The first hour on the water I don't catch many because I am busy eating three packs of Lil Debbies and downing a quart of cold Half and Half. The second hour I catch about half the fish I could have caught because the sun is already up and on the water from waisted so much time stopping on the way to launch to buy the Lil Debbies and Half and Half.

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Per hour???... I tend to look per trip... Most of the tournaments around here a 3 fish so I focus on getting 3 fish per trip and most of the time I fail... It also depends on if you're focusing on smallmouth. I did that a lot this Winter/ Spring. There were a lot of days I didn't get a hit in 5 or 6 hours of fishing, a lot of days 1 hit, 1 missed fish... My moto is it's called fishing, not catching for a reason... Dan

"On average", 1 or 2. Well could be HOURS before I catch 1. Could be the first cast..I hate doing that too, that is my only superstition I have fishing, try not to catch a bass on the first cast.
I have went a complete day of fishing in a tournament and never even got a nibble.
This is why I have to remind myself, "This is why you call it fishing and not catching"

I'm the same way. Just blown away by these guys who claim they can AVERAGE 5-10 an hour.

Some lakes I fish you can throw a 4" texas rigged work with 1/8 ounce weight and catch 5-10 per hour. But if you put on jig and 10" worm you may only get 5-10 in a day but will generally be larger fish

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Fished Kurth yesterday from 8:30-4:30. Had the best day I’ve had in years. 20+ bass, 18+ on best 5. Heat was brutal on an old man but I held up and left them biting.

Do the math on that one.

Well the bite is strong at Table Rock, top water and little swim baits. In 5 hours I caught 36 bass, so about 7 an hour. Keepers on TR have to be 15", and I only caught 4 over the keeper mark. It was mostly 13-15" spotted bass. That's not much of a feat on TR. Catching a 5 fish limit that goes over 20 lbs., now that is special on TR.

That’s why I sold the boat long ago. Spend all that time, energy and money to catch so few fish.

I walk down to the neighborhood ponds and catch 3-5 in an hour. Wednesday night I caught 15 in an hour. Most about 1.5-2lbs, and one pushing 4lbs. Got home in time to catch dinner and enjoy a show before bed.

I’d get irritated if I packed everything up, drove to the lake, launched, fished for hours, and didn’t catch any “keepers.” Nothing against anybody who does, but I don’t have that patience.

I have loaded my boat and driving home thinking I am not enjoying this too much. Then after I get home, take a shower and eat, I’m ready to go again.
This year I have not fished any tournaments and gotten back to why I love it. That’s the hunt, it’s that, tap…tap on the line, it’s that pulling my line and watching the tip of my rod bend.
If I fail to catch a bass, yea I’m a little frustrated but not near as I was last year and a few years before fishing tournaments.
I’m very lucky, as the crow flies I live about 3 miles from the lake. It’s not a pack up and drive for an hour or longer. I can fish on the spare of the moment kind of thing.
But if your enjoyment now is pond fishing, then you go and have fun, there is not one thing wrong in doing that.

All depends on the lakes you fish, I drive long distances for better fishing.

If I catch less than 20 fish in a day, it’s a garbage day!

When I think about averages it almost makes me want to stay home in the a/c and watch tv it’s more productive.

Honestly since I came back three years ago I'm probably averaging about one per trip MAYBE. Something definitely changed while I was on the sidelines for nearly 20 years. It just seems like they are much harder to catch. I was probably averaging 3 to 5 a trip not counting the fall runs where if I found them schooled up on the Ouachita River at home I might go 50 to 100 in a day.