The all time longest SKUNK!!!!!!!!!

[Big TULE]

O.K. i have read about many skunks on this board in 3 years and have always been to ashamed to share mine... I have lived in clark county for 20 of my 27 years. And i have never cought a winter steelhead. I have probably spent 500 hours on the water. I fish the washougal, east fork and NFL. I have fished reiter ponds on the skykomish, also fished the great lakes region when i was in my first navy school. It seams that i can watch others catch winters but i think i am cursed... I have managed to hook 2 of them, both at reiter ponds but both were lost on the hook set. My leader broke both times... Now in my opinion that is the worst skunk...
I can catch summers no prob but winters elude me. And i can catch fall and spring salmon but no winters...
But thanks to Steelheadslayer that skunk might be gone soon... Man i hope. My wife doesn't eat fish but she laughs at me when i go out and freeze and not bring home a fish...

[ 02-07-2004, 08:41 AM: Message edited by: Big TULE ]

[GOT2FISH]

I got some of that Skunk on me today man it stinks. :grin:

[ 02-07-2004, 09:32 PM: Message edited by: GOT2FISH ]

[cutt plug]

Man I hear ya! I've been steelhead fishing here in SW Washinghton and Oregon for about 7 years now, plus my years at OSU. Boy have I spent some fish-less hours on the water.

I was fortunate when I was growing up in the Puget Sound my dad was a good salmon fisherman and showed me the way. Boy did we get into some fish! Sure makes a difference when you have a good mentor showing you the way.

When I came down the the Portland area I was on my own. I've spent years learning and learning and I'm still not close. The consistent effort, learning, and reward of a chromer on the other end is why I'm truly in love with this sport.

Good luck,

[Quasimodo the fish killer]

Hang in there Tule and others when it breaks loose for you your gonna be the man.

I go thru long dry spells from time to time. I am working on one right now as a matter of fact.

seems like I go thru cycles where I just cant do anything right when I get a bite or I am always there the day after I should have been.

I have seen those times come and go and I always keep in mind that one day when your just about to give up and go play bingo with the seniors the big guy up stairs is gonna smile at you and boom yer gonna be the fishwhisperer.

I remember one winter I was so skunked I couldnt even catch a hoover. then boom one day my fishing buddy watched me put 6 in the boat and he couldnt even buy a bite. the rest of the season was a blurr of cartwheelin steelies and the fish bonker.

dont give up hang in there and it will happen.


Quasi.

.

[IRONMAN1]

I would like to say I feel your pain but I don't do to my success over the last 20 years I have had.I have had a bad day here and there but no sustained fishing droughts. I recomend trying to fish with a friend or buddy you know has lots of success and watch their every move.Winter fish ing is very different than summer fishing due to the water flow, temperature which relates to the aggressiveness of the fish.My technique is to fish with your weight and not so much your bait.Keep in constant contact with your wieght system along the bottom of the river and anytime it stops,twitches or feels abnormal, set the hook.Chances are with all the time you have spent you are just not feeling the light pick up winter fish present.Confidence plays a HUGE part in catching fish due to the increased focus you have when you know you are going to catch fish.Go out tomorrow with confidence, feel and focus and then the skunk stink will dissapear like magic and never return.Good Luck!! Fish On will be heard.

[steelheadslayer]

Chris, nice meeting you yesterday. Born to Be Wild and I are probably gonna do a recon trip Mon and I'll hopefully have pics to post. Let me know when you get some free time and we'll set up a shot at the chromers. Earl

[Big TULE]

Earl it was nice talking with you and dan. I would love to be out with ya. But i have to deal with the navy and all. I will send ya an e-mail and maybe i will be able to get out some time next week... I have been waiting to get one, for a long time...

[Sir Fishalot]

Hang in there Big Tule. I was in the same boat as you up until wednesday of last week when I finally got my first winter steelhead (boy did it feel goooooood!). I can't say that my skunk lasted nearly as long as yours because I've only been fishing for winter steelhead since last year.

My recipe for success was switching from drift fishing over to the jig and float (real easy to know when a fish has your offering). Wednesday was my first time ever trying to fish the jig/float and my bobber went down not once, but twice. I lost the first fish close to shore, and then three casts later I hooked and landed a beautiful chrome bright steelie. The jig of choice was orange and white tipped with a cocktail shrimp.

[Full Freezer]

Me too BT!

6 trips about 7 hrs apiece, 3 fished hooked, 3 fish lost so far this year.

Oh man, can't wait till March!