Contributed by Thomas Philippi, Wilderness Systems Pro Staff
I’ve decided that this season I’ll work on something that is right in my sweet spot; my wheelhouse; my zone…skunkage!
Skunks are quite cute and cuddly, at least if they weren’t so stinky. I seem to be really good at skunking and I’ve even caught a nice bass and managed to skunk by not getting a Hawg trough photo.
“I really caught a beauty today on a black T-rigged weightless Senko boys! I made a perfect cast, saw a swirl but still waited until I saw my line move, set the hook and played this beast perfectly to kayak side where I lipped her and she was mine!” I tell all who would listen back at the check-in for our tourney.
“AWESOME TOM!!!” they all cheer…”where’s your photo?”
“Well, she jumped out of my kayak while I was grabbing my trough” I lamely answer.
“Sure she did…too bad…tough luck buddy…you stink of skunk my friend!” You just gotta love fishing buddies like this. They always have my back and are ready to lift my downtrodden spirits.
To pump up my skunk game I’m thinking of painting my kayak black with 2 white stripes. It might get a bit hot in the summer though. Change things up, my friends suggest. So far I’ve gotten my morning cup of personality from a different Wawa, I’ve changed my underwear and even gone “commando”, I’ve worn different hats, shirts, pants, buffs, etc…I’ve bought and tried different lures, I’ve slowed down my retrieve, I’ve sped up my retrieve, I’ve tried a non retrieve. This year I have written a detailed game plan for skunk removal. It includes paddling the whole tourney backwards, not wearing any clothing, using a Barbie rod / reel combo and fishing blindfolded. My club mates are all willing to help except for that naked thing.
I do know what is at the root of my skunk problem…I am a degenerate trash talker…I just cannot help myself. I always tell myself to keep my mouth shut, be humble, be nice. I’m under control and staying calm up to a few days before a tourney, then BOOM! I’m on Facebook or our website talking crap and calling people out. Like I said, a degenerate trash talker. If I was lying on a psychiatrist’s couch, this would be the deep-seated cause of my skunkage.