Some people don't like the hit to the ego and tie on little 1/4 - 3/8 crank baits to catch a dink,white bass or crappie before leaving.

How often? Depends on how many times I fish Henry or ivie. Got some bad mojo at both.

Fished 81 days in 2013. Got three skunks (two at Monticello). Lakes included Lake Austin,Travis,Ray Roberts,Texoma,Guntersville,Cypress Springs,Sandlin,Monticello,and Welsh

I fish an average of about 50 days a year. Some years less, some more. I'd say I get a skunk maybe 4 or 5 of those days. 3 or 4 of those skunks are Nov-Mar. Last year however, I was on the water I think 40 days (slower year than normal) and can remember only one skunk day so thats a 97.5% success rate. 2008 I was on the water about 75 days and got skunked about 8 times. That's an 89% success rate.

Mid 2010 through Mid 2012 were like one long banner year and I fished about 200 days. About 75 of those days, however, were fly fishing the rivers of Connecticut, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, Oklahoma, and California. The steelhead fly fishing has a high skunk rate for anyone who has ever tried much of that but I did get three of them on the fly which makes the whole lot of it 100% in my book! Really though, my fly fishing sucess rate was about 75%, LMB was about 95%,Sand bass, of course, was 100%, salt was 100%.

This year, to the contrary, I have been out three times and recorded two skunks. That's a 33% success rate! Booooo to that noise. Spit, spit that bad taste out of my mouth!

The SKUNK and DOLLARS AMOUNT SPENT on fishing is about a 1:1 ratio.

I usually fish the same lake from Feb-May, rarely get skunked, but a whole lot of 1 or 2 fish days compared to the double digit catch days. I will say I probably average 5-7 fish for that time period.

LOL, I'm NOT EVEN going to figure let alone post a ratio!
It would be UGLY....

I've been really fortunate and not been skunked in my new boat (almost 3 years now). I have had a lot of 1-3 fish trips this winter though. I do purposely fish lakes where I think they will be active and I'm not tournament fishing, so I don't have to fish terrible conditions and I generally don't. Back ten years ago when I'd tournament fish a lot I got skunked much more often because I had to fish the tournament lake and I couldn't call my shots. I miss tournament fishing, but I like the better odds of not doing it.

Last time I was skunked was about this time last year. I actully lost two fish at the boat but if you don't touch em it don't count haha. We all have off days just keep your line wet and you'll get bit.

Every February

Plenty, anyone who says otherwise doesn't fish much.

Fish 1 to 2 times a month typically in paper club tournaments so many different lakes. Last two years gvine for fun if did not fish club. 2014 I am doing well. Welsh twice and gilmer and did not goose egg. The last 2 years at gvine more than I can remember/count. Not sure about 2014 home lake choice due to low water. Fork or Athens are first two that come to mind maybe Crockett and coffee mills. Anyone never get skunked on gvine in the last 2 years?

DONT get skunked ! That should be your rule #1.tell yourself no matter how tough this lake is it ain't skunkin me and I ain't quitin till I take at least one away from it. follow this and you will fish at a higher level and rarely say that nasty stinking word

I had a good string of skunks this winter. But hopefully those are behind me