Waking up starts a good day

10 hours ago, Catt said:

What’s a “good” day in your books?

 

I woke up this morning ?

this.............

If I get out its a pretty good day, if I catch anything its a great day...if I can walk without awful back pain after its awesome.

If I had to put a number on it well that all depends where I'm fishing and time of year. If I'm at my local and I catch 4 or more fish with at least 2 in the 3+ range im.very satisfied.

Depends where I'm fishing.

The lake I consider my home lake has great numbers, some good ones in it as well. If I want numbers, I go there and 20 in the morning 4-5 hrs is a slow morning. I've had 50 and 60 fish mornings of 6-7 hrs and a few 100+ fish days in an 8 hr day.  So, I consider 30+ a good day there.

There's other smaller, carry in spots, tough to get to, but big fish factories. I don't expect numbers there but they are usually good uns. If I get a couple 5+#ers in 4 hrs I'm good. There's DD bass in that place and any cast could be one. I'm a numbers guy but the thought of big bass brings me to these smaller places a couple times per summer. In fact, it's supposed to be nasty, rain and lightning on Saturday so I think I'm heading there in the yak; that place is fire during a storm.

9 hours ago, The Baron said:

I was just more curious to hear what others think as far as a “good” bag goes.  

 

Ok!

 

Daily limit on Toledo Bend is 14" minimum & 8 total keepers. That's my goal ?

 

Everywhere else 4-5 any size.

On this side of the grass

A good day fishing can come in many different packages for me. To and fro without issue, boat and equipment working as they should is a starter. I usually get out between 30 - 40 times a year and average 1 skunk a year. Those suck. I can have a good day if i catch only 3 fish IF i discover a new spot, using a technique that is either new to me, or barely used. A good day could be catching them on the same bait all day. (rare for me) Sometimes i like to catch them on as many different baits as i can. A good day could be me with a couple of dinks, as long as my guest catches them good. (also rare)  2 bass (or pike) per hour i would consider a good day.

On 6/21/2023 at 8:24 AM, Catt said:

What’s a “good” day in your books?

 

I woke up this morning ?

On this side of the grass...

oh, I'd say about 40 lbs. ............yeah that'll do it....

The first victory on an early morning fishing adventure, is to have been able to well, you know... before leaving the house in the comfort of my own home.

@dave I’m interested in buying your curado 200e7 if it’s still available? I tried to pm you but I new here and can’t send any yet. Please PM me. Thanks, Matt 

Sorry, she's gone.  It was the first to go.

Dang those are getting harder and harder to get. Thanks for the reply 

All of them are good.

I’ll contribute since I’m here. Good day to me is having fun out on the water and enjoying the sun. Plus a 5 bag limit at 25lbs doesn’t hurt. Big EZ and hollow body frog blow ups preferably 

There are so many great answers. I could have said, "Ditto," a dozen times. I would only add that I also treasure wildlife beyond bass. For example, this morning, I stopped fishing when a deer stepped out of the woods to drink just as the rising Sun made it glow. Another morning it was otters on one side of my canoe and then the other. Or an eagle eating its bass in a sun-bleached tree while I just watched. Or ospreys plunging into the water. Or a loon just off my bow. Like @A-Jay, @Smokinal, and others, there are days I want quantity and days I want quality. If I catch what I'm targeting, my dream comes true.  

Anytime I get to go. And if there is Smallmouth involved then that’s all the more better. Any time on River is hard to beat 

Greetings and Happy Friday All,

I am of the opinion that every day is a good day. Every day I get to go fishing is just that much better. Going fishing and catching just makes for an exceptional day. Just my $0.02 put in for consideration. Be well, and Cheers!

If I'm just going by the number of fish caught and nothing else, then a good day of fishing locally would be putting around 6 bass in the boat.

On 6/21/2023 at 12:33 PM, The Baron said:

I was just more curious to hear what others think as far as a “good” bag goes.

 

Local laws are 5 Bass max, 14 inches min length.  I consider a limit the start of a good bag.   I'm usually happy fishing regardless of what I catch though.   I like to leave the lake on a high note.  I don't usually have a set time I need to leave by,  and I don't stay after I get tired, or the lake get's over crowded.   Most trips I catch a bass on my last cast.   That leaves me smiling, and eager to go again.   

 

I used to never leave right after catching one.  I'd tell myself "last cast", but if I happened to catch one on that cast I'd stay 15 more minutes.  Last year I was planning on fishing until 1PM.   At that time I told myself "last cast".  I caught a 3 pound Bass on that cast, so I decided to fish 15 more minutes.   On the next cast I hooked a 53 pound Catfish.   I finally got it in the boat 45 minutes later.  I was too tired to fish any longer.   Since then, most trips I'll decide one more and I'm leaving, or one more after a certain time.   The last time I didn't catch a bass on my last cast was back in the winter when the water was in the 40's, and I got skunked.   Can't catch one on the last cast if you don't catch any. 

 

 

Added: I'm not in a contest with anyone.  I don't have to look very far to find someone who catches more and or bigger Bass.  I also don't have to look very far to find someone who catches less.    

15-25lb 5 fish Limit with 25+ being a phenomenal day. 

I judge my day a “good” day if I get the lake safely, the lake is not crowded, the boat runs great, and the weather is fishable.  
 

I rate it a great day if I catch some fish and don’t get off by a bunch of pike.  
 

I consider it an excellent day if I catch over 18 lbs. for 5 fish, catch over 25 bass, any bass over 5 lbs. or I figure out a really great area or technique.   
 

 

It depends on where I go and what my expectations are.  For example, I went on Lake Michigan this past Friday and fished a bunch of new areas and found some good-looking spots that while were not very productive, I am optimistic they will be at some point.  With a cold front, postspawn, and fishing new water my expectations were not that high.  My biggest fish were a spawned-out 18"er and a 16" and a lot of shorts but it was still a good day.  Contrast that to a couple weeks ago when I was on Grand Traverse Bay and I caught 2 over 5 lbs but had another in the 5 lb range get off when he ran my line into my prop and when a monster just came unbuttoned.  That fish looked to be 6 to 7 lbs and I had a good hookset but it just came off.  I've played that one over and over in my mind and I don't feel I did anything wrong.  Had another big fish break me off and I had just check the leader line and knot before the cast.  That day should have been my first 25 lb bag which has been a goal of mine for a number of years now.  I was very disappointed in that day even though I caught 2 over 5 and had a 21-22 lb bag but I still think about what should have been.  

 

 

Rolling out of bed with nothing hurting is a start. Just getting to go fishing is a good day. Catching a few no matter the size is a great day!

A good day is any day I can fish. A great day is when I catch at least 1 fish. Getting skunked doesn't ruin a day but getting the skunk off is a vast improvement.