How Much Do You Fish?

[mrpike1973]

Just for fun here how many days do you fish in the season or year? For me it averages 4-5 times per week in the open water. Around 60 days ice fishing. My wife says I fish to much but we don't have kids and that makes a big difference time wise. Just thought it would be fun to see how many times many of you get out. What specie do you hit the water for the most for me it is bass in the summer then sunfish in the winter. As I have gotten older I notice the best trips for me are 2-3 hour long trips not to long but if early morning or right before night fall are the best trips. Obviously that's with any trip but those long 6-9 hour days are getting harder on this old back 

[Wanderer]

Not enough is all I know.

 

Days per week?  I’ll go with maybe 1 on average lately - at that seems to be a challenge.

 

I can say though, that I’ve been able to enjoy some good, long days out this year when I’ve been able to connect with another person, just the 2 of us in the boat.  12-15 hours has been the norm in that case.  They’ve been butt kickers but I love the feeling of being dog tired because I was fishin’.

[BobT]

I'm in the same boat with Wanderer. No pun intended. I leave for work by 7:00am and don't return until after 5:00pm five days a week. I also operate a small hobby farm (87 acres) and grow wheat, soybeans, and hay. During the summer months my free time is quite occupied with my farming. There are other things in life such as family, church, hunting, ATV riding, work around the home, and so forth that also take some of my time.

 

I am not one to chance thin ice so you won't find me out on the ice until I see at least about 8" or more. I've had too many close encounters even with 12" of ice to chance it any thinner. That eliminates much of November and December for me. I do get opportunity in winter to fish a little more but I'm not all that gung-ho about ice fishing. To be mobile is too much work as far as I'm concerned so I just take a few days to enjoy relaxing on the ice and if I catch a few, that just adds to the day. 

 

Most of my fishing is last-minute opportunity or planned in advance. So far, I've probably been out about a half-dozen times this summer impromptu. I'm hoping to get out this week for an evening. As far as planned trips...

• I usually go with about 5 other guys up to Ontario in February chasing lake trout for a weekend. 
• The South Dakota - Minnesota border waters is a usual destination in April for the opener.
• Usually spend a weekend on Lake Vermilion for the MN opener with about 8 other guys.
• Often try to make a run up to Winnie in May but didn't get there this year.
• Second weekend in June has been our annual run up to the southern part of the Lac Seul in Ontario for five days.
• Labor Day weekend I usually go somewhere. Could be the Lac Seul or Rainy. This year it'll be Ontario.
• I'm also hoping to be able to attend the Fishing Minnesota get together on Osakis that Borch is organizing on the 18th. 

 

[Hoey]

Back when I kept track of this, my number was 90 days fishing per year and I do not hunt. 

 

A day of fishing would average 6 hours or so, out by 10am and back at 4pm. 

 

Seems like a lot.  With three trips lasting a week, that is 18 days.  That leaves 72 days for further breakdown. 

 

I like to travel out on Thursdays and back on Mondays, so each weekend is 3 days of fishing.  

 

72/3 is 24 weekend trips, so that leaves 28 weekends for weddings, birthday parties, funerals, work related weekend events, family, kids, gardening/landscaping, home improvement, the wife, etc... 

 

I'd say that is a good balance. 

[gim]

I went 36 times last season.  I actually kept track of it on a spreadsheet (location, amount of time, number of fish caught).  That is open water ONLY between mid April and mid October.  Most of my "trips" are 3-4 hours in length and I almost exclusively fish within 90 miles of my house.  I don't ice fish.

[ANYFISH2]

Not nearly enough!

 

I have spent some part of a day fishing probably close to 15 times this year.  Mostly short jonts with the boy from shore. 

Most of my evenings have been occupied with the kids activities for the past couple of years.  I expect that will continue for a few more.

I just have to make it a priority to MAKE time to go.

Summer I find my self fishing mostly Bass and Walleye.  Winter is fishing for panfish and walleye mostly, but that is only a couple a trips a winter now a days.

[Better Than Working!]

I am with you ANYFISH2, not enough! I only get out a couple of times a month on average. I do get in a few good long weekends to places like Rainy Lake and river and Lake of the Woods, but mostly it is north metro for an evening or morning. Prefer to target walleye but I enjoy bass. If I am hungry for a fish fry I will go after panfish. Ice fishing I probably get out more do to work being slower.

Working toward getting house ready for sale leading to a lake home for retirement! At that point my average should increase dramatically!

[ozzie]

I try to fish at least once a weekend through the summer, winters lately have me occupied where I am lucky to get out more than a couple times.  During the spring I fish a little more as once the ice is off I am chasing crappies usually 3 nights a week until June then the once a weekend hits.  I love to fish crappies but walleyes take the focus of my attention once mid june hits.

[PRO-V]

Until I screwed up my neck on a very bad boat ride I was boat fishing about 60 days, ice fishing about 25 or so and getting in 35 days at the hunting shack. Fortunately for me my wife loves fish, grouse and venison. Fish walleye, lake trout, crappies and occasionally big northerns. Once I heal up I'm getting back on the horse (boat).

[mrpike1973]

Wow some really interesting replies here! I think I need to kick back and relax a little more I thought most everyone was out all the time. Puts in perspective for me. I must say all those days pounding on the water is getting to me. Thanks for the replies all. WOW.

[Borch]

For me it varies a lot.  Usually at least weekly whether its summer, fall, winter or spring.  Obviously there are breaks during ice transitions.   During our family vacation I fished 13 of 14 days.  Several of guy trips a nod extended weekends mixed in.  Currently getting ready for a Lake Michigan trip with my dad.  Hope the bite picks up.