What do you consider a successful day when fishing?

[airborne_angler]

For me,if I go out on the lake and catch at least 1 fish on artificials I call it a success.Thats all I gotta do,catch 1 fish,I know than that its not a wasted trip.

What does everyone else consider a successful day?

[hmongkidBee]

when you caught a bass when no one else is.  I think everyday you go fishing is a successful day because even though you don't catch anything it teaches you a lot about the lake still.  For me getting skunked just makes me more determined to keep coming back.  That's just my opinion.

[FishingBuds]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

[BassnMan Mike]

I agree with FishingBuds. Just getting out is the best part. For me it's relaxing and brings back memories of simpler days fishing with dad

[Andy Taylor]

I agree. BUT of course, it's even better when I catch fish.

[fourbizz]

30+lbs for 5 or 10lbs for 1.

[Bass_Akwards]

If I'm not catching a fish about every 15-30 minutes on average I feel like I'm not doing something right.  So basically, if I'm out there casting for 4 hours and I only catch 3-5 bass or whatever, I come home and tell my wife I had a slow day/night.  The only way I feel differently, is if I catch something out of those 3-5 bass that was 19 or 20+ inches or 4-5 pounds  Then I feel pretty good. 

When I go out at night from 6:30-9:15ish, I fully expect to catch 10 fish on average, and a couple of those should be 3+ pounds for sure.

[bass or bass ?]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

X2

[DeanFishesNY]

I would say catching 10+ fish and at least one 3 lbs or bigger. Of course just going is great, but a "successful" outing would be the above.

[Grey Wolf]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

X2 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[bassbum85]

I agree just going is what I enjoy the most. The sound of the water and birds. Also just knowing I might catch something makes it all a success

[Bass_Akwards]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

You might have had some great times, but how can any angler say he/she had a successful fishing trip when he/she didn't catch anything?

That attitude has never made any sense to me.  It's almost like a copout.  It's kinda like an excuse to NOT catch anything.   It's like when you catch nothing you can just say "Who cares, I'm just out here to enjoy the birds and relax." I mean I've had some great times when I've been skunked, but "success?"  No way man. 

Calling a fishing trip where you catch no fish a success, is like getting shutout in a football game and calling it a victory.

[Red]

Right now a successful day would be one where I can fish for more than an hour before having to fight the freakin wind!!

[JLBomber]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

While there is no correct answer here... this is the only correct answer here   

[Sam]

Not falling out of the boat.  ;D

[BassinTx]

I think a successful trip is when I learn something new that I didn't know before. I have gone out before and didn't catch anything and still learned a new technique or found a spot that helped me catch big fish on a different day.

[frogtog]

When I come home happy and relaxed.

[Smiths.R]

It depends on the day.  Sometimes I'll go and catch 8 fish in an hour, and that's awesome.  Some days, I'll go, catch nothing at all, and it's still a great time. 

[burce]

Wow, my day is a great success if I catch one bass haha. 90% of the time I come out with nothing

I must be pretty bad at this even though I THINK I'm doing things semi-right

[Catt]

30+lbs for 5 or 10lbs for 1.

Yelp 

[Drug Coder]

but how can any angler say he/she had a successful fishing trip when he/she didn't catch anything?

One scenario would be if I had a rough day at work and I needed to get rid of some stress.  I go fishing, enjoy the sounds of nature and lack of phones ringing, don't catch anything, but leave with less stress and feeling better about the day, then the trip is a success.

I guess you could say the trip is judged as a success or not based on your goals for the day.  If my goal was to catch fish, then technically it would be a success if the only thing I got was a tiny < 1lb fish. 

[fishermantony]

I don't believe in wasted trips, I used to and all it did was bring me down.  Now, if I don't catch any fish I recap the outing and take what I can learn from it?  Why didn't I catch any fish?  What can I do next time so I do catch them?  If I do that and enjoy the beautiful outdoors every trip is a success.  Catching fish just enhances my excitement!

[trevor]

Wow, my day is a great success if I catch one bass haha. 90% of the time I come out with nothing

I must be pretty bad at this even though I THINK I'm doing things semi-right

you speak for me too

[flippin and pitchin]

I always try to learn something on every trip.  I also like to apply something I have learned and if it helps me figure the fish out that is icing on the cake.  Helping someone learn and or enjoy an outing is the absolute best.

[Nitrofreak]

I know its a easy answer but, JUST BEING THERE.

For me its more than catching a fish, I have had some great times not catching anything

You might have had some great times, but how can any angler say he/she had a successful fishing trip when he/she didn't catch anything?

That attitude has never made any sense to me. It's almost like a copout. It's kinda like an excuse to NOT catch anything. It's like when you catch nothing you can just say "Who cares, I'm just out here to enjoy the birds and relax." I mean I've had some great times when I've been skunked, but "success?" No way man.

Calling a fishing trip where you catch no fish a success, is like getting shutout in a football game and calling it a victory.

You must not have ever had anything bad happen to you ;D

My most recent trip to my favorite lake cost me a great fishing rod and a set of keys but yet it was still a successful trip because my youngest daughter was there and it was a lesson I will never forget.

I think this happened to me for a reason and I think it was because I just wasn't giving her the right kind of attention due to the fact that after all was lost the next day we went out...I did not catch one fish all day but she sure did.

To me that is still a successful day and I hope that those days come more often than not.