I like this. Attitude has alot to do with it. Thanks guys for all of your input so far.

I go to a different lake if i need to break out f a funk if i've been on the same lake for a while. renews the whole process of locating fish instead of thinking you know where they are or what they will be doing on a lake you fish the most.

I,simply,like it. I enjoy,every part,of my fishing experience. I understand,I can't control what bites/doesn't bite. Once you figure that out,you are free to enjoy. Remember,FZ1 is good;FZ1 is wise.

I always seem to come to a rational and simple reason why I blanked. I look forward to getting back out and proving myself right.
At the end of the day, fishing is like sex. Don't put to much pressure on yourself, slow down, and just be happy that you are wiggling your worm! You will enjoy yourself much more.

Because I am a true believer that hard work pays off.

I also firmly believe it can happen for anybody on any given day, as long as you don't let the wheels fall off.

I know this doesn't hardly get brought up here on the forum but it is one of the best learning tools you can have it's called a fishing log. Every time I go fishing I will make notes of the weather, time of year, time of day, what I fished with, where I fished, and what I caught.
Every time I go fishing I look at these notes from the previous years and I'll either do what worked or I'll try something different then make more notes of that day.
I spend endless hours researching everything I can learn about bass and different ways of catching them. Right now I'm trying to find ways to catch fish on a lake 5 minutes from my house that gets slammed with recreational boats and jet skis, I am doing it because it is a challenge for me and I love being put to the test fishing under horrible conditions it makes me fish harder and concentrate more on what I'm doing.
It's been said many times by many people the best tool to have in your fishing arsenal is confidence and this is so true.
I rarely have days like you described but if do, I just chalk one up for the fish because no matter how good you get at catching them sometimes they will win.
Just Think about it you should feel blessed that you can get out on the water and have the equipment to do it. Alot of people only get to watch from the banks and wish they were in your position.

Addicted to the "thump".

I think that sensation that occurs the split second you set the hook and feel that first measure of resistance is highly addictive. I think that keeps me going back as much as anything. What a rush...

Fished Rayburn last month in club tourney and caught one keeper fish in a day and half of fishing. Granted this was the back of the boat, but still not normal for Rayburn. Fished T-bend this last weekend and did good enough for first place (back of the boat). The challenge of out smarting the fish keeps me going, I know my brain is bigger than theirs, even if it does not seem like it at times. Can't wait to get a boat again so I can fish in the front.

crack a cold one and just enjoy nature quit trying to fish and just fish and relax thats why I go in the first place, just lose sight of it sometimes because i will start trying to hard, but its when im not even paying attention and im zoned out on something else that i actually catch fish... most of the time

This trip could be the one. YES !

Personally for me it is the drive to win the next touronment. This past weekend I got my butt kicked in a two day touronment on sat and on Sunday we were fixing to gather up our looses and hit the road home early. Made one stop to fish 75 yards from the boat ramp and bam we went from 1 dink in the live well to 15 pounds in no time. That's the kind of stuff that keeps me going back. I have had my fair share of days on quite possibly the worst and come out with a goose egg for the day but then there are days where I go out there and bam have a 40 pound sack.

Relax, enjoy, and let mother nature do the rest. That is what I have to keep telling myself. I will beat myself up mentally for 2 or 3 days after a bad outing. I constantly have to remind myself that I AM NOT at work and this this is my passion so enjoy. Perhaps more beer would help me relax more?? lol

All I do is look at the name of my boat, "Not So Lucky", and keep telling myself that my luck will change next time.