Fishing Frequency

[Paul6.5]

With 52 weeks in a year, I always hope to get out 52 times—once a week would be ideal. Last year, I managed 41 trips, and the year before that I hit 38. Both felt like a solid amount, but I'd love to do more.

Between a full-time job, keeping up with the house, and making sure my wife gets more attention than my fishing gear, I don't see those numbers climbing much higher anytime soon.

Just curious—how often are you all able to get out on the water each year? Anyone actually hitting (or beating) that once-a-week goal?

 

[mszoke1802]

add kids and you're lucky if you get out once a month...

 

[wildtrout2]

The number of times I get out to fish in a given year are directly related to weather, and more importantly, stream conditions, which often go hand in hand. A good season would be 15-20 times, since these are always road trips, often requiring hours on the road.

 

[jifigz]

My fishing is tightly correlated to seasons. During May and onward until fall, I might get out 5 days a week. There are many factors that affect one's fishing frequency. Two that really help me out are as follows: 1) I don't have kids. 2) I live near ample angling opportunities, so I don't really have to drive to fish.

 

[DomR]

I get out as often as the weather cooperates but that is a more recent thing in the last few years. My kids are adults so I'm through the sports and coaching years. And I live near a few middling streams, ponds, and lakes, enabling me to fish after work most evenings and whenever I have a window of opportunity on the weekend and still keep the minister of the homeland happy. 🙂 I'll also fish for warmwater stuff so its not just trout centric, I like pond sunfish in the summer.

 

[Andrwhite610]

I’m in the middle of coming to terms with fishing less. I have a two year old and a newborn. Last year and the year before it was manageable to get out at some point, even if for just an hour once a week. I just fished for the first time in 7 weeks yesterday. It was a nice two hour session I must say..once the dust settles of having a newborn I’m hoping to manage 2 Sunday mornings a month of fishing. And maybe sneak a few quick 30 minute session in here and there….now the plan is to setup myself up for future years of more fishing and getting my son in on the action…I do fantasize about a life of no responsibilities and long weekends camping and fishing without anyone to tell me otherwise.

 

[dudemanspecial]

For the record, I am just estimating here, I don't keep track.

I fish probably 50-60 days a year at least.

25-30, maybe more of those days are local pond fishing with one or more of my kids. They are pretty self sufficient these days, I might occasionally have to help them untangle or something but they tie their own hooks and lures on and put live minnows on their hooks so I do consider it actually fishing for myself. There was a time I would not count those days as me fishing.

I would love to think I get in 25 days of trout fishing a year but its probably more like 20. I'm 40 minutes away from the closest stocked water that I actually consider real fishing and 1.5 hrs away from the Little J, my closest REAL trout fishery, so trips are usually limited to weekends and days off of work

 

[wgmiller]

I looked back on my busiest year, and naturally it was during COVID. I made it out 34 times in 2021, which felt like a lot. With one kid being in college and the other heading there in the fall, my parental sports obligations have been reduced to attending their games, when possible. I have a pretty flexible work schedule as a firefighter (24 hours on, 72 hours off), but have been working a metric crap load of overtime while it's available. Once our staffing gets back to normal in the next few years and I can actually work 24/72, I see more fishing in my future. The irony of that is that at 53 1/2, I have to temper my physical activity with overuse injuries. I stay in shape, but a full day of wading can really take its toll, as I like to cover water. Having already gone through one surgery for a meniscus tear, I've really started to pay closer to attention to frequency and intensity when it comes to fishing, so I can hopefully cross the finish line with a fly rod still in hand. The rigors of wading hard, uneven, slippery surfaces certainly adds up on the joints over time.

I'd have to say that fishing one day per week, or 52 times per year, is very respectable. That allows for recovery and balance in one's life, which is critical. The "fly" in the proverbial ointment for achieving those numbers would be a cold winter like we just went through. Toss in a month or two of no fishing due to cold temps and you'd have to make up days elsewhere.

 

[HoboWithAFlyRod]

add kids and you're lucky if you get out once a month...

Go night fishing after they’re in bed

 

[Bamboozle]

Fishing INCLUDING trout fishing, warmwater fishing, salt; or just trout fishing?

In recent years I have expanded my "fishing" to include a lot of different ways for a lot of different species with different tackle. Some of this fishing involves short duration expeditions or even two or more different kinds of fishing in the same day at different places...

That happened last week when I fished for trout with a Tenkara rod at one stream, spin fished for trout at another and fished for non-trout with a different rod at the same 2nd stream after getting no trout (AKA skunked 😉).

Does this count as one, two or thee fishing trips??? 🙂

As a result of these changes, I probably fish less for trout but fish considerably more in general than 52 times a year.

 

[Swattie87]

add kids and you're lucky if you get out once a month...

Yep. Before kids I fished most weekends. Not all, but most, and sometimes that meant fishing both days. Throw in a couple longer weekend trips where I may fish 3 or 4 days in a row. So if you average that out, my guess is I’d fish close to 52 times in a year before kids.

Since kids, the cadence my wife appears to be accepting of is about once a month. With maybe one or two long weekend type “binges” in there with buddies.

I plan to start using my vacation days more to fish on weekdays…Drop the kids off at daycare, fish, and then be back to pick them up. Or, if my wife is agreeable, she picks them up, and I can fish into the evening. Just been really busy at work. Haven’t taken a day off this year yet.

I used to chase good conditions. I’ll literally take whatever I can get now.

 

[jifigz]

I used to chase good conditions. I’ll literally take whatever I can get now.

There is value in this, too, Swattie. It forces you to adapt and either fish in different locations or hone certain skills that are far more effective under low-water and low-flow type situations.

 

[Swattie87]

There is value in this, too, Swattie. It forces you to adapt and either fish in different locations or hone certain skills that are far more effective under low-water and low-flow type situations.

Agree. It has made me better fishing in low water conditions, and developing the skills needed to catch fish in tougher conditions like that.

I’ll still take the morning after a Summer Tstorm though. 😉

 

[5footfenwick]

I’m a fishing addict, I try to fish everyday. I’ve averaged somewhere between 300 and 340 days a year for about 10 years now. Mostly for brook trout since that’s my favorite fish and the easiest species to target year round. But I will fish for anything. For health reasons, I’ve had to take some days off. My favorite fishing partner is on year 17 of flyfishing everyday without missing a single day other than to deer hunt.

Fishing a lot does take a toll on your body.

Damage to my right hand, after an 80+ consecutive day in a row binge of brook trout fishing.

~5footfenwick

 

[Andrwhite610]

I’m a fishing addict, I try to fish everyday. I’ve averaged somewhere between 300 and 340 days a year for about 10 years now. Mostly for brook trout since that’s my favorite fish and the easiest species to target year round. But I will fish for anything. For health reasons, I’ve had to take some days off. My favorite fishing partner is on year 17 of flyfishing everyday without missing a single day other than to deer hunt.

Fishing a lot does take a toll on your body.
View attachment 1641241443
Damage to my right hand, after an 80+ consecutive day in a row binge of brook trout fishing.

~5footfenwick

Man I would pick at that way too much

 

[bigslackwater]

Once your kids are past toddler age, fishing gets easier. I will drop them off at whatever practice they are going to, then hit a local creek for an hour and be back to pick them up. I love doing quick trips to the creek. I enjoy the challenge of moving quickly and choosing the right spots to fish. I often do really well on a time crunch. I probably fish 65 days a year.

 

[Tigereye]

I fish roughly 2-3 days a week weather and stream conditions permitting. April to about early July. Add a week for salmon in Sept/Oct. Very few all day adventures except for salmon. Most are 2 to 3 hour evening forays. I'm lucky in thar I'm retired, live within 15 minutes of 5 good streams, and a very good wife.

 

[poopdeck]

I’m glad to say that I very much enjoy fishing but fishing has so little importance in my life that I don’t yearn to get out a certain minimum number of days per year. When I have free time I prefer traveling to two different states visiting my children and grandchildren. I’ve always enjoyed my job so going to work over fishing doesn’t make me sad. When I was raising my kids I would always rather hang out with them and the wife over fishing without them. Fortunately I don’t have the gene that makes me cranky because family time cuts into my fishing. If I have nothing better to do I will go fishing. I probably get out 30 to 40 times a year and that’s for every kind of fishing, stripers, shad, catfish, flounder, carp, bass, pretty much everything and it generally comes in chunks. If this year I go fishing 10 to 20 times but I see the grandkids 20 to 30 more times then it’s been a great year. Not so great if the numbers are reversed.

 

[rustbeltwilds]

Kids are grown up now... but i miss when they were younger...i get out atleast 300 + days a year. Now alot are short 2 or 3hr trips. Before or after work. And even on days off i usually only go for a couple hrs.. then take care of husbandly duties. Plus i fish solo almost 95% 0f the time. So alot of short notice trips. Also most are in close proximity to my home.. i get skunked alot. But im usually swinging for the fence lol

 

[Nymph-wristed]

I was 65 trips in 2024, and that is the lowest in 10 years. My highest years in the last 10 averaged over 100, but I dabble in smallmouth in the summer and striped bass each fall to get those numbers.

2025 might hit 50 if I am lucky with life in the way this year, not to mention this winter and spring being below normal temps (or the new normal). It is temporary, however. My only kid goes away to college this fall, so that ought to help with free time. 130 trips in 2026!

I wish it were more, and I am making career moves to get back to triple digits.