baro pressure, water temps blah blah blah.

GOOD LUCK :chased:

Eben, if you need help...we're here for you :gu: :laugha:

-spence

yeah right. i you know how little i drink :yak6:

oh and if you only fish 2 nights a week, then you did marry the spot :bshake:

This is not a sprint, it's a marrathon, hopefully a lifelong marrathon. You need to learn, suffer defeat, learn from your mistakes, and try again. If you don't want to do that, just hire charter captains numerous times per year....

It's time on the water - I've been fishing seriously for 10 years now (though not as much as I'd like) and I figure I'm maybe at 20% sharpie with 80% to go...

Jesus H. Christopher. I fish somewhere TWICE in a week and I've married the spot :pop:

This is a very tough crowd :sleeps:

-spence

It IS easy to get into an un-fun RUT sometimes, sticking with a reliable spot.

Variety is the spice of life and fishing is no exception. Maybe Spence needs some more sand in his diet. :hihi:

Chunker read some of Thoreau's work having to do with fishing, (Walden Pond), catching doesn't matter as much as you might think.

If you're not fishing to enjoy being in the outdoors and (yes this may seem tree huggerish) communing with nature and all that crap, then you're probably fishing for the wrong reasons. (Unless you're a food on the table type person)

Chunker read some of Thoreau's work having to do with fishing, (Walden Pond), catching doesn't matter as much as you might think.


Thoreau was a literatal bum figure! he didn't want to live up with a responsiblity. he lived in the woods.

It IS easy to get into an un-fun RUT sometimes, sticking with a reliable spot.

Variety is the spice of life and fishing is no exception. Maybe Spence needs some more sand in his diet. :hihi:
That's exactly the ticket although rumor has it that someone on this board has taken pity on his A$$ and is putting him in a boat to finally break the BI Jeff curse.
BTW, I attribute his lack of success this year to the dreaded BI Jeff curse. :skulz:

Its all about nights like last night

not even a nibble, but cool with a light breeze to keep the bugs away..
Watching the little crabby crabs in the water, or the skunk skulking about...

Didnt even see anyone else all night until I was leaving...

The canal is a magical place... whether you are catching fish are not.

I agree. Black Point from Midnight till 3:10. All alone. Not another soul on the planet, or so it seemed. Not a fish in the ocean either, judging by my results but a beautiful night with white foam, 60 degress and a 10 to 15 NE breeze.

what happened to me when i first started watching this forum (about a year ago now) was I would get very discouraged because it seemed every other post was someone showing off there keepers. I couldnt believe how many and it definetly makes you feel like your doing something wrong. But then this year is the first year I started fishing without a boat and there is something to be said for the quiet tranquil environment while you sit waiting for a bite. Or just sit and take in whats around. I unfortunatly have the salem powerplant to look at, but it was still nice :)

I'M KIND OF NEW AT THIS ALSO, AND I FEEL LIKE THAT SOMETIMES, SPECIALLY WHEN FISHING WITH PEOPLE WITH A LOT MORE EXPERIENCE. I GUESS WE HAVE TO KEEP FISHING AND TRYING NEW TRICKS AND WE'LL KEEP GETTING BETTER...
KEEP THOSE LINES IN THE WATER AND HAVE FUN
SF

Unless you are trying to make money isnt it only to have fun??
Getting better and better is part of the fun. Tell you the truth, I like being new at something, anything, you have that rookie feeling and everything is that much more fun. Thats how I feel about shore fishing right now....Havent caught anything over 12-15 inches but Its still a ton of fun.