What do you consider a successful day when fishing?

[Nitrofreak]

Not falling out of the boat. ;D

Does this happen to you a lot?  ;D

[bigfruits]

id consider any day that i spend fishing to be successful.

a goal i like to exceed is 3 bass when fishing a half day, 6 on a full day.

[Fishing Rhino]

The only days that are not successful are those when I'd rather have been at work.

I've yet to have one of those.

[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

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.

Im just gonna say you'd have to know me to not make a comment like that, When life happens to you and you see how fragile it is, one day ya here and the next your gone, then you'd appreciate your time here, the rest is grasping for the wind.

[D4u2s0t]

a "good" day is simply any day I can get on the water, regardless of what I do or do not catch.  A "succesful" day in my book is anytime I can't remember exactly how many fish I caught.

[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.

Im just gonna say you'd have to know me to not make a comment like that, When life happens to you and you see how fragile it is, one day ya here and the next your gone, then you'd appreciate your time here, the rest is grasping for the wind.

Not really sure what you're saying as your writing style is really confusing.  If you're saying I don't appreaciate my life or my time on Earth, I just have to laugh because you have no clue what you're talking about.

In any case I stand by what I said.  Anyone who thinks a successful fishing day is when you don't catch anything, has a very unrealistic way of looking at things.

Can I go out and catch nothing today, and have an amazing, fun, awesome time?  Of course!  Obviously!  Could I thank God for me just to be alive and have a shot of going fishing today?  Of course!  Obviously.  Can I see how lucky I am just to have a chance to be out in nature, wetting a line, enjoying the day?  Of course!  Obviously.  But to call it a "Success" when I don't catch anything?  That makes ZERO sense. 

The whole reason we fish, is to catch fish.  Otherwise we could just go on the boat and not bring any fishing gear.  We could jump off the boat and swim, and eat food on the boat, and waterski behind it, but that's not FISHING.  When you are FISHING and not catching anything, you're not having any success.

If you're not catching any fish 4 days in a row, while everyone around you is catching fish every 10 minutes, you HAVEN'T had 4 "successful" days of fishing.  You've had 4 successful days of fun in the sun, but that's about it.  If you're out there 4 out of the next 7 days and catch nothing, you can't honestly look your girlfriend or Mom in the face and tell them "I'm a successful angler."  Not without being dishonest anyway.

[Gangley]

1 fish over 2 lbs for every hour of fishing is successful to me.  However, I don't need to have a successful trip to have an enjoyable trip.  Just catching 1 fish per trip, regardless of size, will keep me entertained.  My trips rarely last longer than 3 hours.

[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

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.

I don't know you, even around here on the forum but I must ask why are you harassing me and my comment?

I see where frog made a more direct comment toward your post and YET you still go after me, so I must have done something to you to deserve your attention,  may you tell me thru PM so we can take care of it like Adults?

Sorry guys again, just getting sick of fellas just throwing a negative turn on a topic again, its getting old.

[brushhoggin]

dude relax and just answer the post question, why can't you just hear him out and let that be that? all fishing buds was saying was that he enjoys himself regardless of the amount of fish he catches, a day on the water is a success. Why can't you let him have that? geez. :

[K_Mac]

This is an interesting post. It does not surprise me that we can't agree on what success is when it comes to fishing. There are many different philosophies and worldviews represented on this site. Try to get complete agreement on any aspect of fishing

At one time my only measure of a fishing trips success was the number of quality fish caught. In the past I have spent many days fishing in beautiful places with quality fish potential, great weather, nice lodging, good company, and been frustrated because the fishing wasn't as good as I thought it should be. I look back on most of those trips and realize how successful they were.

I consider myself a successful bass fisherman. By KVD standards, not so much, but I do OK. I have spent a lot of time, on the water and off, carefully studying to become better. I love bass fishing and I take catching fish seriously. I expect to catch fish every time out. Some days I don't. On those days I am successful finding out what doesn't work on that lake, under those conditions. If I enjoyed the fishing, the company, the solitude, God's creation, etc. then I had a successful day.

Based on my current health and condition you would not know it, but back in the day I was a distance runner. As a runner, success for me was to finish the race in my best time. I didn't have enough speed to compete at the highest levels, and never won a race, but I was a very successful runner. The marathon runner whose goal is to finish the race, is a success when he crosses the line, even if it is hours after the winner has gone to lunch. Success in running, fishing, or life, is in the doing IMO.

[burce]

Had a successful night!!! finally!!!

heres my thread about it: http://www.bassresource.com/bass_fishing_forums/YaBB.pl?num=1278468820

caught a 6.3lb bass that is in my new avi. also caught a 2ish lber and had another nice one on but lost her

all happened within 30min

[SoFlaBassAddict]

  Coming home safely and unhurt makes my day successful.  I don't feel the need to go out and absolutely catch every fish in the lake.  I just enjoy the aspect of getting out there and floating around in the quiet to relax.  Being able to catch some fish is a bonus.

  If I go out offshore and get skunked, thats a different story.  It takes legitimate work for me to load up the boat to go trolling and whatnot.  Bass fishing for me is a matter of picking up my rods and walking through my backyard and hopping on the boat for some me time.  It's my way to de-stress, get away from the kids for a few moments of peace and quiet.

  I understand though, that a lot of you guys do go out for one purpose, and that is to catch lots fish, plain and simple.  As long as you've enjoyed yourself, who's to say that you didn't have a successful day?

PS:  Trust me, I will never complain about those days that you just go out and smoke the heck out of the little green fish though. 

[SirSnookalot]

Coming home safely and unhurt makes my day successful.

Beat me to the punch on that one. I fish everyday, some days I catch nice fish other times I don't and it really makes no difference to me, I don't even compete with myself. Fishing 60 years from bluegill to marlin I know there is so much that is totally out of my control, I just go with the flow.

That being said I think there is a difference between success and satisfaction, no doubt I'm more satisfied with larger fish.  I haven't caught a bass in days and the ones I have caught are less than a pound, but I have been catching snook and tarpon daily, am I more successful.......no, just more satisfied.

[Nebraska Bassin]

If I have a good time, it was a successful day.

Catching fish is just a bonus. 8-)

Bass_Ackwards, while I understand what you're saying, you have to remember that "success" is a relative term.  Obviously anyone's main goal in fishing is to catch fish, but unless you're fishing a tournament and need to head back to the boat ramp with several good-sized fish to place, your main reason for wanting to catch fish is to have a good time, right?  If you can have a good time without catching fish, I don't think it's anyone else's business to tell you that you weren't successful.  Maybe you weren't as successful as you hoped you'd be, but if you can hop in the truck and say to yourself, "I didn't catch anything, but I still had a good time", I say more power to ya.  Like I said before, catching fish is the bonus part of it when I'm just out on the lake fishing for fun.

[D4u2s0t]

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.

Im just gonna say you'd have to know me to not make a comment like that, When life happens to you and you see how fragile it is, one day ya here and the next your gone, then you'd appreciate your time here, the rest is grasping for the wind.

Not really sure what you're saying as your writing style is really confusing. If you're saying I don't appreaciate my life or my time on Earth, I just have to laugh because you have no clue what you're talking about.

In any case I stand by what I said. Anyone who thinks a successful fishing day is when you don't catch anything, has a very unrealistic way of looking at things.

Can I go out and catch nothing today, and have an amazing, fun, awesome time? Of course! Obviously! Could I thank God for me just to be alive and have a shot of going fishing today? Of course! Obviously. Can I see how lucky I am just to have a chance to be out in nature, wetting a line, enjoying the day? Of course! Obviously. But to call it a "Success" when I don't catch anything? That makes ZERO sense.

The whole reason we fish, is to catch fish. Otherwise we could just go on the boat and not bring any fishing gear. We could jump off the boat and swim, and eat food on the boat, and waterski behind it, but that's not FISHING. When you are FISHING and not catching anything, you're not having any success.

If you're not catching any fish 4 days in a row, while everyone around you is catching fish every 10 minutes, you HAVEN'T had 4 "successful" days of fishing. You've had 4 successful days of fun in the sun, but that's about it. If you're out there 4 out of the next 7 days and catch nothing, you can't honestly look your girlfriend or Mom in the face and tell them "I'm a successful angler." Not without being dishonest anyway.

you come off sometimes as very condescending, not cool at all.

"success" involves opinions, which means there is no right or wrong answer.  I've had plenty of trips that anyone with half a brain would consider succesful trips, and didn't catch a fish.  Before you try to knock somebodies ideas, next time think about all of the possible scenarios, and remember that an opinion doesn't have a right or wrong answer.  Everybody's definition of "success" in general, or as it pertains to fishing is going to be different...

[J Francho]

Anytime I gain knowledge is a successful trip. I went out yesterday afternoon with a box of bait I just received, and never fished before. Sink rates, the effect of speed and rod input on the action, and simply casting the things accurately were my goals. It was a successful day "fishing," though I'd probably call it "practice."

That I yanked a 9 lb. northern out of the creek is just butter. 

Success all depends on one's individual metrics, which aren't always defined before the start.

[roadwarrior]

My answer is simple: One 5+, brown or green.

8-)

[Jigfishn10]

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

I'm in total agreement with you on this. I just started my 4th year in biz and have a wife and 2 little kids. Health insurance costs exceeding my monthly mortgage payments and a down economy, just getting out there to relax and away from life for a couple of hours doing what I love to do is a success to me.

[joshuaryan]

I don't consider it a successful day unless I have at least a dozen bites and catch at least half a dozen fish. 

[Dave P]

Making sure that whomever is with me, boats at least one fish. Preferably the first fish...

[Dutchmaster]

Obviously some people take fishing a little more seriously then others. I think we can all say we love to be on the lake fishing, yes it's alot better if were catching fish but at least were out there trying. And if were out with a friend or a loved one that makes it even better. This isn't a post of how we should tell people how they should fish, its a post of how we feel when were done fishing for the day.

[tyrius.]

With a 5 year old, 3 year old, and a wife that's 8 month's pregnant, actually finding the time to cast once is a success for me!!! My most successful fishing trips lately have been taking my kids to my in-laws pond and getting them to catch little bluegills or not catch anything. They have fun regardless. Success in my book!

A fishing trip can be a success without catching anything for numerous reasons. If you like to just "experience" nature, peace and quiet, relax, have fun with friends, "destress", etc, etc, etc then just the act of fishing meets that goal and is a success.

Not everyone is hypercompetitive with an eye always to the scoreboard.

[florida strain]

catching enough to eat

[Bigs]

With this 100 degree weather lately its tough to catch much so just catching a few is a success. In the spring , fall and summer however , it's a different standard for me. I went from catching  10-15 keeper size bass a day in the spring to catching 6-8 a day now if I'm lucky. Then again I cannot fish more then 4-5 hours straight in this heat. In the spring I was out for 8 hours at a time.

[NewKidInTown]

No less than 200 fish caught.