fishing log????

[ShoreFisher72]

any of you guys keep a fishing log? like what info do u guys put in it and so on?got any examples?

[Cdog]

Some people get real detailed and keep it in a word spreadsheet, I basically keep track of time of day, duration,lure/bait used,tide,wind,water temp and fish caught or not LOL.

[nine ought]

Like a journal, or like a man's diary.;) By the way yup iv'e been keeping one for several years know,What i started out doing was penciling in what days or dates that where most productive for me. 90% of my fishing is done freshwater so now i keep a journal of when and where i fish and what days iv'e caught fish! For example one year i hooked on to a 45# bluecat on DEC 14th of 1999.And of course we fished that area pretty hard for a few days afterwards and nothing.I don't know if it was coinsidence but we went back to that exact same spot on DEC 14th of 2000. And what do you know "I caught a 37#bluecat. NO JOKE. It is not a bad idea to keep a journal.Just my .02.

[AL_N_VB]

Location / wind direction / water temp / air temp / tide / water color / moon / time of day / lure or bait fishing / Fish caught / size / species. Pretty simple stuff. Remember this is your journal. You want to make notes for yourself. The journal is like fishing ...what werks for one person , probably won't work for you. So format your journal to your personal preference.
I use a simple MS Word format, that I save on the hard drive:

DATE / TIME:
LOCATION:
WIND DIRECTION / MPH :
WATER TEMP:
AIR TEMP:
WATER CLARITY:
MOON PHASE:


FISH CAUGHT:
SIZE:
SPECIES:
LURE OR BAIT:

NOTES:


I usually make some obsucure note...like...."bait fish were thick"...."tons of sand fleas".

Pretty funny how history repeats itself or how the fish bite in cycles. Who woulda knew?

[uncdub13]

I try to remember and take a few pictures and keep them in dated folders. When i look back on them it kinda triggers me to recall info. Might start keeping an actual log on of these days.

[Railroader]

Yep, I sure do. I post a report right here, every time I go...P&S is my fishing log. :cool:

[Digger]

Logs can be your best tools. The info listed already pretty much covers it. It really gets good when you can begin to see the patterns for certain areas.

[SkunkApe]

I create a new folder on my C: drive for every day I go out. It has a snap-shot of weather.com for that day, a tidal webpage and all the silly pictures I take. Nice and neat! :D

[Mark G]

I understand that humans are quite naturally a pattern seeking animal, so I understand that a log can help in some regards as to establishing patterns.

Since I fish when I can (not nealy enough) I accept that I have to fish under the conditions given to me. If I kept a log it might lead me to attaching incorrect significance to certain conditions, I try to time my trips and specifically the hours on the beach to the most favorable tide, moon conditions,etc., without getting too caught up in that stuff- meaning anytime fishing is better than not fishing.

Of course if you fish a LOT- I can see a log being very useful- but a lot of that info (when does the spring drum bite start/stop,etc.) well those correlations don't require a log or extensive knowledge- pay attention to the boards and the info disseminated, patterns for most species are tied to water temps as much as anything- so keeping an eye on the water temps is important.

Guess what I'm saying is I could spend a great deal of time by my lonesome, fishing and logging data- and might come up with some useful pattern info, or could find those same patterns by watching reports and making those correlations w/o ever being at the beach.

Internet's a wonderful thing, eh?

Not suggesting I want to be spoonfed the info, but sometimes it ain't necessary to reinvent the wheel either.

should add the obvious- if your fishing an out of the way hole that doesn't get much public fishing pressure, thus a lack of reports- you will be forced to do your "homework" and establish the conditions best suited for success in that area.

[Ryan Y]

WHat I have found very handy is that I will print off the local weather readings from the national weather service and print the picture if there is one from Rutgers data and staple in my log. I look for those patterns again in the spring and fall for fishing.....Its proved useful time and time again....

[ShoreFisher72]

well back in the day when i was 18 i kinda keep a log of what i caught/when/where and so on. went back to some of those spots and had success and somethimes didnt . i think it does help to a point ,more less a reference if you ask me . think ill start again


does anyone have something to share i can print? i dont have any software that i can make something with.

[AL_N_VB]

well back in the day when i was 18 i kinda keep a log of what i caught/when/where and so on. went back to some of those spots and had success and somethimes didnt . i think it does help to a point ,more less a reference if you ask me . think ill start again


does anyone have something to share i can print? i dont have any software that i can make something with.


you don't have Excel or MS Word?


BTW- call me

[ShoreFisher72]

you don't have Excel or MS Word?


BTW- call me

i have word but it sucks lol .

[junkmansj]

I keep a Log also
Date,type,length,Wt,Location,bait,rig i'm using
I also take note of length of the cast needed (L or S).
in December "06" I Scheduled my Vacation at the End of May by checking three years of Logs, Caught my personal Best 47"-35#. We caught 9 bass ,total weight 127# from the surf

[Fishman]

Ive tried keeping a log but I don't seem to always enter anything. I tried to find some decent ones online but haven't found one to suit my needs so Im still trying to come up with one that WILL work for me.

[ShoreFisher72]

Ive tried keeping a log but I don't seem to always enter anything. I tried to find some decent ones online but haven't found one to suit my needs so Im still trying to come up with one that WILL work for me.

im in the same boat ...uhh no pun intended ! :D

[RuddeDogg]

I kinda do what Cdog does. Time of day, bait used, tides, weather, lures if used etc.

[Fishman]

I kinda do what Cdog does. Time of day, bait used, tides, weather, lures if used etc.

Sounds kinda like the way to go keep it simple.