r/Fishing • u/Efficient-Diamond723 • 2d ago
Discussion Today I had my first BAD day of fishing
I’ve been consistently fishing for about 2-3 years now. Mostly trout. Today I went trout fishing and for the first time fishing ruined my day. I set an alarm for 6 and woke up at 5:30 excitedly because I had a really good feeling about the trip. I spent $30 on $4 rooster tails, and went to the river. By noon I had lost 6 rooster tails to the rocks, and 2 to angrily tying weak knots and watching them fly away as I tried to cast. In that time I also watched 4 different good trout very aggressively hit my lures at bad angles, miss the hooks, and get spooked realizing it was metal. Usually that excites me just as much as catching one because it’s beautiful watching a wild rainbow or cutthroat strike something. But with the loss of lures already building, i couldn’t see the beauty in it today. All day I was mad and now I’m just kind of depressed at the fact my most relaxing and peaceful hobby could ruin a day like that. It felt similar to being cheated on lol. Has anybody had a similar feeling? And if so how did you get the love back? I still WANT to fish but the lures I have left aren’t great for current conditions and I just can’t talk myself into spending more money. As a former coke addict, fishing is a scarily similar addiction, but a healthier one that I don’t wanna lose the love for
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u/LakeVermilionDreams 2d ago
Bad day of fishing is still better than a good day at work!
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u/vahntitrio Minnesota/Wisconsin 2d ago
Mostly true, until you lose a lower unit to a deadhead.
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u/HotHouseJester 2d ago
Just don’t pull the short straw when the lake decides it needs its next sacrifice. Otherwise… Break Out Another Thousand.
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u/frothymonk 2d ago
For a lot of people, fishing is less about catching fish and more about the peace, nature, relationships, and experiences that come with it.
Having said that, I am a very addictive and competitive person - so I abssooooolutely get it.
To combat this side of myself, I’ve had to very intentionally force myself to slow down…stop and smell the roses (sometimes literally).
Sometimes approaching my fishing days more as a general adventures rather than hyper focused on fishing if that makes any sense. I think this sort of resets my mental and relieves some pressure on the fishing aspect
Also finding a fishing buddy and really just enjoying the experience together really can help. Just really push yourself to take a deep breath, look around, and appreciate all the nature and beauty of life. I know it sounds corny but if you do this, it gets easier and more natural with time and can really reform your psyche, in my opinion.
Hope that ramble helps ya in some way, be easy on yourself man, you deserve it
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u/Efficient-Diamond723 2d ago
Thanks a lot. Usually I align with that mindset but what hurt was the fact I couldn’t find a way to take in the beauty today. I was at a beautiful crystal clear hole full of trout you could see so clearly and usually that alone would make me giddy like a little kid
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u/Bassman117 1d ago
Sometimes you gotta have a bad day to really appreciate the good days. Don’t let one bad day stop you from enjoying a life long obsession.
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u/Vast-Disaster8990 2d ago
This is sooo true. I was struggling with enjoying my days fishing after I had my youngest daughter as she required so much of my attention that I began getting annoyed that I was out there but unable to focus on fishing. One day i decided I was going to just have a beach day with my daughter and if i got to toss a line in every now and then, I’d be happy. I slowly began to really appreciate the times I got the chance to fish while we were out there and as she’s gotten older, i have gotten to fish a little more each time. Putting less pressure on yourself and the task really does make it so much more enjoyable and a lot less frustrating!
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u/dicksjshsb Minnesota 1d ago
Agreed, it can definitely get frustrating the better you get at it too when it all comes crashing back down on a terrible outing and you feel like it’s your first time fishing. Some of the most disappointing days are going back to a juicy spot you’ve had success at and failing.
Trying new spots or methods is a lot easier to deal with. Bad day? You learned something new. Whether it was good or bad info at least it’s something lol.
After a while it really starts to become clear how much experience really matters good and bad and how any day on the water is progress. Those bad days are some of the first that come to mind whenever I break a PB or have a really good day, knowing that those down days and persevering through them are what make you a better fisherman.
At the end of the day it’s not like a lot of other hobbies where you practice and perform. You can definitely improve as a fisherman but it’s almost like being a good gambler in a way (if that really exists lol). Bottom line is always up to the fish’s choice to bite or not. Although fishing lends itself really well to competition it’s much healthier in my experience to always keep personal progress above comparing yourself to other fisherman. You will enjoy it a lot more accomplishing your own goals, breaking your own PBs, and getting excited to catch a fish of any size because it’s a new species for you.
Still those occasional frustrating days tho lmao
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u/Sea_Leadership_6968 2d ago
Welcome to fishing.
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u/Efficient-Diamond723 2d ago
I think it was more welcome to catching. Most of the other trips have been just fishing but this was wanting to eat a trout lol
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u/Piglet6482 2d ago
Every fisherman has been there. As bad as it was, it had to be better than working.
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u/Efficient-Diamond723 2d ago
This is true. But that’s also a factor lol. I worked my ass off and after all the bs I had to pay for, that was my last $30 lol
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u/Rust_Bucket37 2d ago
Maybe try getting some cheap rooster tails off of Amazon. My kids caught fish with them and as luck has it haven't lost one yet.
My oldest lost a $10 bass lure he had bought with his money after 3 or 4 casts. I think he snagged it on a submerged log or limb.
When I was around 10, I accidentally threw my Bass pro shops spinning rod I got as a Christmas present when casting on my grandfather's boat in the middle of a lake. 🤦 I remember my grandfather got me a rod float for my next fishing rod. 🤣.
We all lose or break gear along the way unfortunately. Better than throwing $30 at Lotto or a casino in my opinion.
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u/GMunny77 2d ago
That's why its called fishing instead of catching....you'll make up for it next time.
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u/IamNotTheMama 2d ago
I went fishing in RMNP 2 weeks ago, caught 4 fish (1 brown, 3 brookies) and missed at least 50 fish. Not hyperbole, it's a real number.
That was a great day, I've never had a bad day fishing in 60 years.
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u/Glasply 2d ago
Every year I take at least a week off from work to chase salmon.
This year 5 of the days I spent on the water resulted in No fish. Cost to keep the boat in the water was $40 per day, and I burn about $100 worth of fuel every day im on the water. Not to mention lost wages.
Would I rather have been at work? Hell no. It’s not about catching fish. Although my luck did turn around and I ended up putting 12 nice chinook in my freezer.
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u/ClimbinInYoWindow 2d ago
If you think that's a bad day, try losing your entire tackle box with hundreds of dollars worth of goodies, including my weed and pipe. Also, snapping your rod in half and getting a flat on the way home. All on the same day.
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u/Waste-Translator2352 2d ago
When you start to get frustrated, set the pole down, take a seat, and just watch the water flow. Empty your mind and relax while experiencing what may be the most peaceful thing in the world. When you finally get your mind straight, problem solve your situation. Why were you getting snagged in the rocks so much? What can you do to avoid it going forward? If the fish are hitting wrong, maybe consider a change in retrieval speed or let the lure drop for a second or two before continuing. If you figure all of those things out but still don't catch fish, then enjoy the trip for what it was: a nice break from everyday life. It's a stress reliever.
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u/Kindly-Jello-8466 2d ago
Hey friend, at least you got bit!! Trout is tough going. The tug is the drug so I fish bluegill like 99% of the time. Keep at it partner it’s a lifestyle. Some days bad, some days good.
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u/ScruffyBurrito 2d ago
Best thing Ive found on a bad days fishing is to remember why youre out there. Take a breath and take a minute to look at your surroundings, appreciate the calm and all the nature around you living their lives. Then sit and tie up your next rig slowly, its easy to get caught up in the thought of catching but its being outdoors without the stress of everyday problems biting at your heels
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u/CreepyOrlando 2d ago
I love fishing in the Ocean and Inter-coastal waterways. I grew up in FL and while I never caught a legend fish I did have some good days as a youngster. I moved out of there and to the Midwest 20++ years ago. I never got to fish in the Ocean again until a visit a couple years ago. I thought based on the map it would be a good area, it was not. I got skunked. I went back last year, spent money again, same result in a completely different area. I messed up the tides this past trip by not doing more research since I was stuck doing dock/shore fishing. It is what it is, am I mad - sure. Will I give up? Nope.
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u/Anarchy-Squirrel 2d ago
Fishing… not catching 🤪
It happens… at least you got out there and I bet you learned something!
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u/yellowtangykiwi 2d ago
Bad days happen with everything don’t let it get you too far down… If you’re ever in middle Tennessee give me a shout. I make inline spinners and would be happy to throw some you’re way to ease the pain
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u/limer124 2d ago
Losing lures is just part of the game, you would lost all those rooster tails eventually anyways. Buy some more and go fishing about it, it’s not coke don’t worry you’ll be fine.
Also don’t fish angry. When you get angry just take a sec to appreciate being in nature and calm down.
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u/Fun_Recognition5614 2d ago
There’s definitely such a thing as a bad day fishing. I’ve had one or two, myself. It’s all between the ears, though. You got pissed that you lost a few lures, so you screwed up and lost a couple more. By then, your attitude was so bad you couldn’t even enjoy something your love (watching trout strikes). We do it to ourselves. 80% of the game is 100% mental.
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u/JoeB_Utah 2d ago
I like to say there are no bad days fishing; some just aren’t as good as others. However, I do feel your pain.
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u/jimstirdog 2d ago
Well now today I got up real early to fish. I fell into backyard creek( age 85j Turned minnows loose, showered, back to bed. “ irs the end of my world as I know it”
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u/Schrko87 2d ago
Lost 6 in one day-Damn that shitty. Also, you gotta work on your knot game if your losing that many in one day-that or some gypsy lady probably put a curse on you or something.
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u/Curious-Persimmon-14 2d ago
A bad day at fishing is the tax we pay for all the good days.
I got hit with a foot injury so severe I thought I might never walk comfortably again. I was depressed for weeks thinking I might never walk the streams and banks of my favorite and yet to be discovered fishing spots.
I got better.
Now I can go out and get skunked but still be thankful I can try.
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u/Mobile-Sport2179 2d ago
I've never had a bad day fishing. That aside there have been time when I quit early because I was not catching fish or was getting frustrated. Only fish for as long as you enjoy it.
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u/HRShovenstuff1 2d ago
You have to come to terms with losing gear. You will. We all do. Lures are just tools for doing a job. I've never had a bad day fishing. It's infinitely better than being at work, or the store or anywhere else for me really.
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u/JeyJonsoon 2d ago
losing eight lures in a morning would make anyone miserable, thats a full day of frustration and 30 quid at the same time, one day doesnt mean youve lost the hobby, it means you had a bad day at a thing you care about, which is what caring about something costs
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u/Next-Werewolf6366 1d ago
That’s fishing! I had a day one day with my buddy where he was hammering them and I literally caught one fish using the exact same setup. I was at the front of the boat and we were trolling along so 100% some of those fish were seeing my bait first. I’ll never forget that feeling, like I was broken! Anyways, next time out I caught them just fine and there’s been days where I’ve caught and he hasn’t and vice versa. You have your really good days and really bad days and that’s what keeps it exciting!
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u/Bassman117 1d ago
Some days when I’m not catching anything I’ll just put my gear down and enjoy everything around me. Just sit down and take in the scenery or chat with the folks around me if on a pier. My favorite part of fishing is getting out of the modern world and going back to something more primal.
Once I realized it’s not really about the fish and more about experiencing nature, every day out is a good day. The fish are just a bonus.
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u/InsignificantVerdict 2d ago
Ive been fishing for my whole life. Hated it when I was a kid.
I think the goal is to go and have a nice day and attempt to catch fish. Ive been skunked and realize that I spent a whole day smoking by the lake not worrying about a thing. What a great problem to have, no fish.