As long as the beer stays cold and you dont run out, its a great day!!!
Seriously, i agree with slabnshad. Any time i can get on the water in my boat, and relax and soak it all in, hang out with my dad or good friends or my family, and watch the idiots go by, and everything is still working when i put it on the trailer, its been a great day. I can always catch a few fish, catching a bunch is bonus icing on the cake.

When I am so tired from catching that I can't catch anymore. When I catch sever big fish that pull my drag out. When my husband catches fish, cause he gets in a bad mood when he doesn't.

JUST BEING OUT ON THE WATER. THATS ALL I NEED.

Does it get any better than watching the grandkids catching fish?

A good day is catching a good number of fish.

A great day is learning something new while catching fish.

A really great day is seeing someone who isn't catching fish while you are and teaching them how to catch fish, then watching them do it. This is especially true if there are kids involved. My fishing partner and I have done this on numerous occasions, including giving lures away, and got far more back by watching the joy of kids catching fish, sometimes their first fish.

I can tell there are a lot of people on this forum who are just as generous with their stuff and time. Thanks for all the good advice.

I've always thought to much emphasis was put on a limit. A limit is a law enforced by the TPW not a measurement used to determine a successful day.

If a customer is wanting to fill the freezer he can do it much cheaper at the grocery store.

I have alot of customers that dont care, they just want to catch fish. They leave the goal setting at home and have a good time, laugh and fish.

Just like the Magnum question, it all depends on the lake. Most of my trips are father/son trips and I'm not about to tell the boy if we don't get a limit we failed. Most kids dont know the difference between a 10 inch fish and a 14 inch fish. They are all big to a 60 pound kiddo. My job is to make them feel like they are outstanding fishermen and not point out any area they may be lacking.

Of course this is all my opinion and I guide people that want to have fun close to home.

Everybody has different expectations. I enjoy
time spent on the water ,( unless weather conditions are adverse) and catching fish is
a bonus.
I like to see the seasons change on the lake.
The first warm day of spring, the first cool
day of autumn. The first eagle sighting each
fall. ( the last jet ski of winter )
What is a good day catching fish ?
With just me in the boat, hybrids, anytime
I catch 5 over 5 lbs is good, 10 over 5 is
better, 20 over 5 is a great day.
crappie-- 10 keepers is a good morning,
15 better, and 25 is rare for me.
Sandbass-- Too many to count is a good day.
I don't " keep score " but I suspect I have
had many 100 + fish by my self. My wife gets
bored real quick sandbass fishing . " Are we are
catching the same fish over and over ? "
If I have another experienced fisherman in the
boat I expect #'s to double.
If I have inexperienced fisherman in the boat,
I am happy If I they catch some fish and
learn something, dont break anything or hook
anybody
good luck
MO

Any day I can get the boat in the water and some lures wet and back to the trailer is a good day.

Lewis

Watching my Moms catch more fish than Pops and anyone else for that matter ( 165 mostly magnums in a little under two hours April 1978 on Benbrook Mustang Point Two at a Time ) of course it slowed us down having to take them off for her.

She could catch crappie with her eyes shut...- -

john,
I took a slightly different approach to your question - I tried to think of a time when I didn't have a good day fishing, and couldn't recall a single one! No, not even those days when I've been skunked, had weather or equipment challenges, or a fishing partner who tended to be a bit bothersome. It's weird, I'm a totally different person when I'm fishing, I just wish I had the same level of patience, peace and temperment in all other aspects of my life that I do when I'm fishing. What a blessing it is just to be on the water...
RFM-2

it's a good day just going and not having any problems arise, it's even better catching what your after, it's great seeing a smile on somone elses face.

Well, I would say it's the look on my wife's face when she is catching them fast on hot top water action. She just can't get enough. That would be an extremely good day (even if she did drop a 3 pounder back in he lake by accident). A good day is out on the lake with her. Even if we don't catch fish we can go drop anchor in a cove and turn a slow day of fishing into a good day together at the lake.

Mixed bags. Stripers and cat fish.

Ok your out on the lake and your the only boat around.WHAM!!! The mother load of striper/Hribrids start exsploding around your boat and this goes on for 2 hrs. By the time its over you will need new reels.LOL

John, you and I have discussed it a few times, but we have pretty high standards for what is a great day......I remember going to Cedar Creek for 5 days in a row and hammering fish, something like 200 plus caught and anywhere to 100 to 125 retained, depending on how many were in the boat, but then had a day where we only got 68, 7 short of a limit and I felt it was not a good day, but customers were excited, I was disappointed as fish were scattered and not in big piles.....but to get out and fish, well that is worth it to most and learn and catch some fish...that makes it better.

Steve,

When your boat sells and you want to go out, feel free to give me a shout. I would be happy to provide the boat for the opportunity to gain some knowledge!

Mike Leon