What is A Successful Fishing Outing?

[Johnny wilkins]

An interesting question was posed by one of the many great BBG visitors-

How do you measure success in YOUR fishing?

How many fish? What type of day, outing? (( be realistic )) don't post outrageous numbers here no need.  We are not the braggey type and this isn't the point of this.

This post is all about reality, good and bad.  This is such a difficult question - think of your fishing outings last year and help us all out - answer realistically - I would love to see what success is group-wide - not interested in inflated numbers. To help you out - you can give two different types of success or even find success in adversity - tougher fishing...

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

OUTSTANDING JEFFERY!

 TOOTY

[Lord of the Fly , Rods]

Fun and any time I can make it back home without sinking the boat it is a success.

 

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

YUP YOU ARE DEAD ON, simple answer to the question.
 TOOTY

[chris]

For me anytime I am able to go fishing,The trip is a success. If I catch any fish they are an added

bouns. If I am able to take one or more of my kids with me, Then the fishing trip has gotten even better.

To me it is not the amount of fish I bring home.

It is all about the time I am able to spend out doors,Doing something I enjoy.

This year will be a first for me, as I am going to try and fish with only homemade bait, jigs & lures.

Can't wait to see how this is going to play out.

 

[dick tabbert]

Good luck on that Chris

[DAVID L EITUTIS]

HEY CHRIS, hang in there because to me there is no satisfaction greater when it come to fishing than useing something you made to catch fish. NNNNNNNNNever give up on your idea, it may take some tweeking , but stay with your gut feeling , it's usually right.

  TOOTY

[John Sheehan]

On my home lake I like it best to catch at least one of each species in the lake (not considering baitfish) each time out .These would normally include LMBass, Bluegill,Pumpkinseed, Crappie,White Perch ,Yellow Perch . Sometimes Trout after a spring stocking .Bullheads I normally dont include as I fish for them only at dark and target them then. A score of 7 is for each fish mentioned besides BHeads. If I have a partner or two with me in the boat I try to help them get on  at least 1 of each species by boat control and going to past productive spots and tecniques for the fish desired.With three people the highest score would be 21.(23 if you include hybrid PSXBG) I was once very happy to have a score of 15 with three in the boat.

[Rob Hilton]

I agree with many of the other posters...

Fun... Cold hands around a hot cup of coffee... Watching a sunrise... Smiles from my boy... watching the rod bend... feeling the pump of a nice gill at the end of the line... and realizing why they call it fishing and not catching...

[Tony Livingston]

I guess I'm different from a lot of folks. Before I can decide if a trip was successful I need to weigh the results against the type of fishing I was doing - fun, or serious. If I'm fishing with my family, or another angler, it can be fun or serious, or a combination of both. However, if I'm fishing alone, then it's always serious. That is when my standards are at their highest levels. I expect to come away from a solo trip with a satisfactory number of the targeted species having been caught, OR a better understanding of why this did not occur... either one is acceptable.  If I'm not catching, then I had better be learning from it, otherwise I'm not satisfied. 

In the Spring, when the Bluegill are plentiful and easily caught, then that's fun fishing to me. I'll take the boys and help them catch a mess, and not worry about my tally, or learning something new. I can enjoy them enjoying themselves. That's a successful outing also.

But when it's just me, then the game face goes on. Many times this winter I headed out in miserable, windy, snowy weather, with half the water's surface covered in ice, and spent hours casting about, trying different techniques, different locations, trying to get a handle on wintertime Bluegills. Because this is an area where I feel I need improvement. And I caught some fish, while most people were indoors sitting by the fire. I consider this winter's experiences a success by virtue of having learned  some things, and catching supper a few times to boot.

That's not to say that I don't enjoy my solo trips. I don't mean to imply that I had to make myself get out, or that I consider it my "job" to go fishing in rough conditions, because I don't. Only that overcoming the challenges has it's own rewards and satisfactions.

 

[John Sheehan]

a thoughtful response that rings true for me as well.

[Johnny wilkins]

I think i set the war way too low - as in don't get sun stroke. 

: )

[Johnny wilkins]

"bar"