The skunk has finally died!

It has been hanging in my boat with me for most of 2018. After fishing the main channel Friday, and only catching some dinks, I was sure the skunk had moved permanently to my boat. The main channel and creek that we fished Friday was 49-50. Instead of hoping for warmer water, especially since it’s turning cold again mid week, I had an epiphany today. Why not try a river that is a main tributary? From a fly fishing forum that I frequent, I learned that this river was around 50 degrees where it exits the Smoky Mountains. With several miles to the lake, it had to warm even more, right? Happily, we found 60 degree water at the launch!
The first spot, that ol’ skunk was firmly planted at my feet! We then navigated, very carefully, through some very shallow water. Spot #2, I saw nothing of interest on the ol’ Lowrance, and the skunk puffed up a bit more. Hit some brush, bridge piling, and a couple of docks. Nothing, so the skunk stretched out for a nap on the front deck. About that time, my wife saw a lone log, tree, not sure which, but it was alone, about a foot above the water, in the middle of the channel. It looked interesting enough, to check out. After a couple of dinks, I’m thinking just more of the same. That’s when I saw it! The skunk was swimming away! That lil ol’ tree was holding some good fish! The water was 14 feet deep, and there was mud on their bellies. The current was moving, and a jig thrown above this little stickup would wash right to it. A little twitch, and game on! We didn’t load the boat, but we found some quality fish...and that skunk got hit by a semi! Squashed him good! I hooked a great fish, that really put up a fight in that current! As it came beside the boat, I knew it had a chance at my PB! Here’s the thing. I keep this nice, large net behind the seat. Why? Obviously, just to drive it around! Since it had been so long for me to even see a decent crappie, in my great wisdom I figured I would just grab the line and lift it in. By now, you probably know how this ended. There is a big crappie, with a 1/16 oz pink jighead, dressed with a purple/chartreuse baby shad in the roof of its mouth, still swimming! At least the skunk is dead, and we invited five good crappie to supper! Several others were released, some even on purpose! Maybe it’s getting better!Attachment 294700Attachment 294701


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A very entertaining and humerous accounting of this sport we love. Hope I have similar luck.

Glad the skunk is gone! It’s a good chance you will get revenge on that fish or one just like it on your next visit to that new spot just be sure to pull out da net next time ! never know you might catch maybe it’s moomma!

Thanks for the story, it made me smile thinking there may still be a chance of getting those critters packing out of my boat also.

Me and the skunk are like :cheers2 I can't seem to shake him...

Way to stay at it,nice catch.

one of the best stories of the year my friend ......nice read and congrats ...made me smile

Very entertaining post! Great job out there.

So the wife showed you where. I've been humbled by my wife's intuition quite a few times because i though I knew better. One time we were heading in after a not to productive morning when we passed up a group of pilings left over from an old oil well and she asked why don't we try there. So to humor her I pull up and we started fishing around them. BAM fish on, big fish. Then BAM again, another big fish. We went on to catch 35 almost identical fish all weight about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Another time we were skunked and heading in when Linda said let's try at the dam. In many years of fishing I've never caught but a few bluegills there. Well while I fished the eddies inside and outside as the water rushed out, she walked out on a 4 foot wide walkway and fished both sides of it. She caught nothing. Then she saw a spot where there was a
1 1/2" space between the boards and dropped her jig in. Now I'm thinking, if she catches one how will she get it up. She jigged her pole a couple of times and BAM she had a nice one on. She pulled it up to the opening where it barely fit through the space. She had to lip it to pull it through. My thought was "lucky catch". She proceeded to pull 5 more out before I told her to "move over". I walked over and tried fishing from each side of the walkway but they wouldn't bite. I dropped my jig through the space between the boards and helped her pull 34 beautiful slabs from there. Another time I caught my personal best bass because I saw her stare at a well head on the way past it. I turned the boat around saying I know better to pass up a spot where you want to fish. First flip of my jig on my 10' pole with 4 pound line and fish on. I ended up landing a 7 pound bass. So friends beware if you fish with you wife as they might just have a better system for finding fish than you might think. Good luck.
"gene"

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Originally Posted by PawPaw "gene"

So the wife showed you where. I've been humbled by my wife's intuition quite a few times because i though I knew better. One time we were heading in after a not to productive morning when we passed up a group of pilings left over from an old oil well and she asked why don't we try there. So to humor her I pull up and we started fishing around them. BAM fish on, big fish. Then BAM again, another big fish. We went on to catch 35 almost identical fish all weight about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pounds. Another time we were skunked and heading in when Linda said let's try at the dam. In many years of fishing I've never caught but a few bluegills there. Well while I fished the eddies inside and outside as the water rushed out, she walked out on a 4 foot wide walkway and fished both sides of it. She caught nothing. Then she saw a spot where there was a
1 1/2" space between the boards and dropped her jig in. Now I'm thinking, if she catches one how will she get it up. She jigged her pole a couple of times and BAM she had a nice one on. She pulled it up to the opening where it barely fit through the space. She had to lip it to pull it through. My thought was "lucky catch". She proceeded to pull 5 more out before I told her to "move over". I walked over and tried fishing from each side of the walkway but they wouldn't bite. I dropped my jig through the space between the boards and helped her pull 34 beautiful slabs from there. Another time I caught my personal best bass because I saw her stare at a well head on the way past it. I turned the boat around saying I know better to pass up a spot where you want to fish. First flip of my jig on my 10' pole with 4 pound line and fish on. I ended up landing a 7 pound bass. So friends beware if you fish with you wife as they might just have a better system for finding fish than you might think. Good luck.
"gene"

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Oh yeah! I always listen to my wife.....eventually! She is my #1 fishing partner as well as life partner! June will mark 37 years of marriage! And get this, she wants us to upgrade our boat! Now that right there is a keeper!

Yep, you done caught yourself a good one. I've been fishing with Linda for 47 years. She's my personal best.
"gene"

Good job! Sometimes the days that start out slow end up being pretty ok.:ThumbsUp

Great report! Thanks for sharing and goodbye to the skunk!

Nice read.

Regards


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Glad you got rid of the skunk. You have got a gift for story telling and thanks for sharing with us. My wife and I have been married for 53 years and she fusses ever time I mention boat. She wishes I would sell all of them. You guys are so lucky to have wives that enjoy fishing with there husbands.

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Originally Posted by sinkermaker

Glad you got rid of the skunk. You have got a gift for story telling and thanks for sharing with us. My wife and I have been married for 53 years and she fusses ever time I mention boat. She wishes I would sell all of them. You guys are so lucky to have wives that enjoy fishing with there husbands.

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I asked that question right before the big one:biggrin

Thanks for the laugh and congrats.

Great, I have a skunk also. Hope he leaves soon.

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Originally Posted by "D"

Great, I have a skunk also. Hope he leaves soon.

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Them suckers are hard to get rid of! They’ll flat out stink up your boat!

Very good post ET. I to have had a hard times passenger in the boat, and while I might catch a few, they sure weren't what I was after. Always good to see them in the rear view mirror.

You guys are so fortunate to have wives that fish with you. May 19 will be 38 years since our first date and she hasn't been in the boat 10 times. She wouldn't tell me not to go but will not go with. I understand envy. She is the best thing ever to come into my life and love her dearly, but I would change that if I could. Reach over and grab hold of them and give them a big ole squeeze for me and tell them thank you, they truly deserve more but if you do more they'll probably wonder what you've been up to.

My wife and I formed a pact many years ago. I would not expect her to go fishing with me if she did not expect me to go shopping with her. If we make it to March 25th, that will be 51 years together, just not in boats or malls, LOL.
We did live out one dream together. We both loved traveling in our motorhome so when we retired we sold our house, put all our stuff in storage and spent 4 wonderful years traveling the US. We sold the MH a few years back and built our "retirement" home.

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Originally Posted by SeaRay

My wife and I formed a pact many years ago. I would not expect her to go fishing with me if she did not expect me to go shopping with her. If we make it to March 25th, that will be 51 years together, just not in boats or malls, LOL.
We did live out one dream together. We both loved traveling in our motorhome so when we retired we sold our house, put all our stuff in storage and spent 4 wonderful years traveling the US. We sold the MH a few years back and built our "retirement" home.

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51 years! Sounds like your pact works! My wife doesn’t like me to go shopping with her. Something about complaining I think, I wasn’t really listening!

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Originally Posted by skeetbum

Very good post ET. I to have had a hard times passenger in the boat, and while I might catch a few, they sure weren't what I was after. Always good to see them in the rear view mirror.

You guys are so fortunate to have wives that fish with you. May 19 will be 38 years since our first date and she hasn't been in the boat 10 times. She wouldn't tell me not to go but will not go with. I understand envy. She is the best thing ever to come into my life and love her dearly, but I would change that if I could. Reach over and grab hold of them and give them a big ole squeeze for me and tell them thank you, they truly deserve more but if you do more they'll probably wonder what you've been up to.

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38 years means something is working! She is a great fishing partner, and it’s something we can do together. I’m just an old country boy from the hills of East TN, and I prefer the simple things. I thank God for her every day!

Glad that skunk is gone, I hope he stays away from your boat for the remainder of the year!


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Congrats on the catch and getting rid of the skunk. Those are some good looking crappie.
LittleJohn

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Originally Posted by ET Fish

It has been hanging in my boat with me for most of 2018. After fishing the main channel Friday, and only catching some dinks, I was sure the skunk had moved permanently to my boat. The main channel and creek that we fished Friday was 49-50. Instead of hoping for warmer water, especially since it’s turning cold again mid week, I had an epiphany today. Why not try a river that is a main tributary? From a fly fishing forum that I frequent, I learned that this river was around 50 degrees where it exits the Smoky Mountains. With several miles to the lake, it had to warm even more, right? Happily, we found 60 degree water at the launch!
The first spot, that ol’ skunk was firmly planted at my feet! We then navigated, very carefully, through some very shallow water. Spot #2, I saw nothing of interest on the ol’ Lowrance, and the skunk puffed up a bit more. Hit some brush, bridge piling, and a couple of docks. Nothing, so the skunk stretched out for a nap on the front deck. About that time, my wife saw a lone log, tree, not sure which, but it was alone, about a foot above the water, in the middle of the channel. It looked interesting enough, to check out. After a couple of dinks, I’m thinking just more of the same. That’s when I saw it! The skunk was swimming away! That lil ol’ tree was holding some good fish! The water was 14 feet deep, and there was mud on their bellies. The current was moving, and a jig thrown above this little stickup would wash right to it. A little twitch, and game on! We didn’t load the boat, but we found some quality fish...and that skunk got hit by a semi! Squashed him good! I hooked a great fish, that really put up a fight in that current! As it came beside the boat, I knew it had a chance at my PB! Here’s the thing. I keep this nice, large net behind the seat. Why? Obviously, just to drive it around! Since it had been so long for me to even see a decent crappie, in my great wisdom I figured I would just grab the line and lift it in. By now, you probably know how this ended. There is a big crappie, with a 1/16 oz pink jighead, dressed with a purple/chartreuse baby shad in the roof of its mouth, still swimming! At least the skunk is dead, and we invited five good crappie to supper! Several others were released, some even on purpose! Maybe it’s getting better!Attachment 294700Attachment 294701


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It’s nice to get ol skunkaroo our da boat. Nice ones to boot


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Hey Stone Mtn, sent you a PM.