Fishing Logs

[Guest]

Here's a new topic worth discussion: how many of us keep fishing logs? If you vote yes, be sure to add what information is important to you while making all of those notes.

[rev]

I have for 2 years. Tide (both strength & time), weather, fish, times fish were caught, and of course the company. When fishing with disreputables such as PI, I count all the fish he catches as my own, as I am undoubtedly far more deserving.

[Erick]

I just started keeping one earlier this year, so I think in the future with more data it will be useful. It is the freeware for the Palm, that I heard about from those on this website who use it. Once the year is over I am going to post all my results for the year. And do that each year, so that others can maybe use that information. Fairly generic other than my notes, but I like keeping the data.

[Dustin]

I started a log five years ago...it has turned into an invaluable resource. Last time I checked, I had detailed descriptions of ~750 separate trips in both salt and fresh water. I keep track of what was caught, the tides, lures used, locations fished, and any other pertinent information that could be of use in the future. I find myself going back in my log continuously.

I actually wrote a very functional fishing-log program for a major project, but I still keep my log in an Excel spreadsheet. I may switch the data over at some point.

[shamus]

Log entry :
Water was wet, slung bait , caught catfish . Went home

[paddlefish]

I do have one, but don't write in it nearly as often as I should. When I do though, I also keep track of when I don't do well. I think that some kind of computer model would be best if it could take all the data and then feed back good/bad spots based on a few key words. Kind of like.........

fast incomming, water temp 71, wind sse5-10

good....../ bad
location 1 location 1
location 2 location 2
location 3

does a program like this already exist?

[paddln4reds]

Ehh...I'm too lazy to keep a log. :P

[bluz-fisher]

I kept one religiously for many years, very detailed, but when "Husband" also became "Daddy" and then Mom got ill, I don't waste the time anymore. If I can sneak away to fish now & then, I quickly jump on it anytime I can. If I had the free time I used to, I'd still keep one...I love reading my old notes. It's a great idea.

James

[GILs_GONE_WILD]

I hate paperwork. :P

[Keith]

Until about 6 months ago I had a really detailed journal that covered 2 years of fishing in the Bay Area. I had it saved in my work PC and never backed it up. The PC crashed and I lost everything and was really bummed out for a while. I haven't started another one but I probably should.

[ray-uk]

every time, water conditions, weather conditions, tackle used, baits used, results etc.

basically i log everything in a book.


ray.

[Skeeter]

I kept one for a while but it got to be too embarrassing.

[JohnS]

I used too, but "paddled around a bit, got skunked" makes for a boring read later.

*Edit - And besides, my memory usually provides of much better picture of my fishing trips that a reality based journal

[TroutTracker]

I do keep a log but not as religiously as I should.

When I do, weather, tides, date, and lures/bait.

[CrackerYak]

I have been fishing for 42 years and have yet to catch a fish, so maybe I need to start a log to figure out what I am doing wrong.... 8)

[LivelyBaits]

Yes I keep one and no you can't have it.

My entries include where I was fishing, what I was using, what I caught and on what tides.

Over 8 years of keeping the thing, I may have to make it into a database. The summer months are empty because I'm not here so if I'm ever around during the summer I'll be back to a guessing game, whereas Sept thru March I just look back at my old notes and find out how I did previous years.