The Measure Of Success

[T-Billy]

I just enjoy being out there chasing bass. Like everyone else, I love those days when they have the feed bag on, but I also enjoy the tough days. Putting the puzzle together and getting some bites when they're not being cooperative is rewarding. Even when I don't figure it out there's something to be gained. I then know what NOT to do the next time I face those conditions. Every day The Lord gives me on the water is a blessing, and I'm grateful for it.

 Edit to add: A tip of the hat to Mobasser. You start a lot of interesting dicussions brother. It's nice having you here.

[FishinBuck07]

Like T-Billy said above, I live for all days on the water.  The days here in Ohio that aren't a struggle are few and far between.  Our lakes are small and highly pressured so there are usually more struggles then the days they are going off and eating well.  But I enjoy being out there trying to figure them out, and it makes those days when they want to eat all the better.

[Bankbeater]

A successful trip for me is not getting skunked.

[TnRiver46]

26 minutes ago, Bankbeater said:

A successful trip for me is not getting skunked.

Excellent point……. Simple and direct 

[Way north bass guy]

I just like getting out and being on the water. Probably the most satisfying thing for me most days would be if conditions aren’t as I originally planned, but I manage to figure something else out and by the end of the day I’m back into them, that makes the day feel more like I’ve accomplished something. 
 

This time of year though, just being able to even launch the boat would be a tremendous win for me. 

[SpinLight]

If I catch several, it has been a good day?. If I only catch a few, then not so good?.

[PhishLI]

Playing a hunch and getting it right, whether that's bait choice, location, or timing.

[Columbia Craw]

The three F’s

 

Finding them

Figuring out the bite

Flipping them over the side in that order.

 

If catching them is a result of applying what I’ve learned that is satisfying and rewarding to me. Sharing that with a partner is even better!

[GRiver]

6 hours ago, Mobasser said:

  I fall into the latter group. I love to catch bass, but I also love casting, finding fish, choosing the correct bait and retrieve. If I catch fish, it only makes the day better. But if not, I'm still happy, just being out there. 

I agree with Mobasser

[DitchPanda]

That first bass after ice out is a success to me..doesn't matter if its my first trip or 10th trip if the spring. Teaching others to catch bass is also a success to me. My goal is to catch fish but being outside doing what I love is rewarding in itself...fish are just the icing.

[Junk Fisherman]

6 hours ago, Tennessee Boy said:

As long as I don't break something,  it's a good day on the water.  

 

 

100% agreed!  Too many trailer issues and broken rods over the last couple years have made me appreciative coming home with everything intact.  Losing a big fish or not catching as many as the next guy is small potatoes compared to breaking something.    

[Junk Fisherman]

This is a great question.  My measure of success is dependent on where and when I go fishing.  If I don't average 20 lbs a day and multiple 5s when I take my trip up north during the smallie spawn, then it is disappointing.  I measure success much differently when fishing the heavily pressured Chicagoland waters around my house.  There, a 12 lb limit can be a successful day.  But overall I measure my success on whether I enjoyed myself, made good decisions on the water, fished hard throughout the day, worked on something new, learned something, and scouted at least one new area.      

[txchaser]

For me it is mostly about whether I can figure out what the bigger fish are doing and eating that day.

 

There's not any moment like putting together four or five weak signals that might be barely over a hunch... and then the rod just loads up hard with a nettable fish. It feels like a eureka moment for me.

 

[Skunkmaster-k]

I guess my measure of success is different depending on who I have with me. If I’m with a new angler, I want numbers. If I’m by myself I go for size. If my Dad came along , I just enjoy floating around making sure he has a good time. If he’s got a smile on his face , mission accomplished 

[Trox]

10 minutes ago, Skunkmaster-k said:

I guess my measure of success is different depending on who I have with me. If I’m with a new angler, I want numbers. If I’m by myself I go for size. If my Dad came along , I just enjoy floating around making sure he has a good time. If he’s got a smile on his face , mission accomplished 

I'm going to have to second this...

[schplurg]

5 hours ago, Bankbeater said:

A successful trip for me is not getting skunked.

Me too.

[jbsoonerfan]

Made it to the lake without a blowout = success

Launched without the boat floating away = success

Boat starts within first couple tries = success

Fish without breaking a rod = success

Don't crack a shaft on TM = success

Don't tear up lower unit = success

Catch a fish or not = no big deal

 

 

Btw, all of those have happened, so when they don't happen = success

[Sphynx]

I'd say that my definition has changed over the years, early on I went through progressive phases of fearing the skunk, measuring success by PB breaking, by numbers, by outfishing my friends/co-anglers, and I find that after a few thousand fish caught that I am drifting ever closer to the "just being out there" group, granted I am at a point where I rarely skunk anymore, and on the rare occasion I do it kind of helps me refocus, it's not such a big deal anymore to me, and I have had lots of days where I have caught more than 30-40 fish in a trip of a few hours, those days are still fun, and I certainly don't get upset if it happens, but it doesn't get me cranked up like it once did, I would love to end up in the double digit club some day, but honestly it's more stressful than it's worth to get worked up over a day of fishing if it doesn't happen, and I rarely compete with folks over fish these days, it's kind of fun still, but it's definitely less competitive, which kind of leaves me back at "A bad day fishing is still better than the best day at work."

[soflabasser]

On 2/3/2022 at 1:26 PM, Mobasser said:

What's your own measure of success in bass fishing?

 A truly successful bass fisherman has reached a point that he is happy with all the bass he has caught and now only fishes for fun. He does not care much for tournament fishing, or what others catch, he just enjoys catching bass regardless how big or how many he catches.

[cyclops2]

That is my feeling also soflabasser.   Well stated.  

[scaleface]

   I dont differentiate between quality and quantity . I strive for both . If I lived where double digit bass were a realistic  option  , then quality would be the goal .

[JustBassinThru]

I have a very easy answer for myself and it became crystal clear last year. Its when my son (who is 12) has success. I have all the patience in the world and can cast all day with various levels of catching and be happy as a clam being out in nature. Its when he struggles thats tough for me.

[NYWayfarer]

Since I am a quantity over quality fisherman my measure of success is not getting skunked on any given trip.

 

I do love catching big Bass though. The law of averages is on my side. If you catch lots of fish a few of them are bound to be big. Happens every season to me. 

[cyclops2]

Bingo N Y Wayfarer.

 

I was given a Slot Size board by my retired fishing friend. It puts pressure on me to toss back ALL the bigger & smaller fish. His deep fryer restricts me to them.   I love it.

[Fir3hawk]

I still consider myself somewhat of a novice.

 

First and most important is enjoying myself on the water. I try not to judge a trip as successful based on how many (or how big) fish I catch. 

Beyond that, it’s about targeting a fish and catching it. Finding a pattern, catching a fee. 

 

Sometimes success is catching a fish via a new technique. First fish on a chatterbait, etc.

 

Sometimes I consider myself unsuccessful for not finding the time to go. I try to make sure to take a few days off work each year to go. Those prime fishing periods fly by and next thing you know the lakes are frozen and you reflect back wishing you’d found more time.

 

One of my goals this year is to try to get my wife out more. She goes some, but I want to take advantage of this season because I imagine in a couple years we’ll have kids and it’ll be harder for her to come. And harder for me to get away.